Samsung S23A750D Color Uniformity and Color Gamut

Most TN panels that I have seen seem to have uniformity issues around the panel, but this is also probably that TN panels are usually found in less expensive monitors that use less expensive backlighting systems. The Samsung isn’t an inexpensive monitor and has much better uniformity than most panels out there.

LCD Color Uniformity

Other than the bottom of the display, the Samsung is as uniform a monitor as I have seen so far, and maintains its low dE across most of the screen. Samsung has done a much better job with their TN panel and color uniformity than most vendors out there. That darker lower-right corner doesn’t seem to cause much of a color shift at least, as an uneven backlighting system often can.

Despite only being listed as covering the sRGB gamut, which would mean 71% of the Adobe RGB gamut, the Samsung measured out to cover almost 78% of the Adobe RGB gamut. Compared to a normal sRGB monitor, most of that extra range seems to be in the additional blue colors that are available. As one of the samples used to calculate the dE value that is blue is typically outside of the sRGB gamut, the extra gamut can bring the Samsung closer to being able to display this color, which helps the overall dE.

LCD Color Quality

Brightness and Contrast 3D and 120Hz Testing
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  • JarredWalton - Monday, December 19, 2011 - link

    So this is an oddity of HDMI. There are plenty of graphics cards that support HDMI 1.4a, which is the latest standard. For example, HDMI 1.3 category 2 supports up to 10.2Gb/s bandwidth, which should be enough for 120Hz at 1920x1080 (a 32-bit signal would require 7.96Gb/s). The problem is that HDMI uses HDCP, and I believe most (all?) consumer HDMI implementations use a chipset that can't do 1080p120.
  • Starzty - Monday, December 19, 2011 - link

    I can tell you from experience that every NVIDIA implementation I have used supported it. I have tested it on an 8600m, a 460, a 9800gt and a 460m. It only worked properly at the standard TV resolutions but it did work. While for video games the performance hit is significant enough that it doesn't matter, with a 27 inch screen I am thinking more about the applications in regard to 3d blu rays. I haven't tried AMD systems but I may give it a shot next time I am around one. I have tested it with a 3d viewsonic projector through HDMI and on a 3d tv which I cannot recall the brand of. The reviewer may have to wait for official 3dvision support to try an automated test through HDMI but you can tell the nvidia driver to push 120hz and it should go through.
    I know theoretically it should work but I thought you needed 1.4 do to 3d, I wasnt aware 1.3 supported it
  • JarredWalton - Monday, December 19, 2011 - link

    Just to update on this, I chatted with Chris and he said with an HDMI connection to the LCD there was no way to send a 120Hz signal. This could be something on the AMD driver side of the equation, or it may be the HDMI chipset in the Samsung LCD just doesn't accept that. In terms of specifications, it's important to note that 1080p120 isn't mandatory or even listed as an optional resolution; anything sending 1080p120 over HDMI is using HDMI more as a carrier for a DVI signal.
  • cheinonen - Monday, December 19, 2011 - link

    HDMI technically has the bandwidth for 120Hz, but it's not in the standard for HDMI 1.4a. Neither the Windows settings nor the Catalyst Control Panel would allow a refresh rate of 120Hz to be selected without using DisplayPort for the interface. For 3D over HDMI, the required formats are:

    - 1080p24 Frame Packed (so 24p for each eye)
    - 720p60 Frame Packed (for gaming, 60p each eye)
    - 1080i60 side by side
    - 720p60 top and bottom
    - 1080p24 top and bottom

    There is no 1080p60 frame packed there, which is what you would need to support a true 120Hz refresh rate at 1080p resolution. Some vendors might support this, but it's not in the standard, but it is fine with DisplayPort, so that's the route that Samsung went.
  • Death666Angel - Sunday, December 18, 2011 - link

    I am not really interested in seeing reviews of 120Hz monitors as long as they are 1080. I own a 24" 1200 right now and would really like to see more reviews of 1440 monitors (Dell U2711, Fujitsu P27T-6, Samsung S27A850D, Hazro HZ27WB/C). Especially the Samsung has been making waves. Some complain about the backlight bleed, but other praise the great matte finish which does not add grainyness (like e-IPS 27" have). :-)
  • dj christian - Thursday, December 22, 2011 - link

    Yes agreed! And AT somehow forgets my login everytime. Running FF 9.
  • IceDread - Monday, December 19, 2011 - link

    Good review, I however lost all trust in samsung after the scandal with samsung 226bw.

    http://www.behardware.com/articles/667-1/samsung-2...
  • DanNeely - Monday, December 19, 2011 - link

    Meh. At this point is there any major vendor who hasn't done a component lottery at some point?
  • IceDread - Tuesday, December 20, 2011 - link

    Well, which companies do you know about that has done it?

    If you keep purchasing products from a company with bad business ethics the industry will never improve.
  • justniz - Monday, December 19, 2011 - link

    Terrible review.
    Why would a non-gamer without anappropriate GPU try and review a 3D Monitor?
    Jeez at least start with the prerequisites filled.
    Furthermore testing with AMD GPU was a bad choice anyway...Everyone knows AMD 3D software support is a poor second best to nVidia's.

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