Dell UltraSharp for a Mac Mini media centre?

[Thank The Cheese]

Over the next year, I plan on buying, one by one, components for a Mac Mini/EyeTV HDTV media centre. My first purchase will be a Dell, then I plan on buying a Mini post-MacWorld 2007.

I'm thinking a 20" or 24" Dell UltraSharp is a good buy, but I need some advice from the experts before I splurge.

My main question is with the response time: 16ms. I'm not an expert in this area, but through a lot of research I've found that that is on the higher end, most of the new LCDs I've seen offer 8ms or below. Is this going to be an issue for game consoles. I intend on buying a Wii for it (first console I've bought since the PlayStation 1 I think!), and I'm worried about blurring and lag.

My original plan was to use my iMac G5 as a monitor and buy the EyeTV Hybrid for it, which boasts a zero latency gaming mode. I bought it and found there was, in fact, a latency (a very slight delay between the time you pushed a button and the time it actually got to the screen). This lag was too minor to be an issue with DVD menus, but trying to play a game with that *slight* delay drove me bonkers. So I took it back and will put the money towards a stand-alone monitor instead.

THe other thing is the contrast ratio --- 800:1 for the 20" and 1000:1 typical for the 24" -- is the 1000:1 going to be all that noticeable?

Really appreciate the help. I have been googling for hours but can't seem to find a straight answer regarding console gaming with these monitors.

cheers.

[MisterMe]

I don't like Dell LCD panels as computer monitors. Use as a TV monitor, however, is not a rigorous test for an LCD panel. In this application, the Dell should do fine.

[Thank The Cheese]

cheers MisterMe. What don't you like about them? They certainly don't have the good looks of a cinema display, but their specs are pretty good, especially considering the price.

something about connecting a dell to a mac is a little creepy though...

[Lt Major Burns]

I have both the Apple 20" Cinema Display, and the Dell 2005FPW 20" (the same monitor, practically).

I can tell you that my Dell has slightly better colour than the ACD (the Apple has a slightly more washed out, yellowish tint to it that needs correcting to the dells reasonably perfect colour way). the dell has a nicer colour, but possibly isn't perfect. it's more vivid.

however, the apple display has a better backlight, resulting in a noticeable difference. the dell's backlight bleeds more, meaning blacks are less black toward the edges than the Apple.

both have 16ms response, which is getting a bit behind, technologically. however, doom3 or UT2004 run wonderfully on either monitor, i've never had a problem. response times faster than 16ms are like the audio difference between 128kbps and 160kbps AAC. it's there if you look for it, but both are very much acceptable.

i would go for the Dell 24". it has a really nice array of ports at the back meaning you'll be able to plug in anything, and the 24" is fully 16:10 1920x1200 compliant, so will be able to do 1080p video no problem.

[Thank The Cheese]

thanks very much for the advice Burns. I bought the 24" and an using it right now -- very impressed with it! Looks fantastic, very sharp and bright. Actually I was thinking originally how nice and bright it was, then I looked through the menu and found it was set to only 50%! Now I need sunglasses.

thanks again.