Customer Review
- Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2012Backstory: I bought this monitor as a precursor to my new gaming rig. I was interested in 3D gaming on my PC, so I started looking into possible setups. I decided on a monitor that used Nvidia's form of 3d since AMD's system still does not take advantage of multiple cards to boost 3D performance. I was quite interested in Alienware's monitor at first, but the price made it hard to commit. Then I found this monitor. The specs looked good, and the price was low enough to take a chance on.
The monitor: I like it. I've had a number of displays in my time, and this one is giving me the nicest images since my old Gateway LP2407. Certainly better than the Dell monitors I've tried recently, even the supposedly "good" ones. Despite being a cheaper panel, the color modulation from different angles is very minimal. I'm also a graphic artist, besides a gamer. And nothing irks me like a display where the corners look different from the middle as I try to paint. Out of the box, the monitor was way overly vivid, but comes with decent calibration software that toned things back well enough. Also, the monitor comes with an HDMI, VGA, and Dual-DVI cord, which is pretty generous considering it is a "low cost" entry. I haven't received my new rig with the 3d kit yet, but I will update this when I do. So far though, this is a very good monitor at a good price. No frills, but I'd rather save $200 and buy a separate usb hub or speakers.
IMPORTANT: You can only get the full 120hz refresh rate from your computer if you are connecting to the monitor via the Dual-DVI cord. I had to google that one to figure it out. So HMDI is out if you want the full she-bang out of this monitor.
Pros: Low price, nice picture, 120hz, all cords come with box
Cons: takes a bit to calibrate, no frills
Update: It's been over a year since I purchased this monitor, and I thought I should finally update my experience. The unit still continues to function well, despite near constant use, which is a plus. No dead pixels, no discoloration. I have had time to notice a few things about it, though. The backlight has a pulse that moves slowly down the screen in waves. That sounds awful, I know, but its mostly only noticeable when looking at large banks of mid-tone-to-dark greys. As someone who works often in Photoshop and Illustrator, it shows up a lot in the default grey of the workspace. It also has a tendency to show up a bit in 3D mode. But 3D mode, in general, tends to highlight the limitations of TV's and monitors. It's never so noticeable as to ruin the experience. But you CAN notice it if you pay attention. Think of it as a small smudge on a piece of glass you are looking through. Ignore it, and your eyes adjust, and you'll forget its even there. Pay attention to it and it will drive you mad. Glasses wearers will know what I mean.
I'd still recommend this monitor to people who are interested in 3D gaming on a budget. For the money, it's a solid piece of hardware. And it's seriously diminishing returns for your money to go with the more expensive "Better" alternatives.
