[PCM2]

Hi Cheshire Cat and welcome,

Unfortunately VA panel manufacturers (Samsung and AUO primarily) focus much of their efforts on larger or more expensive models. I feel something like the Samsung C27F591FD or BenQ EW277HDR would deliver the sort of vibrant and reasonably responsive experience you’re after. But there aren’t any direct equivalents that I believe would be in your price range, as I’d imagine only cheaper 24″ models would be?

Price aside, if you’re specifically wanting a ~24″ model then you might have to consider something like the Samsung C24F390FH. It doesn’t offer as wide a colour gamut as the CF591, so colours will be somewhat less vibrant. But you would still find the contrast pleasing and the colours hopefully ‘pop’ in some respects quite nicely, at least compared to a model like the Dell U2312HM. The BenQ VZ2470H I don’t have experience with, but from user feedback it seems it may have a more restricted colour gamut than even the Samsung CF390 (24″ model) and takes a fair bit of tweaking to get a nice image out of the box. I don’t believe pixel responsiveness is as good, either.

[Cheshire Cat]

To be honest, I’m disappointed 🙁 There’s no more monitors worth mentioning? I’ve looked a bit myself and found Philips 278E8QJAB/00, what do you think about that one? I think it has the same panel as that CF591.

[PCM2]

So you’re open to 27″ models, which is good. The Philips 278E8QJAB (forget the /00 – that is a useless designation for users and is used for retailers and warehouse managers) is a good call. At least, if it’s cheaper or easier for you to get hold of than the Samsung. It is indeed very similar and in fact offers a slightly wider colour gamut even. It uses the same CELL as the Samsung, which is a panel without backlight. Then Philips (or more specifically TPV) adds a custom backlight arrangement, which dictates the colour gamut (which is wide – good for vibrant colours) without affecting other characteristics of the panel. I can’t tell you how well it is tuned and how its pixel responsiveness compares to the Samsung, though, that sort of thing is dependent on the monitor and not just the panel used. The panel defines the limits of what can be achieved there, but it isn’t the be all and end all.

[Cheshire Cat]

I am open to 27″ models, not too happy about them because of the lower pixel density but budget ties me to 1080p for now. The reason that I don’t consider them most of the time is that they are usually more expensive, I also don’t know how I feel about curved monitors :/ This Philips is significantly cheaper being $240 and that Samsung is $380.

[PCM2]

That is massively cheaper. If you are able to return it if you’re not happy, perhaps you could try it out? Unfortunately the curve is something you’d have to see for yourself, but you may feel reassured in knowing that it’s something that people often fear for no good reason. We discuss this in the relevant section of any of our curved model reviews.

[NorthernChris]

>But as I’ve also mentioned, the haze you describe at sharp vertical viewing angles is an IPS weakness.

Do VAs share this drawback ? I’ve ruled out IPSs because the BenQ such a tiresome experience for my eyes. The funniest thing is that now that I know these IPS issues, I see them all the time in user reviews !

So I’m between a TN: the devil I know with slim chance of yellowish tint and BLB.
https://iiyama.com/gb_en/products/g-master-g2730hsu-b1/

And this AMVA, higher chance of yellowish tint and BLB but better angles and colour, contrast. Also no glow.
https://iiyama.com/gb_en/products/prolite-xb2783hsu-b3/

I’ve also read that VA tent to have a thinner antiglare filter that makes them less hazy.

[PCM2]

You can get issues with backlight bleed on models with any panel type. VA models also have ‘VA glow’ – refer to our reviews, this is always explored as is screen surface which is generally lower-haze and lighter for VA for this resolution. For the extreme vertical viewing angles, you’d see this ‘VA glow’ bloom out for dark content. But it isn’t as extreme as ‘IPS glow’ and it doesn’t really haze up the screen for lighter colours in the same way. You’ll have to see for yourself really, because I personally find the vertical viewing angles of TN so poor that I even question my own ‘IPS haze’ theory. I tested this just the other day comparing a Dell S2419H (IPS-type) and S2716DG (TN) with height appropriately adjusted and the S2419H had much clearer visibility from above. Except for dark shades. I really think the IPS model you’ve tested is just a rubbish monitor, but either way feel you should try a VA option instead.

[atr3jiu]

Hello from Greece!

Thank you for your great reviews.

I am currently building a budget pc (ryzen 5 2400g) basically for general use (browsing – word/excel – youtube) but I m gonna do a little gaming with the intergrated Vega 11 graphics. Planning on adding a dedicated GPU some time after summer.

So, in search for a good VFM monitor for general use but with gaming capabilities I came across Dell SE2717H model which I saw live in a store and was really impressed. However, doing some research I came across the AOC Q3279VWFD8 which seems like a much better deal and I can purchase for +40 euros compared to the Dell model but unfortunately can purchase only online and cant see it live in action!

I m mainly concerned about the size of the AOC model since I am currenty browsing through a 19” display.

Also I ‘m not quite sure how vega 11 can handle these monitors .

As for the Dell monitor I feel it might be a little outdated and maybe not offering same value as it did 1 year ago plus it has limited connectivity options.
I would be grateful if you could provide any help between the 2 or maybe throw in a more suitable model (budget up to 250 euros).

[PCM2]

Hi art3jiu,

The AOC Q3279VWFD8 offers truly exceptional value for money, with the screen size and resolution (plus IPS panel with vibrant and consistent colour output) key selling points. It’s a model I’m happy to recommend. The Dell SE2717H is just a bog-standard 27″ Full HD IPS model. It has a weaker colour gamut than the AOC (significantly less vibrant and saturated colours), a worse resolution (significantly worse for productivity purposes, I can assure you) and obviously a smaller screen. The screen size is really a key thing you’ll need to decide on, that’s a personal decision. Either screen will feel huge coming from a 19″ screen, but you’ll likely adapt in time. I say this as I used to find my 21.5″ screen large many years ago. Now I can happily use 43″ screens at the desk.

If you like vibrant colour output and strong contrast, plus with your uses in mind, you should really consider the BenQ EW277HDR as a more interesting/’lively’ alternative to the Dell if you’re really uncomfortable with a 31.5″ screen.

[atr3jiu]

Thanks so much for your prompt response,

I think that I can get used to the size. Plus I measuered the viewing distance from my 19” monitor and its between 70-85 cm.
I ‘ll go for the AOC model!!
Thanks again!

[Tigerman82]

I’m currently looking for a new monitor for Hades Canyon NUC (mini-PC with some gaming prowess, won’t give >60fps in titles like Witcher 3). I’m mostly a productivity multitasker guy so I need crisp text, good colors, space to allow multiple windows and generally a monitor that’s easy on the eyes. I figured a 27″ IPS monitor at 1440p (sharper than 1080p, not as demanding as 4K/5K) would do the trick. As I have an AMD GPU onboard, I’d prefer AMD Freesync.

Coming from an iMac, my mind was set on Dell S2719DC which is supposed to be nearly identical to the reviewed S2719DM (I’ve read that aside from the additional ports that the DC models has, they might improved the panel slightly). My thoughts were that this monitor would have the Dell quality control, fantastic colors (especially with the glossy screen to make them more vibrant) and, with the Freesync ranging from 48Hz to 75Hz with relatively low input lag, the gaming experience would be adequate. Moreover, I love the aesthetics and the small-footprint stand.

Unfortunately I then made the mistake of reading about high refresh rate monitors and it now feels like that if I buy a 60Hz panel, I’m buying something that is old tech (like buying an HHD in an era where SSDs are available). One of the more popular monitors with 144Hz is Acer XF270HU(A) (1440p 144Hz 4ms IPS) which is getting its successors now with VG270U(P) (AO panel) and XV272U(P) (Innolux panel) which are both 1440p 144Hz 1ms IPS models. On the other hand, concerning these gaming monitors, the quality control seems to be lower than with Dell and other more office/photo-editing oriented monitors, as every other review seems to list dead pixels and worse-than-average IPS glow.

I’d like to hear your thoughts concerning my dilemma. Which monitor would you recommend to me? I know you’ve reviewed a few of those cheap 31.5-inch AOC monitors that are regarded as excellent price/performance monitors but unfortunately I only have room for 27″ max. I’d especially like to hear your thoughts on the suitability of gaming monitors are office/photo-editing monitors as many seem to praise them for PQ and, with the high refresh rates, you’d think they’d be the top choices for any type of usage and yet they generally get recommended only for gaming.

[PCM2]

Hi Tigerman82 and welcome,

The Dell S2719DC is indeed similar to the S2719DM in many ways. As noted in our news piece on the monitor, the ‘DC’ offers DisplayHDR 600 rather than just DisplayHDR 400 (a.k.a ‘fake HDR’) like the ‘DM’. Although the backlight system of the ‘DM’ was similar in terms of capability anyway. It offers local dimming and hence allows HDR content to be delivered with a slight nudge in contrast. Compared to the ‘DM’, the ‘DC offers a much more generous colour gamut. That’s not only more appropriate for HDR content, which is designed with DCI-P3 in mind (the ‘DC’ offers ~90% DCI-P3) it also makes SDR content appear more vibrant. Knowing Dell it likely has a decent sRGB emulation mode, too. Which would be useful for you for photo editing. The DCI-P3 colour gamut is not appropriate for that, so you would need a monitor that will allow you to cut that down effectively to ~sRGB. If you own a colorimeter that would also help. Just a final point on these Dell models is that they offer a medium matte anti-glare screen surface, they’re not glossy. You might be thinking of the Dell S2719H.

Speaking of colour accuracy and photo editing, I’d absolutely recommend sticking with IPS-type panels for this. VA and moreover TN models simply don’t have the level of colour consistency you require for that sort of usage. You could calibrate them perfectly in the centre of the screen, but a given shade is going to appear very different to that if it’s displayed towards the edges of the screen. The Acer Nitro screens are certainly interesting. But it remains to be seen whether they suffer from the sort of inter-unit variation and general quality control issues that the older panels suffer from. That is of course not an Acer-specific issue by any stretch of the imagination, but one can hope that things are a bit more consistent and improved in this area with the newer panels. That might just be wishful thinking. That aside, the enhanced colour gamut (again pushing towards DCI-P3) is certainly nice if you like a vibrant look to games and that would be a nice boost compared to the older models. But you’d again ideally need an effective sRGB emulation mode for photography. Further discussion on colour gamuts and controlling saturation can be found in this thread.

We do plan to review some more Acer models in 2019 and that will likely include some Nitro models. But we’ve got quite a few other models we’d like to look at first (and that does actually include the Dell S2719DC, which we’ve asked for a sample of several times now). With CES just around the corner and a ‘new monitor year’ ahead it’s impossible to make any specific commitments to that, though. I’d also expect to see some models from other manufacturers using some of the same panels as the Acer Nitro models.

One thing I would question, though, is whether you’ll actually get much out of a 144Hz monitor. You’re talking about a relatively low-powered MiniPC that wouldn’t give above 60fps in titles like Witcher 3. What is the maximum frame rate you think you’d get on any title at 2560 x 1440? Bearing in mind you will want to be lowering some settings and not whacking everything on ‘Ultra’ as well. If it’s not in the triple digits then I don’t think a 144Hz monitor is a wise investment, you’d be better off sticking to something like the Dell UltraThin model you mentioned, with a more appropriate 75Hz ceiling. You’ve also got a half-decent HDR implementation to enjoy with the ‘DC’ model, something you wouldn’t get with the Acer Nitro models even.

[KennyKB]

Hi All. Happy New Year 2019!
I’m considering a 24″ 1080p monitor and the range of choices has bamboozled me. I mainly do productivity work on my PC with some light gaming. My setup now is i7-8700 with 16GB RAM and 1050Ti GPU paired with 19.5″ 1440×900 60Hz monitor. Now exactly a scorcher but games like Doom 2016, Wolfenstein, GTA 5 and Forza Horizon 4 are smooth enough for me.

Should I go for a 24″ 1080p 60Hz IPS monitor or a 24″ 1080p 144Hz TN monitor? I’m satisfied with the smoothness of gameplay at 60Hz so not looking to improve this. However I believe the higher refresh rate will benefit productivity work like smoother mouse movement, dragging windows and scrolling which may be easier on my eyes. On the other hand an IPS/PLS panel may give me better color reproduction although I don’t know whether the difference is worth giving up 144Hz for. From reading many reviews my understanding is that cheap IPS panels may be no better in color reproduction than TN panels. Is this correct? Viewing angle is not an issue with me. I must add that my productivity work does not involve anything where color accuracy is important. However I prefer nice vibrant colors which are consistent across the screen.

I’m considering the Acer XF240H (TN 144 Hz), Acer ET241Y (IPS, 75Hz) and the Samsung LS24F350FHEXXM (PLS 75Hz). I’m leaning towards the Acer 144Hz although I hear the Samsung PLS 8 bit color depth panel calling me. The two Acers are 6 bit + FRC.

Give me some tips guys. Thanks!

[PCM2]

Hi KennyKB and a Happy New Year to you as well.

It isn’t correct that cheap IPS models are ‘no better’ for colour reproduction than TN models. But it really depends on what aspect you’re focusing on and the specific models you’re looking at. Without exception IPS-type models, regardless of how cheap they are, offer superior colour consistency and viewing angle performance to even the most expensive TN models. This is due to the physical properties of light within the different panel types and that isn’t something that varies just because of the cost of a monitor.

Having a higher refresh rate can indeed be nice on the desktop. But I would classify this as a secondary benefit and would not recommend buying a high refresh rate monitor with inferior image quality to another unless you’re going to be doing some high frame rate gaming as well. I’d wager you’ll notice absolutely no differenece whatsoever between a ‘true 8-bit’ and ‘6-bit + FRC’ monitor, by the way. I’m not saying there aren’t differences, of course there are. But those differences are subtle and there are extreme misconceptions going around about what sort of difference true 8-bit brings to the table. And I’m very sorry to disappoint you, but the Samsung S24F350FH (which is the preferred shorthand designation for that model) also uses a 6-bit + FRC panel. As I said, that’s really neither here nor there.

A potential issue with the Samsung S24F350FH is thatsome users have reported flickering. Not everyone notices or reports this, but a few users have. It doesn’t seem to be related to FreeSync or just specific content and I’m not really sure what is causing it or indeed whether it affects all units. So don’t necessarily get put off that model, but I don’t recommend it for that reason. I do instead recommend the Dell S2419H, if you can tolerate a glossy screen surface. If you have at least reasonable control over your lighting conditions you should certainly consider this model instead. There are a plethora of ~24″ Full HD IPS-type alternatives to the Samsung available as well. Although, depending on the return policy where you’d be buying it from, the Samsung may well be worth a shot.

[KennyKB]

Thank you for your reply, PCM2. I think I will steer clear of the Samsung S24F350H. As I’m not an avid gamer I agree I should prioritize image quality instead of high refresh rate by going for an IPS panel. I will certainly look up on the Dell S2419H. What do you think of the ViewSonic VA2419-sh which is quite a bit cheaper than the Dell? Or will I be getting what I pay for?

[PCM2]

As I understand it (haven’t used the exact monitor myself, mind) the ViewSonic VA2419-sh uses a BOE IPS-ADS (IPS-type) panel. It still has the strong viewing angle and colour consistency characteristics of IPS, but it also has a fairly grainy screen surface and the sRGB gamut coverage isn’t great. It has some issues with pixel responsiveness if I recall correctly as well. It’s basically made to be as cheap as possible, which does have its down sides.

[Tigerman82]

Thank you for an extremely professional reply. You touched on many important points. You’ve given me confidence to pull the trigger on the Dell S2719DC. The only reason I was considering the 144Hz Acer monitors was because many rave about the non-gaming advantages of high refresh monitors (mouse cursor and windows move smoothly, scrolling is smooth). As I’m going to be using this setup for at least 6-8 years, I wouldn’t want a ‘getting HDD when SSDs are available’ kinda situation where I’m buying tech that is on its last legs.

If you do do a Dell S2719DC review, it might be interesting to compare it to a gaming monitor and evaluate how a gaming monitor would do in tasks marketed for the Dell and how Dell does against the gaming monitor in gaming. In fact, I ran into a forum post where S2719DM was compared to Samsung CHG70 (a 144Hz VA gaming monitor) and the person actually preferred the Dell for gaming even though he stated that on paper the Samsung should’ve wiped the floor with the Dell. If I remember correctly, he linked your review of S2719DM and mentioned that you didn’t agree with this. Still, it’s good to know that these Dell monitors can be acceptable for gaming.

[PCM2]

Excellent, glad to have firmed that up as a choice for you. And if you do go for it, your feedback will be welcome.

If we do review the S2719DC, it will follow our standard review methodology. A large part of this does involve game testing, regardless of whether a monitor is specifically marketed as a ‘gaming monitor’ or not. Following the same procedure is important as it allows users to easily cross-compare with other models we’ve reviewed and of course creates a level playing field. We do add extra bits and pieces we test out from time to time as well, but don’t generally take things away from reviews or stop reviewing specific aspects unless we deem them too time consuming for how useful and informative they are to our audience. It’s quite interesting to see how much longer and more developed our recent reviews are compared to ones we did several years back. And of course there are video reviews to bolster things now, with forum discussions helping reinforce things and allowing specific comparisons to be drawn.

The user who preferred the S2719DM to the Samsung C27HG70 was largely disappointed with the latter due to the fact he was viewing the monitor from an extreme angle (above) most of the time. He also didn’t run most of his content at a high enough frame rate to really see any advantage from the increased refresh rate of the Samsung. Regardless of this, personal preferences are very important and there are definite advantages to the IPS panels compared to VA panels. Colour consistency is an important one and it can certainly change the experience for some users, particularly if they don’t sit centrally a reasonable distance from the screen (within the ‘sweet spot’ of the VA model). The ‘DC’ variant of the Dell has the added advantage of having a similar colour gamut to the Samsung, so it gives it a nice edge in vibrancy. Having a strong colour gamut and consistent colour output as you get in this case is an excellent combination for many users. 🙂

[KennyKB]

Hi PCM2,
Is it worth paying extra for the Dell U2417H over the S2419H? Where does the Dell P2417H and S2419H fit in ranking on picture quality? All are 24″ 60 Hz IPS models. Dell has so many almost similar models to confuse buyers. Thanks again.

[PCM2]

The key differentiator between the S2419H and the others is the glossy screen surface. It makes a significant difference, as explored in the review. I haven’t used the P2417H, specifically, but based on user feedback and my experience with other similar ‘P series’ models – the U2417H is better calibrated. In particular gamma tracking is tighter to the desireable ‘2.2’ curve. For your uses this isn’t going to matter too much, the image produced by both is quite similar. The bezel thickness is the other main difference between the two matte screen models and the greater port selection of the UltraSharp.

P.S. I will shortly move this and the other replies about 60Hz models to a more appropriate thread.

[Author]

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