Help! What monitors do you recommend for a graphics workstation?
Sup everyone. I've decided to up my professional game by making the move to building a workstation dedicated to professional graphics, meant for both 2D (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, etc) and 3D (Autodesk Maya, Adobe AfterEffects) work. As such, I'm looking for recommendations on what monitors to pick up. I haven't bought monitors in over 6 years, so I have no clue where to begin, and what types of panels are right for me.
For my workstation, I will be building a rig with the following components:
GPU: AMD FirePro v5900 (Won at SIGGRAPH 2011, yay!)
CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K (Sandy Bridge)
Memory: 32GB G.Skill 1600
Mobo: ECS Z77H2-A2X Golden (Won at IC Expo 2012, yay!)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 3 120GB SSD + WD 2TB HDD
So, I'll be using the FirePro v5900. It supports up to 3 monitors by itself via Eyefinity, so I would like to take advantage of that with 3 monitors. I have a MAX budget of $2000 for monitors alone, though I would strongly prefer to keep it under that for all three. As such, I would like a few different price points that I could look over ($1000, $1500, and $2000 set options), as well as general pointers on which display panel technologies I should look for, and which I should avoid (ie, which are typical "good enough for gamers" trash, and which are geared for professionals).
Since this will be for professional graphics, color fidelity and accuracy is important. High resolutions are also preferred. But it ALL has to be run on just that one card, as I don't have the budget to buy a newer or more cards. I say this because I don't know what kind of monitors are out there that have higher than 1920x1200 resolutions and what GPU/cable setups they need to work.
Thanks everyone. High fives all around for any help given.
For my workstation, I will be building a rig with the following components:
GPU: AMD FirePro v5900 (Won at SIGGRAPH 2011, yay!)
CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K (Sandy Bridge)
Memory: 32GB G.Skill 1600
Mobo: ECS Z77H2-A2X Golden (Won at IC Expo 2012, yay!)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 3 120GB SSD + WD 2TB HDD
So, I'll be using the FirePro v5900. It supports up to 3 monitors by itself via Eyefinity, so I would like to take advantage of that with 3 monitors. I have a MAX budget of $2000 for monitors alone, though I would strongly prefer to keep it under that for all three. As such, I would like a few different price points that I could look over ($1000, $1500, and $2000 set options), as well as general pointers on which display panel technologies I should look for, and which I should avoid (ie, which are typical "good enough for gamers" trash, and which are geared for professionals).
Since this will be for professional graphics, color fidelity and accuracy is important. High resolutions are also preferred. But it ALL has to be run on just that one card, as I don't have the budget to buy a newer or more cards. I say this because I don't know what kind of monitors are out there that have higher than 1920x1200 resolutions and what GPU/cable setups they need to work.
Thanks everyone. High fives all around for any help given.
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Comments
Thrax: HP ZR2440W. mmmm.
mertesn: The HP ZR24w is nice, but gets really hot. Three of them only makes it worse. I don't know if HP has fixed the problem in newer hardware revisions, but I certainly hope so. My office temperature jumps 10-15 degrees when all three displays are running.
Thrax: This is pretty common for any high-gamut CFL-backlit IPS panel.
shwaip: The ZR2740w is LED backlit and doesn't put off much heat. The 2440 is also led backlit, and may be a bit more within your pricerange, if you want 3 of them
fatcat: Dell 2412m only $900 for three of them. does not get hot
Me: Thinking about it, I would prefer energy-efficient cool-running monitors, so LED-backlit monitors would be preferred, unless there's a color temperature trade-off for going LED (are they more blue-looking, perhaps?). Also, it just occurred to me that since I'll be going multi-monitors, a thin bezel is STRONGLY preferred so they can sit closer side-by-side.
HAHAHAHAHAH
HOHOHOHOHO
HEE HEE HEE
oh man my sides are splitting.
Also I only have good things to say about HP's monitor tech support. My first 2740 had problems on sleep when connected to displayport and within 2 days of talking to tech support, they sent me a new cable, then 2 days later a new monitor when the cable didn't fix the problem.
Now for price, the current Dell deal may win me over. According to Camelegg, $289 is the lowest that monitor's ever been. If I went with the HP displays, three would run about $1200, while triple Dells would be under $900. Hmm...
http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/78498/dell-small-business-24-dell-u2412m-ultrasharp-ips-1920x1200-led-monitor
@shwaip: Oooooh. Very nice find. Thank you!
@PirateNinja I actually have a cheap smaller Acer monitor I use in conjunction with a laptop. It's VGA-only, which seems a bit odd, but that's okay. It was like $70, free shipping, and my laptop has VGA out. Works great. I think I'll still go Dell, but otherwise I also wouldn't discredit Acer (sorry other Ryan).
newegg is still $289
I'll sleep on it. Thanks again guys.
There are certain brands I won't let clients deal with based on that cocktail napkin math, and Acer is one of them. They fail at a higher rate than any other brand in almost every product category they make products in, frequently not too long after their warranties run out. Even if you're 'lucky' enough to be in warranty, their support is probably the worst in the business. Asus is giving them a run for their money in that category, though.
Then there's the fact that any illusion of them being a deal is just that - smoke and mirrors. Any Acer product out there, I can find something from a reputable company with a better warranty and better build quality for a couple bucks more. It's not worth the perceived 'value' they present at first glance.
But people can buy what they want. I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
Only problem I had was the fact that their warranty status tools are bit janky and they don't send you a tracking number.