Best DVI LCD to accompany a Sager

I plan on purchasing the Sager 5760 very soon, and after I order my laptop I plan on ordering some DVI LCD from newegg.

My questions to you guys are what LCDs would be best and most compatible with the nvidia 7900GTX GPU 256mb. I know the laptop's LCD screen is natively in a widescreen resolution so would it be my best bet to get a Widescreen LCD?

My budget for an LCD is preferablly under 400$ I'm considering the ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" DVI 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor but i dont really need its speakers. I think one of the real questions is whether getting Widescreen is essential or not...will the GPU support the non widescreen resolutions? And would I be missing out than if I didnt get a widescreen external LCD.

Does anyone have any insight to what would be best? I plan to turn this laptop into a true desktop replacement (close it up) and plug in LCD and have wireless mouse and keyboard. And than when I need limited portability and bring it to classes etc. I can unplug and I'm good to go. The nvidia 7900GTX GPU for this laptop is one of the best for gaming and I'm wondering what DVI LCD would be best for that.

Thanks for the help,
Chris

 

Viewsonic has a 20" widescreen thats a great buy for like $350-ish.

Lemme find it and i'll get you the link to it.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116381

 

Thanks! Unreal. That looks really good

Anyone else have any insight to the matter at hand? Is this ViewSonic VX2025WM the best for this laptop?

Sager FTW.

edit: does the Sager5760 with 7900GTX support 1680x1050 default native res of that viewsonic? I would assume since its same as the LCD res of notebook

 

Getting a widescreen is not essential since you set your resolutions separately for each monitor in Display Properties>Settings tab.

Yes, your NP5760 will support 1680x1050 and even higher resolutions on an external monitor. It actually supports 2048x1536 external monitor resolution.
HOWEVER, if you are using the external monitor as secondary display, the resolution of the external display cannot be higher than the resolution of the screen on the laptop.

 

so if I wanted to use dual displays, this LCD perhaps would be best.

-C

 

I couldn't say it would be best...there are a lot of choices out there.

I just bought two 20" Sceptre's that are 1680x1050 for about $299 each (after $30 rebate + tax and shipping) at Costco.com and they are fantastic. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11097928&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

 

I'm using dual displays on my Sager - my 5320's WSXGA+ is secondary, and my SXGA NEC 1770GX is primary. The setup works great, the extra estate is very nice for multitasking.

I'd also look into a Dell 2007WFP monitor. We have a few at the office, wonderful displays. Other than that, I like the NEC Opticlear glossy displays, but those are expensive.

 

I think I have come to the conclusion of which external LCD to order! This comes strongly reccomended from multiple people. The Viewsonic VX2025WM 20.1in Wide Screen LCD Monitor has a native widescreen res same as the Sager laptop. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=232501 (cheapest place free shipping!)
or on newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116381

Very reasonably priced and also fast response time (3ms) and high contrast.

 

Oh my gosh...did you see this "Quantity Limit 20 Per customer" ?

What are you going to do if you can only order 20 of them??

 

I have this exact LCD Monitor that I just bought around a month ago:
ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" DVI 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor

It is an OK LCD Monitor for the price.
If you are on a budget it should do you fine.

If you can afford a little more, I think your other 2 choices are better.
ONLY reason I chose the one I have now is because I plan to use the Sager 5760 as my main PC for a couple of years, so having an extremely good LCD Monitor wasn't too important for me at the time.

Pros & Con of the ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" DVI 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor:

Pros:
I have had good customer support with Viewsonic
It is good for the price

Cons:
The black is NOT truely black (you will notice this in a black background.)
I had some weird line op a couple of weeks in the screen.
(It was a horizontal line at 1st and it disappreaed then a vertical line popped and I had to RMA it)
At this time the replacment LCD I got looks like it has at least 1 Dead Pixel, gonna try to call if I can have it replaced again.​

Viewsonic also has this program that you can get a replacement shipped to you within a week while you keep your current item.
You then send the RMA item once you get the replacement.
Of course you will need to use your Credit Card as collatarel, but its no biggie as you are just returning the RMA item anyways.
They even give you a UPS shipping label for FREE

So at this time I am ok with Viewsonic as long as they take care of me like they have since I got this LCD Monitor.

 

O I just realized that the 2 items linked are the same 1 but different resellers.

I do not have any experience with Zipzoomfly but alot ith Newegg.
(Think I spent at least a couple thousand $$$ from them this month alone.)

Suggestions if you get it from Newegg:

Shipping: They ahve a standard 3 day UPS Shipping, I usally get their items within 3 days or less!!!
Items to save: SAVE your packaging! They will NOT accept ANY RMA/Replacement without the original packaging and parts.​

 

I've been using a Dell 2405 24" LCD (1920x1200) as my primary display through my 5720 with no problems whatsoever. Your 5760s will easily handle the LCDs you guys have chosen.

 

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=231782
This 19inch ViewsSonic VX924 is also very good and best price/deal. Though I really think i should spend the extra bucks and get the widescreen to match the laptop native resolution, since hte monitor will be used as a primary or secondary monitor to the laptop.

Only thing im debating though is whether the widescreen 20.1 inch ViewSonic is best.
I am also considering the cheaper BenQ FP202W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824014105
The Sceptre http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824112176

So my choices for which LCD comes down to ViewSonic VX2025WM, BenQ FP202W, or the SCEPTRE X20G-Naga III. All three are supposed to be great according to reviews and all share 20.1 inch widescreen format and native 1680x1050 res. Which one to choose is the question

 

I personally prefer the Widescreen monitors now after being stuck with a 15" 1024x768 CRT Monitor for YEARS!
Besides, It can double as a good TV to watch movies in
Also nice screen real estate for playing games and other functions.

 

Yes I predict Oblivion, CS Source, and BF2 (after some modding to allow widescreen) to play beautifully on an external LCD. Oblivion supports the higher widescreen resolutions

 

Just make sure you go to http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/masterlist.php to check how to make your game into WS compatible.

I have been hooked into BF2 lately actually and the fix for WS for it is very simple.

 

Definitely man. I have already visited and browsed widescreen gaming forum before...It it will be sweet to finely have widescreen and be able to view there site in its native wide format.

BF2 is my favorite game. I'm a big time FPS Player and have been playing BF2 since demo and was waiting for it since it was first talked about more than a year before the demos release. I have been playing the Battlefield series since the first game, BF1942. I love them all. I also have been playing CS Source since its release and think its the best balanced and fixed (practicly bugless compared to BF2) game.

I really can't wait to game on the new Sager!
I wonder which LCD I should get and if I should wait to get my laptop first.

 

The game I am looking forward to Q1 2007 is Supreme Commander.
http://www.supremecommander.com/
It is an RTS that looks impressive from teh reviews and previews I saw.
There is even an interesting Dual-Monitor support for it.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/supremecommander/news.html?sid=6150433

I personally have never had used Multi-Monitor before.
At this time I think the 17" WSXGA+ should be more than enough for my gaming needs.
But the Dual-Monitor support of Supreme Commander sounds intersting enough I may try to link my 19" WS Viewsonic LCD Monitor w/ the 5760 when it comes out.

Another game I am interested in to come out is Q4 2006 is BF 2142 and on Q4 2007 is Warhammer: Age of Reckoning.
I am hoping it is decent enough as there are so much craptastic and less than quality MMORPG in the market lately and I need a decent MMORPG to play.
Been MMORPG Free for a few months now lol.

I am actually debating on getting Star Wars: Empire at War.
Its an RTS that seems to be ok and I think I need an RTS to play around with also.

 

Wait until you get your 5760 before buying your desktop LCD. The WSXGA+ on these machines is breathtaking. The first game I played on my 5720 was Quake 4 and it blew me away.

 

A question actually just popped in my head.

How much do 17" or higher monitors that has the same resolution as WSXGA+ cost?
I know the Viewsonic 19" monitor I have has a Native Reso of only 1440x900 and I think thats WXGA only.

Because if you are going to get a 2nd LCD Monitor, may as well make sure they have at LEAST WSXGA+ or WUXGA+ if that is the resolution you chose for your laptop.

 

I can see the benefits of using an external monitor: getting a larger screen size and saving the laptop's LCD's lamp when you are at your desk.

But is there a "hassle-free" way to connect via DVI? I personally hate plugging in and securing the DVI connectors, and wouldn't really want to do it on a daily basis. I haven't seen any docks that support the DVI (don't really know if USB can handle it anyway).

Chris583: That Viewsonic 19" seems to be set for a rather low resolution--quite a bit lower than the WSXGA that your laptop's LCD will have. I think you will definitely want one to go at least up to 1920x1200, or at the very least, match the res. of your laptop.

On a side note: I read somewhere that you should make sure everything is powered down before connecting/disconnecting LCDs--at the risk of burning something. Please take this precaution when connecting your new LCDs.

 

The biggest benefit of using an external monitor is when you use your laptop screen side by side with the external monitor. When you do that (and set it up correctly in Display>Settings) you can have different applications open on each screen at the same time. Your curser will move between the two as if they were one.

Think resource screen and project screen. You can have your email open on one, and what ever you are working on open on the other. Or, you can have your Excel spreadsheet with your raw data open on one, and your Word report open on the other. Then you can copy and paste the data from the spreadsheet to the report without having to toggle between screens. Another example is answering an email with a bunch of questions. No more scrolling up and down. You have the email with the questions open on your resource screen and your answer open on the project screen...just look at the questions on the resource screen and type your answers on the project screen. Ok, one more. How about getting contact information from an email into your address book...no more toggling or having to remember. Just look at one and type into the other.

Having two screens will make you faster and more productive than faster components in your machine...you can actually get far more done in a day using two screens at the same time than using just one.

Now...how about using 3, 4, 5 or 6 screens at the same time...all off of your laptop? It can be done with the combination of the VTBook PCMCIA (and shortly ExpressCard) video adapter plus a Matrox Dual or TripleHead2Go

 

Yes, I see where I neglected to consider the "dual" aspect of the second monitor. I've never used such a configuration but Paladin articulated the benefits so well I may just have to go out and get an external monitor for those reasons alone!

Is VGA the best (or only) option available for Port Replicator-type setups? In order to go DVI, you would still have to plug in the external monitor every time you use it as far as I can see (but perhaps worth the effort for the reasons Paladin stated above).

I have a DVI LCD whose DVI ability got fried with my last video card--now I am using VGA which is OK, but nowhere near as "clean" as it used to be. I'm just thinking that if VGA is the best option right now, perhaps lower-end LCDs will suffice? Meaning no need to go out and buy an expensive LCD if you're going to use a lower-end connection.

I now defer to the experts...

 

I am not aware of any USB port replicators that handle DVI...only VGA. But the best way is to plug the external monitor directly into your laptop so that you are using the dual head function of that video card (no matter what it is, it will be better than what the USB port replicator offers).

If you are using the dual (or more) monitors for business applications, email, surfing etc. VGA is fine, and that is typically what you use multiple monitors for anyway. While you can use the Matrox Dual or TripleHead2Go to spread the entire image across both or all three screens ( http://www.matrox.com/graphics/offhome/th2go/home.cfm), and that is pretty exciting, most people at this point use mulitple monitors for work or study.

 

Handling a monitor through USB is very limited - only VGA at most, with 16-bit color, not the usual 32.

Some notebooks, such as Dell Latitudes, have dedicated docking stations with dedicated connectors. They have integrated DVI connectors in the docking station - the bandwidth and transfer capability of their specialized connector is able to handle DVI.

I've mentioned it before, but I use a DVI monitor alongside my Sager 5320 in the same way Donald mentioned - side by side. I'll take a photo of it if anyone would like to see.

Chaz

 

Please do Chaz.

I plan to get a 20.1 1680x1050 widescreen external DVI lcd (probally viewsonic) and have that as the primary monitor with notebook monitor secondary, when stationary. Is it possible to have the dual screens like this and how variable are what you can have on both screens...hell, if I wanted could I have primary external LCD be the entertainment gaming screen while smaller notebook one be the work, messages, one. How variable and much control can be given to the secondary screen?

I also have a wireless mouse and keyboard awaiting the laptop. Logitech S510. I plan to have that going with the laptop and the dual screens...I was wondering if there is a way for the one input keyboard/mouse devices to control a specific screen or is it only primary screen functional with secondary acting only as a see your desktop, and things that pop under what your doing on primary. Would it not be really cool if the secondary screen (while primary is on) can be controlled more with either one of the keyboards, can the notebook keyboard or touchpad be used to control one screen while the wireless mouse and keyboard control the other? Has technology advanced to this stage of uber multi-tasking, yet?

Thanks,
Chris

 

Yeah I was thinking about gaming on the larger LCD in particular, but I can see how dual-screen applications in business wouldn't need the DVI-sharpness. And I guess if you wanted it, it's worth the 10 seconds it takes to connect via DVI.

Was just wondering if DVI support was available via Port Replicators but was very doubtful. Thanks again you guys!

 

That is the idea. The second screen (if you mean the external) is usually made to be the primary with the laptop sitting to the left. You put your keyboard in front of the external monitor which becomes your main monitor just as if you were using a desktop, with your mouse to the right. Your keyboard and mouse control both screens. As I said before your curser slides between the screens as if they were one. You have to activate (click on) the screen you want to work on at the time, and then just move the curser over to the other screen and click to work on it. Back and forth, back and forth...just click to activate the screen you want to work on at the time.

Actually either keyboard and mouse/touchpad will control both screens, but you usually just use your main keyboard and mouse to control them as I described.

I hate to tell you this, but this uber multi-tasking capability with mulitple monitors has been around for years. It really started with Win98 that could control up to 9 monitors.

 

I have an SXGA (1280x1024) monitor as my primary, my laptop's 1680x1050 as secondary. Total res: 2960x1050. Here's a print screen of my extended desktop with a bunch of windows open - primary is on the right, secondary on the left.

Photo is attached - sorry, it's a bit dark right now.

 

What...no ergonomic keyboard?

 

If I had my camera here I would show you how I use 3 monitors. My setup is pretty much just like yours, except the 2nd external (3rd screen) is on the right. I use an ergonomic keyboard with a Synaptics TouchPad built in...no mouse.

 

LOL, nope. Have an MS Natural 4000 on my desktop though. A bit big for that desk there, I would need a bigger one.

 

I hate to barge in here as I don't have a Sager notebook, but I have a few questions pertaining to laptops with external monitors, and I didn't get the answers I wanted in a seperate forum. Some of these questions might have already been answered, but bare with me.

1. Is it possible to make either the laptop or the external monitor the primary display? Or must the laptop be the primary display?

2. Can a game be played on the external monitor?

3. What would happen if the resolution of the external monitor was larger than the laptop resolution?

4. Can the external monitor basically replace the laptop screen? In other words, can you just close the screen on the laptop and use the external monitor for everything?

Chris 583, let me know what monitor you end up purchasing as I am hopefully going to purchase a similar setup!

 

You should read through some of this thread, all your answers are in there.

 

*Note to self, never skim read on a computer forum*

I am still confused by the fact that an external monitor cannot have a higher resolution than the laptop LCD. If you try to do so will there be no image at all on the external monitor? The laptop can't handle the higher resolution even if the video card is pretty powerful?

 

I think you can have a higher resolution on the external LCD than the laptop if you only use the external LCD and have it as primary, but if you go for dual screens the resolution cannot be higher than the one on the notebook or the smaller res. Re-read some of the thread and there are some good answers in there, I am sure others will elaborate on this. Hopefully what I just said is right...if not sorry, I am very tired

 

Some laptops will support a higher resolution on the exteranl monitor (e.g. my laptop is 1400x1050 and my external monitors are 1680x1050) and some will not.

You need to check with your reseller about the specific capabilities of the model you are interested in.