I too have been thinking seriously about upgrading my monitor to a TFT model - maybe running dual desktop using the TFT as the main screen, and the CRT as the secondary screen.
PCPro ran a review section on 17-18" TFT screens last month (Issue 80, June 2001), and their overall winner was the Iiyama AS4431D - to quote the review:
"...it even scored distinctions for games and DVD movie playback. This last asset is particularly notable as the Iiyama is one of the few screens to feature S-Video and composite video inputs, along with a plain old D-SUB if you want to stick with an existing analogue graphics card".
 
It's that last point that has me interested - I've thought about TFTs in the past, but dismissed them because they needed a new graphics card.
Cost is £1052 inc VAT, although since the review is now a couple of months old, that price may have come down.
 
All I need now is to find some spare cash, and I'll be gaming in stereo (as it were...)!!
 
AndyF

Hi Andy,
Yer, I picked up that review.
It was actually the Iiyama I was looking at.
OK, so it's only 17.4" compared to the others at 18", but it was a lot cheaper, was given a damn good review and I've been an IIyama fan for ages.
I've got a GeForce 2 Ultra with a DVI output, so that should make things nice.
I saw the conclusion about DVD & Games, that's what swung me even further towards the Iiyama.
Just wanted to know if any actual TFT users could mention games, review is one thing, but real-world experience I think counts for a lot too!
Cheers for you input.

i think the samsung 770 17" has no dvi input, the samsung 170 17" has. they said that in a mag. But before buy, hav a 3D game run like unreal tournament, and play some minutes, find out how it feels. If you feel dizzy 8) , it is definitely too slow.

TFT are good if you intend to use always the same resolution (1280x1024 for instance). But lower resolutions just won't look fine, unlike CRT monitors. Video quality (DVD films) seems better to me , but again, that depends on the model.
 
 
PS:
Actually, I find TFT overpriced , and I won't be buying one until two or three years....because I prefer expending € 700 in a good 19 inch CRT than € 1200 for a 17 inch TFT.

Oh I know they are expensive, an 18" TFT setting me back well over a grand.
I've got a nice powerfull video card, so general Windows would be in 1280x1024.
I tend to drop game resolution to 1024x768, I prefer the overall size of everything in games at that resolution.
I actually thought of that, I must get the showroom to show me it running at less than maximum resolution to see how it looks.

iiyama lcd's are one of the best I have iiyama ASU4311U 17" lcd if you want a bargin I wished I had looked here first ! check out this site http://www.monitors4sale.co.uk/Prolit46.html
Regards Badboy

Badboy,
So you own one of the Iiyama's then?
You rate it?
Do you play games on it, do they look OK?
What res do you play games at?
 
Sorry for all the questions mate, I really wanted to chat to somebody who has one for their opinions!!

;( yeah badboy tell something about speed in 3d games!

The iiyama is a nice monitor I play games on it if I can I like to play at 1280x1024 but Windows 2000 drivers are not as fast as Windows 98 at this resolution you dont get as many FPS I have to drop back to 1024x768 the graphics on these monitors are hard to beat in my opinion. Halflife I can play at 1280x1024 in opengl and the graphics are A1. The best thing about this monitor is that if you play games at 1024x768 the monitor will stretch to full screen so it would look like you were playing at 1280x1024. DVD's are pin sharp This is the second iiyama lcd monitor I have owned in the last three years and to be honest I would not have anything else the 2d is out of this world if you are word proccessing or even sufing the net I would rate my monitor all round 10/10.
Regards Badboy.

Thanks Badboy for youre review.
That has made me even more interested in this bit of kit!!
 
Cheers

Well, I've done it - found a bit of extra cash in my wallet, and I've ordered the Iiyama - £600-ish from dabs.com - I've gone for the 4311, which is (as far as I can see) the same as the 4331 but without the extras like USB hub and speakers - which aren't worth an extra £300!
 
I'll be keeping my 17" CRT so that I can run a dual screen setup at some point in the future...
 
BladeRunner - did you ever make a decision in the end? If so, what did you buy, and are you happy with it?
 
Rgds
AndyF

I was so very close to getting at the end of last month!!
I honestly can't remember what stopped me, but after payday this month I might have to go out and purchase!
The big problem is that I want to spend more on an LCD panel :-(
If I remember correctly, the 4311 doesn't have a DVI input where as the 4431 does, I'm guessing that's where the extra £270 comes from:
 
17.4" rather than 17"
Speakers
USB Hum
DVI Input
 
I know that with a DVI connection at both end the pixels respond quicker.
However, as you've already ordered yours I'm going to be very interested in reading your review!!