Looking to upgrade my monitor for shmups, should I?

[KNekoSpy]

I'm currently running on an Acer H213H. I know LCDs aren't the best for shmups but I don't really have the space for a CRT and I want the wide screen HD display for other things. I'm looking for a TATE-able monitor that has as low input lag as I can get it. I don't mind black bars on top or bottom, I'll be using MAME. Any suggestions?

[Xyga]

You'll find a number of discussions gathered here: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=50283

[austere]

It's not easy to find any more (since it's discontinued) but if you get a chance, buy the Dell U2410. I bought two of them. Its input latency isn't as low as some competitors but it's hard to tell the difference (about half a frame). It has factory calibrated sRGB as well, and 8-bit level colour without dithering which is nice if you need it for other things (like fine CAD work that some monitors make impossible). Finally, the 16:10 ratio is a much more comfortable aspect ratio for 1:1 up scaling of arcade games than 16:9 -- the black bar issue you mention isn't really what's important, how much of the screen the game fills up is. It won't make a difference if you're using an integer multiplier though.

[Astraea FGA Mk. I]

If you are playing games with the monitor in portrait position / TATE 16:10 is vastly superior to 16:9. More lateral movement space. It makes a huge difference.
I recently got a BENQ BL2411 16:10 1920x1200 monitor and it is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I could rave on about it for a long time.

Review sites claim it has 4ms input lag which is a 1/4 of a frame. Inputs seem instant, my brain and eyes cannot detect any delay at all.
The only drawback is that it has no HDMI port. This doesn't affect me as I have no intention of using HDMI but I understand that others may want this.

My computer is connected via DVI, 360 connected via VGA and Mac mini connected via display port.
I'd be willing to argue that VGA is better than HDMI for Xbox 360 shmups as it is an analog signal which has less lag.

^- a lot of info you may not need, the point of my post is to recommend that you to get a 16:10 monitor.

[Xyga]

You're wrong about two things:

- 16:10 or higher resolutions in general adding space in games
resolution or screen size don't affect how a game is designed. ratio does affect the way you will perceive movement but only when it is off (different from the original's)

- Less lag through VGA-input/analogue
that used to be true essentially for TVs featuring such an input, but the issue mostly never affected pc monitors in the same way.

Well doesn't change the fact the the BL2411 is indeed a good monitor. ^^

[Ed Oscuro]

I think Astraea is saying that a tall widescreen monitor (i.e. WUXGA) of the same given (advertising) size as a pure widescreen (16:9) could have more vertical space (or horizontal if rotated). Personally I don't know about this, but physical screen dimensions' relationship to marketing talk has always mystified me.

[austere]

- 16:10 or higher resolutions in general adding space in games
resolution or screen size don't affect how a game is designed. ratio does affect the way you will perceive movement but only when it is off (different from the original's)

That isn't true, perception has nothing to do with it. A 16:10 screen will give you 16.9% more area than a 16:9 screen of the same size when using a 1:1 scale. This is independent of the play area's ratio, so long* as it is below or equal to 16:10. You'd need a ~26" 16:9 to get the same play area. Do the maths and keep in mind the screen size is measured diagonally. If you use the entire area of the monitor, 16:10 has 5% more area so even then it is superior.

His second point is incorrect though, a VGA signal must be conditioned and passed through an ADC (then conditioned again, typically) before it is displayed on a non-CRT display. That can actually induce more lag and would definitely degrade the image quality.

* Sufficient, not necessary condition.

[Xyga]

I think Astraea is saying that a tall widescreen monitor (i.e. WUXGA) of the same given (advertising) size as a pure widescreen (16:9) could have more vertical space (or horizontal if rotated). Personally I don't know about this, but physical screen dimensions' relationship to marketing talk has always mystified me.

Indeed I misunderstood his point, thinking about the actual space ingame. ^^
If it's only for my games I'd rather buy a larger 16:9 screen though. And regarding resolution the only benefit for me would be the obvious advantage for HSLS and other shaders stuff (which I only rarely use so...)