Bought a Dell 24" 2407 WFP Ultrasharp for $700 back in 2007. I still use it as a side monitor and it still is better than commodity monitors you can get today. Runs way hotter though!
Code:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-2407WFP-HC-WideScreen-Resolution-Monitor/dp/B000NKU5H0
To this day no other monitor I've ever seen can render dark games as well as it can. Even the 34" gaming monitor I bought a year ago for $763 (which is better in basically every other respect) has more trouble with really dark scenes.
Code:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Alienware-Monitor-Resolution-Overclocked/dp/B0777RY75V