ASUS VG236H 23-inch 3D Display Review: 120Hz is the Future
by Brian Klug on August 7, 2010 2:48 AM ESTConclusions
This was the first 120Hz desktop LCD I’ve gotten time with, and even before I opened the box I had heard from all around that it’s held in very high regard. Regardless of how you feel about 3D, the VG236H is an awesome choice even from the perspective of its 120Hz refresh rate. Side by side with a traditional 60Hz LCD, the difference is striking. Further, instead of getting tearing above 60 FPS like you would with vsync off on a traditional 60Hz LCD, you get smoother gameplay that just looks more fluid. I definitely can tell the difference, and now I don’t want to go back.
With the 120Hz display, you’re really getting every frame at or below 120 FPS drawn to the screen. At that high of a response time, you definitively can’t see flicker. The result is a similar kind of ‘once you’ve experienced it, you can’t go back’ to a solid state drive.
But if you’re going to get the VG236, it’s worth it to go for the H model which bundles the 3D vision kit over the HE which excludes it, if nothing else so you can see 3D for yourself and decide if it’s worth it. It’s a shame that NVIDIA doesn’t bundle or subsidize copies of Metro 2033 or other 3D Vision Ready titles that really offer a level of gameplay and 3D polish that even ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ titles clearly lack.
Right now, the VG236H’s primary competition is the Acer GD235Hz, which, bundled with the 3D Vision kit, runs $545 on newegg. At $499 with the bundled 3D Vision kit, the VG236H looks like an undeniably better deal with the same specs on paper. The other primary contender is the Alienware OptX. Hopefully we’ll get our hands on these and compare.
As for the future, the real draw will be to larger screens and higher resolutions. In the immediate future, we’ll see a move to LED backlighting on these 120Hz panels. Once you try a 120Hz display, it’s hard to go back.
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killerclick - Saturday, August 7, 2010 - link
Stop trying to push these stupid fads, I'm not buying 3D! Ever!Etern205 - Saturday, August 7, 2010 - link
3D monitors are just regular LCD screens which support up to 120Hz. Enabling 3D requires those special glasses and it's entirely up to you whether you want to enable it or not.There is not such thing as a 3D monitor as if there is, then you will need to wear the glasses every single time you use it.
And imo, that 3D logo on the stand looks hideous. Much like a ricer who puts sticker of tuners just to make it look cool or something.
Iketh - Saturday, August 7, 2010 - link
... but don't change the camera perspective when taking comparitive photos. The height adjustment images don't help a bit. Leave the camera in the same position for both.Etern205 - Saturday, August 7, 2010 - link
I thought all monitors are "3D" ?:P
smookyolo - Sunday, August 8, 2010 - link
That's what they'd like you to think, yes ;)dingetje - Sunday, August 8, 2010 - link
yes, and the old crt's are even more 3D than the new technology ;)HDPeeT - Saturday, August 7, 2010 - link
Thanks for the great review! I'm glad to see that there are professional sites out there that appreciate the advantages 120hz displays bring to the table besides just the 3D stuff.I know, I know, there are plenty of people out there that are really excited about 3D gaming and movies, but for me, it's all about the faster refresh and (hopefully) lower input lag.
The one thing I'm little confused about is how you reached the conclusion that the display has 3.9ms of lag. When you say "The VG236H consistently lags 1 frame from the FP241W.", wouldn't this imply that it has at least ~8ms of lag at a 120hz refresh (or even 16ms at 60hz (still not clear on that)?
Mumrik - Saturday, August 7, 2010 - link
Page 1: "On a technical level, the necessity for 120Hz arises from the need to drive two 60Hz images for each eye."That would take 240hz. You mean ONE 60Hz image for each eye.
cactusdog - Saturday, August 7, 2010 - link
Brian, Do you see the same benefits (of smoother motion on the desktop) when the VG236H is set to 60Hz?7Enigma - Monday, August 9, 2010 - link
Good question. The obvious answer is no, but I agree it should quickly be tested.