Recommendations for new computer monitor

[BobbyParticipant 140]

I’ve never had a problem using computers monitors before, but in the past few months I’ve been getting slightly tired or glazed eyes when using a cheapish 23 inch monitor in the evenings. Nothing too bad though.

I’ve recently found out that some LED backlit LCD monitors use something called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), which essentially is rapidly turning the LEDs off and on to lower the brightness. This flickering can cause headaches and eye problems for some people.

By examining your monitor with a smartphone camera and looking for moving vertical bands, you can find out if your monitor uses PWM. The test revealed my monitor does.

I’m thinking of buying a new computer monitor for the start of a new software project. Maybe the thrill of a new toy will spur me along!

I’ve looked around and am thinking of getting a Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q as it is described as being flicker free. I’ve haven’t managed to find out if it is PWM free yet.

Does anyone here know what the Dell Ultrasharps are like?

Does anyone here know if curved monitors are good for coding?

Is having a monitor wider than 27 inches pointless?

[Anonymous 43]

I use a tv I bought from failmart…vizio 23 inch

I don’t know about flicker…go to failmart and hold the phone up to their tv I guess

[KeymasterKeymaster]

I have mostly used high-end industry standard monitors. Back in the day I did work in print, Viewsonic was my favorite…. but I always worked on Macs and have been using their “cinema display”(s) for at least 10 years, I think.

Right now I am looking at a 5K iMac display which is the best I have ever used.

My colleague is all PC / Windows and just bought a 21-inch monitor (ACER? or LG) from Best Buy.

If I had to work looking at that thing, I would grab the nearest semi-sharp object and lay down on it slowly. It just doesn’t compare.

I have not shopped around for displays, but IMO, they are all very reasonably priced so spare no expense and get what you love

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[RusskyParticipant 13503]

I’m using a 1080p 42″ LED TV as a monitor right now. I won it in a Christmas raffle at work last year, and since I don’t watch TV -I figured I should try to use it as a replacement to my 24″. It’s not perfect, but works fine. A monitor of this size would probably be $3,000.
If I had to work on it, I’d probably get something better, but for everyday things LED TVs work as fine as monitors

proud carrier of the 'why?' chromosome

[Anonymous 42]

I’d love to make recommendations but mine’s a teenager.

[KeymasterKeymaster]

ON CURVED MONITORS: I think they are just a fad and I don’t care what anyone else says on that. Screens were always curved on older “tube” monitors, and the wold was waiting for flat displays. Now they want to warp them again?

I think curved monitors are stupid, because any reflection from light behind you will be distorted too. At least on a flat monitor, if you see reflections, they are straight as they should be.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[ShineParticipant 1696]

This might help…

http://www.tomshardware.com/t/monitors/

Bobby wrote:

Does anyone here know what the Dell Ultrasharps are like?

I had a 24″ Ultrasharp about 10-15 years ago. At the time it was very well priced and specced. It still works, but I’ve since upgraded. My ultra sharp could rotate to portrait mode which was cool for reading webpages (something a coder would be doing alot of).

Bobby wrote:

Does anyone here know if curved monitors are good for coding?

My thought’s would be down to personal preference for a comfortable viewing display.

Bobby wrote:

Is having a monitor wider than 27 inches pointless?

Size makes a huge difference, 27 is a popular display size. Really depends on how you plan to use your system. If you are sitting at a desk this size seems to make sense. There are calculations based on how far from the screen you are sitting. I believe 27″ is for a 1m viewing distance, so your workspace may effect your choice.

"Society is to blame" Denton

[MorpheusParticipant 2177]

Personally I cannot stand expensive monitors. They are way too sharp and bright for my liking for long working hours even on the lowest settings. I use one of those lcds with plastic films. Not the best quality but not too much strain on the eyes.

[SolidParticipant 7520]

Keymaster wrote:

ON CURVED MONITORS: I think they are just a fad and I don’t care what anyone else says on that. Screens were always curved on older “tube” monitors, and the wold was waiting for flat displays. Now they want to warp them again?

I think curved monitors are stupid, because any reflection from light behind you will be distorted too. At least on a flat monitor, if you see reflections, they are straight as they should be.

Some people like them, but since I’m not that kind of guy who works at 10cm of distance from his monitor, I just see them as a piece of s~~~.

I do like ultrawide monitors, but I split them and use them as “two” small screens, I used to work with two monitors, but now I prefer to use only one.

Brother @bobby, when you search for a monitor, take a look at pixel x size ratio, and research about the retina display concept. If your software project means coding + interface (like a web interface), you will love ultrawide, you can have your code and your web page at the same time, with livereload, this works like a charm !

You can buy screens bigger than 27″ for sure, but keep in mind that things are shown in screen, keep in mind the distance that you will sit, sometimes, bigger screens won’t worth. For example, a 34″ with the same amount of pixels of a 27″, you can just sit near the monitor and the result will be the same.

Study a little about ergonomics too, how you sit, your back, etc… After a while, this make a huge difference. I work 14 hours a day, and I never had any problem on my lower back, neck, or whatever. Just because of those details, you don’t need nothing expensive, just some books or wood to put bellow your monitor, a good desk (in the right size, it doesn’t mean an expensive desk), and a good chair (again, is about the size, not about how bad ass or costly it looks, you can have a perfect chair for 20$).

[AttonParticipant]

Bobby wrote:

I’ve never had a problem using computers monitors before, but in the past few months I’ve been getting slightly tired or glazed eyes when using a cheapish 23 inch monitor in the evenings. Nothing too bad though.

I’ve recently found out that some LED backlit LCD monitors use something called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), which essentially is rapidly turning the LEDs off and on to lower the brightness. This flickering can cause headaches and eye problems for some people.

Pulse Width Modulation in most commercial applications runs at extremely high frequencies. Faster than any human could ever hope to perceive, I’d like to see evidence PWM causes headaches. Because your dealing with frequencies around 30khz at the lowest, they are beyond human perception on any level.

I’ve looked around and am thinking of getting a Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q as it is described as being flicker free. I’ve haven’t managed to find out if it is PWM free yet

The matter is rather simple, PWM is rather mandatory when driving leds. Of course you can use a linear transistor based driver, that reduces the voltage by turning the excess energy into heat. However that energy has to go somewhere and there goes your energy ratings. This has less to do with PWM and more the settings on your monitor. Experiment with brightness and work out what runs best.

A MGTOW is a man who is not a woman's bitch!

[KevinStylesParticipant 2580]

Here’s a good site on asus.com for picking a good monitor (their brand of course). They have low blue light, flicker free, lots of sizes to choose from.

https://www.asus.com/Microsite/2015/display/eye_care_technology/

[chirParticipant]

I run 4 monitors off my main rig. 27″ screens attached to ergotron monitor stand. One in portrait on left for reading, one above with web browser running news services and two monitors for gaming or light work.
Across the room is my work computer with 3 monitors, one portrait two regular for monitoring networks and server systems I am responsible for and my java and python tools.
Assorted laptops I connect to additional 27″ when I need em.
Any of the monitors which I read from I have blue light filters on them. Makes it less tiring for your eyes.
The work station uses Dell Professional 27″ screens for my main rig I use ASUS VC279H for two monitors and two ASUS ROG Swift PG278QR.

It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion, it is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning; it is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

[ghostParticipant]

chir wrote:

I run 4 monitors off my main rig.

Nice. I definitely need to get a rig like yours man.

[chirParticipant]

ghost wrote:

chir wrote:

I run 4 monitors off my main rig.

Nice. I definitely need to get a rig like yours man.

If you want 4 monitors and some light gaming this is a decent model for under 220.00 Good reviews too.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487263&cm_re=4_monitor_video_card-_-14-487-263-_-Product

It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion, it is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning; it is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

[ghostParticipant]

chir wrote:

If you want 4 monitors and some light gaming this is a decent model for under 220.00 Good reviews too.

I should probably upgrade my entire system. Is there any complete system you recommend that comes with the quad card or will I have to build myself?

[Author]

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