Subjective Analysis


 DisplayMate/CheckScreen/VESA FPDM 2.0
 Test  Monitor  Observations
Intensity range check 172X (digital) 5, Good
172X (analog) 5
2001FP (digital) 5
2001FP (analog) 5, Good
Black level adjustment 172X (digital) 4.5
172X (analog) 4.5
2001FP (digital) 4.5
2001FP (analog) 4.5, Acceptable
Defocusing, blooming and halos check 172X (digital) 5, None
172X (analog) 5
2001FP (digital) 5, None
2001FP (analog) 5, None
Screen uniformity and color purity 172X (digital) 5, Excellent
172X (analog) 5
2001FP (digital) 4.5+
2001FP (analog) 4.5+, better than 192T, but still small imperfection on upper right
Dark screen (Glare Test) 172X (digital)
4, Similar to Samsung 192T
172X (analog)
4
2001FP (digital)
4.5
2001FP (analog)
4.5, Improvement over 1702FP and 192T
Primary colors 172X (digital) 4.5
172X (analog) 4.5
2001FP (digital) 4
2001FP (analog) 4, attempted to fix curves with OptiCal
Color Scales 172X (digital) 4.5
172X (analog) 4.5
2001FP (digital) 4, red errors
2001FP (analog) 4, red errors
16 intensity levels 172X (digital) 5, Excellent
172X (analog) 5
2001FP (digital) 4.5+
2001FP (analog) 4.5+, Improvement over the 192T
Screen regulation 172X (digital) 5
172X (analog) 4.5, Imperfections along edges
2001FP (digital) 5
2001FP (analog) 4.5
Streaking and ghosting 172X (digital) 5, none
172X (analog) 3, Intense streaking on simple images
2001FP (digital) 5, None
2001FP (analog) 3.5, Extremely present at 1600x1200. Analog signal is not capable.

Our first surprise came when we noticed how poorly the 172X held the analog signal. Any imperfections from the analog signal seemed only amplified by the TN display. Below is a streaking artifact generated by a simple alternating white/black column test pattern (Moire Column Pattern). The effect looks like a viewing angle imperfection in the still image, but careful analysis shows the streaking occurs no matter what viewing angle. The streaking only appears on the left and right sides of the screen, not the middle.



Click to enlarge.


The monitor had particular issues with non-solid half tones. We suspect that this is related to the FRC dithering.

Using the Entertainment display mode in MagicBright, we achieved excellent intensity range and primary color tests. After correcting the image with OptiCal in the first half of this review, there were few instances where the color depth was unacceptable. However, we are capable of noticing the FRC enabled LCD versus a native 16.7M color panel; occasionally, the dithering creates patches of interference where the dithering should occur. This appears most frequently on the analog input, but is also present on the digital input. Fortunately, most people should be unable to detect these imperfections.

Full Screen Application Final Thoughts
Comments Locked

19 Comments

View All Comments

  • operator - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    #7
    That's myth. There's a lot of articles debunking said fact.
  • synic - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    prod·i·gal ( P ) Pronunciation Key (prd-gl)
    adj.

    1. Rashly or wastefully extravagant: prodigal expenditures on unneeded weaponry; a prodigal life.
    2. Giving or given in abundance; lavish or profuse: prodigal praise. See Synonyms at profuse.


    Obviously it doesn't mean what you think it does, given the context you use it in.
  • jdreyer - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    If the human eye is only capable of detecting 60 frames per second (one frame every 16 ms), why do we need response times any faster than that?
  • Mithan - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    I had one of these for a week and I found it to be a fairly good monitor, though there was a tad bit of ghosting in games like UT2004, however it was extremly playable.

    The main problem I had with this monitor is that I had to order 3 of them before I got one that didn't have a burnt or stuck pixel.

  • JGF - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    I've decided that LCD's still arent for me yet and purchased a Mitsubishi 19' 930SB CRT. Gorgeous monitor.
  • T8000 - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    When you select the 16 bit color mode in Windows or in games, does that disable color shifting, because 16 bit is less then 3 x 6 bit?
  • AlexWade - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    No, you can stop waiting. I've got a 19" LG.Philips S-IPS panel and I notice absolutely NO streaking and ghosting in anything, even though official response time is 25 ms. I paid a hair under $600 for the 19" LG 1910S. Its Analog only. And the text isn't too sharp. I don't like that. Still, it cost less than the Samsung monitors.

    The NEC 1996NXi (the numbers may be off) is also a S-IPS panel. But it costs more and is harder to find than the LG.
  • Phiro - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    I dunno, sounds pretty good to me. If it was $300 I'd try to buy it. Currently $540, I'm going to bookmark this on their realtime price thing and check it every week for awhile.

  • araczynski - Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - link

    so...just keep waiting as usual...

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now