[PCM2]

As I hope you can see from our P2414H and U2414H reviews, I do recommend them highly. They are very capable all-rounders and if you are able to get them at a price you find agreeable, I wouldn’t hesitate. The U2414H in particular offers a more accurate factory calibration than the VX239H (not really an issue for general use) and better tuned pixel responsiveness. The U2414H is also guaranteed to have a flicker-free backlight and most P2414H units do as well (but it is not guaranteed, sadly). The adjustable stands and ports as well as Dell’s warranty support also make them attractive options in comparison.

[muraxz]

I read the review. Excellent and very detailed review. One of my friend have u2414h and watched it for a while. It is easy for eyes too.

vx239h = 255 dollars (lack of vesa,little bit cheaper and 5 ms response)
u2414h = 330 dollars (vesa mount, and better pixel responsiveness ,8 ms response)

Both of them are affordeable I am little bit confused between two of them because of response times.
Do you think 5 ms response time is big advantage for movies,action scenes and other usage scenarios over 8 ms or does not make noticeable difference for movies ?

[PCM2]

As I’ve said, the U2414H is actually more responsive. Ignore the useless figures.

[muraxz]

Thank you very much for your help, your time and valuable information.

[PCM2]

My pleasure. 🙂

[nl]

Hello! I am hoping to get some helping choosing a new monitor.

I am really looking for the perfect “reading” monitor. I need to spend up to 8 hours on any given day in front of a screen studying, and have found my current Dell U2212HM (which I recently found out uses PWM) is giving me terrible eyestrain. I have average eyesight at best so I need a monitor that is the least fatiguing to use.

In summary, I think (but am unsure), that these are the features that I should look for:
– P-MVA (or another panel type that renders/presents text well)
– No aggressive AG
– No PWM
– No dithering

From what I have read (very useful forum BTW), P-MVA provide very rich blacks and good contrast which makes reading easier and less fatiguing. A few threads on hardforum.com, have coders swearing by P-MVA monitors. I also like the idea of the reading mode & low blue-light mode on the BenQ. I am happy to consider other panel types (but unsure which ones), if they show text as clearly. My current U2212HM, and previous 2209WA – I don’t think display text that well.
Also, I want a panel without aggressive AG. Seems to be one of the main things to avoid for a “reading” monitor.

8-bit without dithering. I am think I am sensitive to dithering. My 2212HM (6-bit+A-FRC) looks noticeably worse colorwise than the 2209WA (8-bit), even with plain text – I just can’t explain it.
No PWM. I can visually see the flicker on the Dell U2212HM when I lower the brightness. I have also experimented with a program to vary the PWM frequency on my notebook – and even when I set the PWM at a higher hertz – I can’t see it but I can feel eyestrain/nausea.

I am a bit confused about resolution / dot pitch. I was always under the impression that around .270mm was the perfect dot pitch. Out of the current standard crop of resolutions that makes pixels a 1080p 27″ quite bit larger than the rest, and even a 22″ @ 1650×1080 (.282mm). My current monitor, I think is too sharp (U2212HM, 21.5″ @ 1920×1080 (.248mm). My old 2209WA, was better, but still a bit grainy (though this could have been the AG, or I was viewing it up too close). Whether I am overanalysing this I don’t know! I do prefer 16:10, but these are getting rarer (and are expensive in 30” sizes).

24″ @ 1920×1200 (.270mm)
24″ @ 1920×1080 (.276mm).
27″ @ 1920×1080 (.310mm)
27″ @ 2560×1440 (.231mm)
32″ @ 2560×1440 (.276mm)

Bearing all this mind, I think the long list of contenders are:

BenQ BL3200PT (Good review here, but expensive) $799
BenQ BL2700HT (Rumoured to be the best cheap VA BenQ but only 1 review) $329
BenQ BL2410PT (Meant to be successor to BL2400PT but may have hard AG) $299
BenQ BL2710PT (highly recommended AHVA)
Samsung 8-bit PLS 1200p (unsure which model)

RULED out:
BenQ GW2760HS (Good reviews, but rubbish stand) $329
BenQ VW2430WH (Highly recommended at Hardforum) Unavailable
Iiyama 2483HSU/2783HSU (Highly recommended at Hardforum) Unavailable
BenQ EW2740L (” “) Unavailable
Asus VN279Q (Unavailable)
AOC Q2770PQU (Recommended on here, Unavailable)

Sorry for the long post. I am having a hard time choosing. If you could recommend 1080p @ 27″ for my situation, and the BenQ BL2700HT checks out, I would probably be inclined to go for that one.

*I am sure some BenQ model nos are incorrect here.

[PCM2]

Hi nl and welcome,

There are a number of threads on this topic already, so I merged your thread with this one rather than starting a new topic. There is some useful discussion on this thread.

It seems like you’ve already done some good research, though, and have a clear grasp of the things to look out for in a monitor for good viewing comfort. I wouldn’t really say that VA panel types are necessarily better for viewing comfort. I do feel that having ‘inky’ looking text can be nice and indeed some users have reported sensitivity to ‘IPS glow’, although I’m not convinced about that myself. Most people find modern IPS panels very comfortable too. They have no issues with text clarity beyond those that could be imposed by a high haze-value matte screen surface – amd of course you’re considering models with much lighter (less grainy) screen surfaces that are similar to the surfaces used on the VA models. Modern VA panels tend to be MVA rather than PVA, which are generally better for text reproduction due to good subpixel layout. And of course if you are sensitive to dithering, which is possible, then the 8-bit VA panels are the natural choice if you’re looking for affordability and viewing comfort.

Am I correct in thinking you’re based in Australia (I family over there – lovely part of the world)? So some of the recommended models aren’t locally available. I am quite sure that the BL2700HT should be a good choice for viewing comfort and otherwise a good choice (similar to the EW740L and GW2760HS I’d imagine). Another possibility if you dislike the stand on the GW2760HS would be to go for that but mount it with 100mm VESA to a much better stand.

I do feel there are too many confounding factors with the models you’ve tested to decide which are more comfortable for you based on the pixel pitch. If you are sitting a reasonable distance from the screen (60-90cm or so) and have good eyesight corrected or uncorrected then you shouldn’t really have an issue with 2560 x 1440 on a 27″ screen. I mean that’s easy for me to say as I’m currently typing this on a 27″ UHD (3840 x 2160) monitor with no scaling whatsoever! It’s amazing how you can adapt to things 😉 .

Assuming you are comfortable with the 2560 x 1440 resolution, then I feel you would find the extra workspace useful and find the screen just as visually comfortable as the 1920 x 1080 27″ VA models. Whether or not you’re willing to pay the extra for something like the BL2710PT, though, is something only you could decide.

[nl]

Hi PCM and I appreciate the welcome.

Sorry that is a bit of a scattered and random list – I mainly assembled the list from a bunch of recommended LCD threads. I unfortunately haven’t personally seen any of those monitors in person (except the BL2700HT), not many shops display them (and yes – well spotted, located in Australia).

Whoops, I did mean A-MVA. Having read TFT central’s breakdown (http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/panel_technologies.htm) I was worried about the subpixel layout of different panel types, and I have read that some IPS panels have a high minimum brightness and lower contrast than VA for example. These were some of the reports that pointed me in the AMVA direction

I also saw a comparison of subpixel layout on different monitors.

From my own personal experience, the Dell U2212HM is horrible for reading. Whether it’s the AG or PWM I don’t know. The 2209WA I had for 3 years was better, but average for reading – it was a very bright monitor. I think my HDTV might be a VA panel, which I have experimented with reducing the brightness and reading a few docs on my media centre and seems less fatiguing to read on. I would still be open to other 8-bit+ panel types if I can rule that some of these problems were due to the AG coatings/subpixel layouts.

Re resolution. I’m still on the fence whether I could handle 1440p @ 27”. My eyesight is corrected and I feel that I suffer from eyestrain quite easily. In the past I have got away with using 1600×900 (on a 14.1 notebook) and 1680×1050 on a 22” for a number of years. I do feel the U2212HM (1080p @ 21.5”) that has pushed my sight to the limit. However on the upper limit, I wonder whether buying a 1080p @ 27” at this juncture would be a good decision. Why do we keep seeing a jump in vertical size without increasing resolution in 21.5/23/24/27” panels? , my guess it’s so manufacturers can save cost by implementing 1080p and 1440p panels into a standard 27” size.

I guess rethinking this I could limit my options to
– 8-bit panel (semi-glossy, no PWM, no dithering, high contrast/low minimum brightness)
– Must have DVI or displayport
– 32” 1440p > 27” 1440p (The BL3200PT is cheaper for example than the BL2710PT too)
– 24” 1200p > 24” 1080p > 27” 1080p
– Low blue light/reading modes etc. are also appreciated (but not mandatory if can be software controlled, e.g. using Flux)
– I would like to stay under $1000AU as an upper limit

I just wanted to say thanks a lot for your assistance. I think it might take a couple more posts for me to come to a more solid decision – so this is a bit of an ongoing conversation 🙂

[PCM2]

I have removed the quotes from other websites as I don’t like chunks of copied text here. There was also some misinformation in some of the text there. IPS-type panel contrast ratios are not getting worse, they are getting better. They generally sit at 1000:1 – 1300:1 these days. I won’t deny that having strong blacks and inky-looking text can help, particularly if you like using low brightness settings – but most users find IPS displays perfectly fine for text and due to their gamma consistency in general, quite comfortable for viewing. This applies even at the lowest brightness setting, provided the room lighting is appropriate. VA certainly does give an edge here in my book, however.

It does sound like this edge in contrast plus a comfortable (easily readable) pixel pitch could be an advantage if you’re sensitive to eyestrain following vision correction. I actually personally found the BL3200PT very comfortable, visually. I prefer higher pixel densities myself, but if I was in your situation I would find having the same pixel density as a 24″ 1920 x 1080 model with lots of extra pixels really useful!

[nl]

That’s perfectly ok about removing the text (especially if it’s misinformation).

Thanks. I think if I go the 32″/27″ route there a few more clear winners so I’ll keep those in the back of my mind.

Say for instance, I wanted to stick with 1080p/1200p @ 24″ could you recommend any 8-bit/semi-glossy (etc. taking account of my above requirements) that might be good contenders?

Thanks in advance.

[PCM2]

The choice of such models is very slim at the moment. Something like the Samusng S24C750P would be worth looking out for, although I reckon the stand would drive you nuts. I don’t believe you get Iiyama monitors in Australia, do you? The Iiyama X2483HSU provides similar performance to the Samsung and also has 100 x 100mm VESA holes, whereas the Samsung does not.

[MentalPanic]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a new monitor and im strugglin between these 3

Samsung S24D360HL
Samsung S27D590P
HP 23TM Touchscreen

For what I’ve read both samsungs are pretty much the same except for the size, the extra hdmi port and some minor things for me in the 27″ model . My intended use for the monitor in order of importance is gaming, reading and watching some movies. I spend an average of 4 hours daily doing it so I want to make sure I choose a monitor that don’t hurt my eyes or cause headaches.
The reason I even considered the HP model is because I can get it on sale for only 125 dollars and I see its priced much higher in the US (I’m from mexico). The 24″ samsung is around $200 and the 27 inch one is around 260. I hope I can get some help cause I’ve been researching for the last 3 weeks and the more I read the more confusing it gets. If budget weren’t an issue I’ll probably be sitting in front of the 27 samsung right now, but a baby is on the way and I want to spend my money wise.

All I really want is a good image quality and get the best value overall, If that implies getting the 27 samsung I can lie to my wife about the price and get it. What would you choose?

[PCM2]

Hi MentalPanic,

Well the Samsung models are certainly superior to the HP (better colour setup, brightness adjustment range and responsiveness). It is really down to your own personal preferences on screen size. The 27″ model does not feature a higher resolution (so has a lower pixel density) and it would be your choice whether the extra size and HDMI port (plus the little control joystick) is worth it. They are otherwise rather similar monitors, that’s correct. What size of monitor are you currently using?

[nl]

Hi PCM2,

I think the S24C750P is available here, but you’re right, the stand isn’t the best with it’s lack of height adjustment.

The X2483HSU ticks all the boxes, but they aren’t sold here. One temptation is I could buy a online (internationally) for around $300 shipped but I would have to risk going without a warranty. My guess is this is not recommended?

I take it most of the other 24″ & 25″ (IPS/PLS etc.) use dithering so might be ruled out because of that?

[PCM2]

Most do, but those with higher resolutions don’t. Models like the U2515H don’t use dithering but would be rather impractical for you given the overly generous pixel density.

[nl]

Alright I think I’ll have to start making some compromises, so this is my revised shortlist:

– Dell 2440L: I came across the Dell S2440L which is AMVA (~5000:1) and has VESA mounts (I just read the review here too). I figure if HDMI is on par with DVI if setup correctly, I can live with that. I can still buy this new with warranty here for about $310 so that’s a plus.
– Phillips 241P4QPYES: 5000:1 AMVA, DVI, height, tilt approx $370 (Achieved ‘Good’ on Prad.de), but couldn’t find out if it’s semi-glossy
– Import a X2483HSU for around the same price and take a risk with the warranty
– Will consider BL2700HT if it uses the same panel as GW2760HS (I emailed BenQ about this, and they refused the information).
– Look at some used options for the time being and wait for the next big thing…

Edit:

– Scratch the 241P4QYES because it uses PWM.
– Also found that the S2440L originally used PWM, will check with seller if they can confirm revision etc.
– Emailed BenQ again to and asked if they can at least tell me whether the GW2760HS and BL2700HT use the same type of semi-gloss coating.
– I found a recent review (March, 2015) of the BL2700HT, and there are some close up photos of the OSD where some pixel layout can be seen. I cannot tell for sure if there is a crystalline effect, but you can see some vertical lines on the blue background in some photos.

[PCM2]

You’ll have to be careful with the S2440L as there really does seem to be a PWM lottery going on. It isn’t the case that it originally used it but newer revisions didn’t, it seems to just be that some do and some don’t. I haven’t been keeping track of changes made to the very latest revisions, so maybe that is now sorted and they are all PWM-free. It would be difficult to tell before you can buy it and test it, I’d suspect.

P.S. The lines on those pictures are just moiré (artifacts) from the camera.

[nl]

Ok. thanks for clarifying! I thought from those photos the text looked pretty sharp and clear – is that a good indication of a semi-glossy panel, or difficult to tell that close up?

[PCM2]

It’s impossible to determine haze value or indeed how ‘smooth’ the matte surface is from those kinds of pictures. In fact no picture I’ve come across (even subpixel macros) can give a good representation of both factors. Determining whether the screen is regular matte or ‘semi-glossy’ is easiest with images of the screen when it is off in a bright room and from a slight angle.

P.S. Please refer to our more recent reviews for examples of such images. The S2415H review was the first review to feature a subpixel macro and I was very inexperienced at taking such images. It is quite clearly a poor image compared to more recent ones.

[Steve113]

I’d like to start by commending the valuable information and the excellent reviews provided on this forum.

I need some help and advise please in finding the ideal 24′ office monitor that is easy on the eye for a daily usage.

My main purpose is text reading – for coding and web browsing – for reading online articles.
I live in New Zealand which means my market is limited unfortunately with brands such as the BenQ are not readily available here.

The current office monitor I use is your run of the mill HP LA2206x which i find to be harsh on the eyes and does not serve my current purpose.

I’m leaning towards the idea of the inky black text display on the VA panels as mentioned by earlier reviews willing to consider this option.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Steve

[Author]

Posts