[sunnymo]

hi PCM2, could you help to confirm some tech spec on those monitors? I want to get one recently but I want more detail. much appreciate your help.
ASUS CG32UQ:
1. how many dimming zones it has?
2. dimming zone layout is left and right, or top and bottom?
3. what is the color depth, native 8bit or 10bit through 8 + frc?

ASUS PA329C (this is a 32 dimming zone monitor with backlight layout at top and bottom):
1. input lag

thx again

[PCM2]

All available information we have on the monitors is included in our news pieces. The dimming zone number and layout on the CG isn’t currently known as it isn’t specified. As per the news piece on the CG, it’s a native 8-bit product. In practice that’s a complete non-issue, the GPU or system will handle the extra 2-bit dithering stage for HDR just fine. Refer to our recent reviews of HDR models which do the same thing (example). Anything else would require a review. We intend to review the CG32UQ at some point, but ASUS do not have any PA329C samples so I have no idea what the input lag is like on that.

[sunnymo]

okay, i’ll be waiting for your review on CG32UQ, hope it comes soon. PA329C is almost perfect in many aspects according to the specs, i think it’s the most powerful edge-lit (32 dimming zones) monitor at this size, but it’s designed for art so i’m not sure whether it is good for gaming.

[rafa]

Hello my name is Rafa,

First of all I would like to thank you for your valuable reviews.

I would like you to help me choose a monitor, I am among these:

Philips 276E8VJSB – 249€ Although there are good ratings I see that it does not have FreeSync and we know how much is its input lag or real delay with respect to the BenQ EL2870U 249€.

In 32″
Philips 326M6VJRMB 599€
LG 32UL750-W 536€
BenQ EW3270u 439

Which would you recommend? are there any better alternatives?

I await your response
Regards

[PCM2]

Hi rafa,

I’ve merged your thread with this one. Less specific topic, but options for the PS4 Pro are covered here. As are options for other 4K-capable games consoles.

It might help if you say what monitor you’re using know. In terms of size (32″ vs. 27″), that’s entirely down to personal preferences. And depends in part on your viewing distance. I’ve recommended the Philips 276E8VJSB to quite a few users who are happy to use it for console gaming. It has low input lag, as per the review, but you’re correct that it lacks FreeSync. And on games consoles you’d get a ‘VSync penalty’ (extra latency) that couldn’t be circumvented. But most users, especially for 60Hz monitors, are actually much less sensitive to input lag than they think.

Our recommendation for the ~32″ option couldn’t be clearer. It’s the Philips 328E1CA. As covered in the review and reinforced in various threads, it simply uses a superior panel to the flat alternatives. Much better colour consistency, better pixel responsiveness and a bit of a smoother screen surface. Not sure why you didn’t include the 328E1CA in your list, perhaps because you think you’ll dislike the curve. If you’re gaming on a console and are not necessarily going to be sitting central to the monitor then that’s a decent enough reason to avoid the curve, otherwise it isn’t and it’s probably something you’ll find quite nice and easy to adapt to.

Out of the options you listed, the Philips 326M6VJRMB. The BenQ offers poor HDR support, not ticking enough boxes for a convincing HDR experience at all. The LG does not offer a flicker-free backlight (PWM regulated at fairly low frequency) and from user feedback it seems the calibration is a bit iffy and pixel response tuning not ideal. Our review of the Philips will give you a very detailed and realistic idea of what to expect from the monitor, in both HDR and SDR. It’s made clear that the HDR performance for brighter scenes is very nice and you get plenty of benefit out of running the monitor under HDR. But for dark scene performance, it’s less impressive (same applies to the LG). The ASUS CQ32UQ which we’ll be reviewing shortly and which was mentioned earlier on in this thread should be in your radar as well.

[rafa]

Hi,

Thanks for the response and your help.

I currently have the BenQ Zowie RL2455, distance is not a problem and I usually see it from the front. In reference to a curved monitor, it is that the curved one I don’t like, I prefer the straight model.

Do I include the LG 32UK550 what do you think? They speak very well of him and it costs about € 344 the Philips 328E1CA 414€ and the ASUS CQ32UQ I do not see that it is available.

[PCM2]

As per our news piece, the CQ32UQ isn’t available yet. It should be before the end of the year and that’s why it should be on your radar. The LG 32UK550 is just like the BenQ. The same old panel, inferior to the curved Philips, but not redeemed by anything approaching a good HDR performance. If you haven’t sat down with a curved monitor and used one and you’re intending to sit fairly centrally, you should reconsider your position on that.

[b0nes]

For this CQ32UQ it would be interesting to see how much it could be overclocked on full HD resolution.

[PCM2]

Will consider if we have time. It is something we mention, even if briefly – from experience you can’t usually push ‘4K’ models in the Full HD resolution much if at all past 60 – 65Hz. But there’s a lot to test with that one so I can’t promise that will be looked at in detail, it’s only something a small number of users would be interested in. Unless the interpolation performance is amazing (don’t hold your breath) which would make running it at Full HD more tempting if a good overclock could be achieved.

[sunnymo]

Hi, PCM2, here is something about HDR I want to know. A friend of mine got AOC U32U1, which is a HDR600 certified by VESA. He tested some HDR game but it looks washed out on PS4. Another friend also tested with XBOX but got the same result at ASUS PA329C. They are both good monitors, but why they display HDR content greyish and washed-out. Those monitors have one thing in common that is u can’t adjust image settings while in HDR mode, that’s different from TV, I have Sony 65X930D and the HDR visual is great in HDR gaming. I have some photos taken from a mobile phone:

[PCM2]

Obviously showing static images is an awful way to represent ‘HDR’ to users. You can’t see the fact the luminance levels (particularly for the bright content) are much higher under HDR, nor can you see the nuanced shade variety of 10-bit colour processing or the gamut correctly represented. Anybody viewing these should be aware of this. Then you have to consider the following:

– Those monitors don’t have a huge number of dimming zones and are IPS-type models. They’re not going to be able to blast out high luminance levels for the brighter content whilst keeping dimmer content super dark. It’s physically impossible.

– The SDR representation is oversaturated, whereas shades are accurately mapped to DCI-P3 (more or less) under HDR.

These two factors are clearly explored in the HDR sections of our reviews. You have to be especially careful not to confuse accuracy with looking ‘washed out’ under HDR. If you’re using the oversaturated SDR representation as a benchmark then it goes without saying that overall saturation will be reduced. But observe content the developers actually want to look vibrant (fires, some painted objects, colourful vegetation etc.) and they should.

[sunnymo]

thx for reply, i know static images dont represent the real situation but they show what my friends feel more or less as they told me. i realize the SDR is oversaturated, but HDR is a big difference from SDR makes people feel unpleasant. If that’s the shortcoming of IPS panel, then i’m very expecting the review of CG32UQ, it’s VA panel and HDR600 too, i think the number of dimming-zones is just a factor, not a big deal for causing the greyish, i have a Sony TV 65x930d, it’s a 65 inch edge-lit TV with 32 dimming zones, VA panel, but it never shows any greyish content at HDR gaming.

[PCM2]

That TV has perhaps ~4 times the static contrast of the IPS monitors. It puts it in a much better position for convincing dark scene performance. But simply having a VA panel isn’t enough for a convincing dark scene performance. Some are better than others at blocking light and dealing with relatively high luminance in some zones and limiting the effect of that on dimmer areas. The monitor also needs to have a conservative HDR algorithm for mixed scenes. Otherwise it tends to boost up the bright zones too much and ‘floods’ dark areas of the image (reference).

How the CG32UQ performs for dark scene HDR performance remains to be seen. But the panel capabilities more closely align with the Philips than anything else. Perhaps the panel will be a bit better at blocking light or the algorithm more conservative for the mixed scenes. Either way, I’d expect a better showing from that than the IPS models. But the native contrast of the panel isn’t technically as strong as some models (including the Sony TV you mentioned or something like the Philips 436M6VBPAB), so you need to maintain realistic expectations to avoid disappointment.

[leopapelit0]

Hi PCM2,

I’ve been looking for a monitor for weeks and without a doubt, your analysis is the most helpful.
I’m looking for a 32 “monitor for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X and it’s hard for me to decide …
Undoubtedly after your analysis, the one that impressed me the most was the Philips 326M6VJRMB, however the curved version and with less features like the Philips 328E1CA has also caught my attention, since it is more economical and curved, although it does not have HDR and that It slows me down a bit, but I’m waiting for your opinion.

Finally, I was also assessing this and I don’t know what you can tell me about it … It’s the MSI Optix Mag321Curv.

Thank you very much for your work and your time.

Leo

PS: Sorry for my English, I use a translator.

[PCM2]

Hi leopapelit0,

I currently recommend the Philips 328E1CA over any HDR option of that sort of size, price range and featureset. Colour and gamma consistency is significantly better (colours lose less saturation near the edges, less ‘black crush’ etc.), pixel responsiveness is a bit better and the screen surface a touch less grainy. Provided you’re sitting centrally, I also think the curve is something to be embraced rather than feared.

The MSI Optix MAG321CURV uses the same CELL (panel minus backlight) and couples it with a useless and very weak HDR feature. As noted in the news piece, it’s very basic and does little to enhance the experience. I can’t tell you whether it’s calibrated as well as the Philips, whether input lag is as low or whether it has pixel responsiveness that’s as well-tuned. The HDR-capable Philips you listed is a nice alternative for bright scene performance, but as covered just above in the thread and in the review, the dark scene performance is less impressive. If you’re after a deep and atmopsheric look to HDR, you’re out of luck with that and any current ~32″ option I’m aware of. The ASUS CG32UQ may or may not change that, it remains to be seen.

[leopapelit0]

The first of all is to thank you for your speed and honesty, it is hard to believe that someone tells you that it is unnecessary to spend € 600, when we can have the same (or better), for a little more than half.
Without a doubt I will acquire the 328E1CA, since I see your logical reasoning and if I am almost not going to notice differences between one and the other (even if I have HDR), it is clear that I do not need it. I am a regular player, so campaign, very little online, who plays in a dark room and likes to enjoy what he sees.

On the other hand, I was not afraid that it was curved, in fact I already have a curved TV in a cockpit (Samsung UE40JU6640), without HDR, which I use with both consoles and I am doing great.

So I will request this monkey through your link, since it is the minimum I can do in gratitude for your time and commitment.

Sincerely

leopapelit0

[sunnymo]

Hi, PCM2. I see that u are going to review CG32UQ shortly, have u got the sample? when will the review be available probably?

[PCM2]

@ leopapelit0, I appreciate the kind words and your support, I hope you enjoy the monitor. 🙂

@ sunnymo, any updates will be given publically on Twitter.

[leopapelit0]

Hi PCM2

I already have the monitor and I’m experimenting with it, at the moment the design is fantastic and, although I thought it would be great, now I see it until small …
I am a little lost with the calibration (I come from the living room of my house, where I have an LG OLED 55 “) and I know that I will not get those blacks, but I hope to get a little closer, because with the factory configuration, the scenes of Night, they seem day.
Could you help me or send me a good configuration for PS4 Pro?

Thank you very much for your time and dedication.

Sincerely,

leopapelit0

[PCM2]

I’m afraid if you’re comparing any LCD monitor with OLED, you’re going to end up disappointed. Especially in dimmer lighting conditions. You will achieve greater black depth by lowering brightness as much as possible. Other recommendations can be found in the calibration section of our review. These are based around PC usage, but PS4 Pros are just like mid-range PCs and the monitor behaves in much the same way with the PS4 Pro. The only other setting to be aware of is the signal range (Limited vs. Full RGB) – this is a setting on the PS4 Pro, the monitor will automatically use whatever that is set to. May be worth fiddling with that and seeing if it helps. Reference.

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