32" 1440 monitor Samsung? BenQ? Other?

[marcplante]

I'm getting a little itchy for a monitor to replace my 24" Samsung 245BW.

I have a reasonably powerful desktop with an AMD HD6950 2G card.

I'm looking at options from

BenQ BL3200PT
and
Samsung S32D850T

This link pulls them up side by side:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=BenQ+BL3200PT+

using the screen for side by side document management and occasional gaming running Project Cars, Dirt3, maybe a little COD.

Not sure if my card supports Freesync. articles I've seen indicate AMD is only going back as far as the 7XXX cards. My 6950 will drive the screen fine for Dirt 3 based on Tom's VGA charts. It's not clear to be whether these monitors will support freesync, though the manufacturers have expressed support.

Toms Hardware seemed to love the BenQ, though there is some mention of flicker other discussions. I'm generally happy with my Samsung and was wondering whether it's worth going to BenQ as I have thought of them as a lower grade secondary brand, though that seems to be changing.

Finally both of these screens seem to be fairly available in refub offers for $399, which is pretty attractive to me.

Any opinions about either of these brands for this size factor? other options I'm overlooking?

Thanks

 

[kami]

Both monitors probably use the same panel, it's too bad TFTCentral hasn't reviewed the Samsung yet to get a better idea of any differences. It looks like the Samsung uses PWM backlight dimming at <30% backlight setting, so if you want to calibrate to 120cd/m2 or lower without PWM it could be problematic. BenQ has no PWM at any backlight setting. Most people aren't sensitive to PWM dimming, but it's worth knowing what it is: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/pulse_width_modulation.htm

I wouldn't consider BenQ to be a low grade brand for monitors. There's a bit of discussion on large monitors here, including the benq: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2458987

 

[RussianSensation]

If you don't mind driving to a MicroCenter in Northern Virginia/Fairfax, the HP Envy 32" should be a similar quality panel but also supports FreeSync for your future GPU upgrade path option. Costs $399.99 new.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/457804/ENVY_32_Media_Display_Monitor

It also gives you a chance to see the panel in person to see if you like it or not.

 

[awnm]

The Philips BDM3270QP is another option - cheaper than the BenQ (at least here in Australia), and well reviewed.

 

[guskline]

I have the BenQ BL3200PT and absolutely love it. Great for COD.

 

[4K_shmoorK]

I would not buy a refurbished panel, but that's just me. My local microcenter had an open box S32D850T for $430. When I got home, I found the panel had dead pixels/smudges in the display. Went to return it and they price matched a brand new one ($600) down to the price of the open box. Would highly recommend a trip out to a microcenter if you can. Sometimes the customer service of a physical store beats out dealing with an online retailer. Especially when monitor satisfaction can be so subjective.

@kami

Do you have a link to a review that shows the S32D850T uses PWM backlight dimming at 30%? I see the S27D does but cannot find a link where it says the 32" does. I own the 32 but have never used the panel below 30% brightness.

 

[marcplante]

So I went to microcenter and could only find 4k monitors on display. Wondering if the 1440 series are just going to be skipped in favour of 4k.

 

[postmortemIA]

Both monitors probably use the same panel, it's too bad TFTCentral hasn't reviewed the Samsung yet to get a better idea of any differences. It looks like the Samsung uses PWM backlight dimming at <30% backlight setting, so if you want to calibrate to 120cd/m2 or lower without PWM it could be problematic. BenQ has no PWM at any backlight setting. Most people aren't sensitive to PWM dimming, but it's worth knowing what it is: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/pulse_width_modulation.htm

I wouldn't consider BenQ to be a low grade brand for monitors. There's a bit of discussion on large monitors here, including the benq: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2458987

Yep, same *VA panel from AUOptronics. I have S32D850T and I'm pretty happy with it. Has all inputs you'd need, USB 3.0 with fast charging. Matte coating is great, it does not affect the clarity of the text. Stand is pretty flexible. The panel itself has better contrast than IPS panels, and no white glow. Ghosting is bit severe, but there's option in menu to adjust response time between 3 settings.

Here are some known issues
1. Scrolling flicker on older models. Seems to be fixed with newer manufactured dates for both BenQ and Samsung variants.
2. Poor screen uniformity on solid colors. Looks like banding, but it is not... same color looks lighter/darker in some areas on screen. Gets worse when not looked straight.

BTW link in German about PWM on Sammy
http://www.prad.de/new/monitore/test/2015/test-samsung-s32d850t-led-teil7.html
I don't see that 30% is viable, I use 75% contrast and I don't see that going below 30% is useful, I've disabled the light sensor that auto adjusts contrast.

 

[Puffnstuff]

If you want a 1440 panel MC has a hp envy 34c curved 3440x1440 panel for $599.99 while they last.

 

[biostud]

The new hp envy 32" has 1440p VA + freesync, if you have an AMD card.

 

[marcplante]

I do, but it's only a 6950 2g, so doesn't support afaik

 

[Jhatfie]

I have the BenQ BL3200PT and absolutely love it. Great for COD.

I have been using the BL3200PT for a while now and am very pleased with it's performance.

 

[thilanliyan]

I have been using the BL3200PT for a while now and am very pleased with it's performance.

You guys don't have the banding issues?
Do you know the manufacture date of your monitor?

 

[guskline]

You guys don't have the banding issues?
Do you know the manufacture date of your monitor?

I do not have banding issues. Per AIDA 64, my display was manufactured in Week 29 of 2014.

 

[Jhatfie]

You guys don't have the banding issues?
Do you know the manufacture date of your monitor?

I have never noticed any banding issues with mine. Mine was built September, 2014.

 

[postmortemIA]

To see banding on this particular panel, set a color on the whole screen, some gray variant. Easy way to set up single color is use Piknik Color Picker in the full screen mode. Then looking at various angles, you'd notice banding... and you'll notice it is there on every angle, but more noticeable with extreme angles.. examples in Google image search.

 

[thilanliyan]

To see banding on this particular panel, set a color on the whole screen, some gray variant. Easy way to set up single color is use Piknik Color Picker in the full screen mode. Then looking at various angles, you'd notice banding... and you'll notice it is there on every angle, but more noticeable with extreme angles.. examples in Google image search.

Yeah I thought all monitors made with this panel (Samsung, BenQ, Acer, maybe others) have these issues.

 

[Spanners]

I owned the BL3200PT for a while and returned it due to banding. Panning across a clear sky or viewing a static grey image had vertical bands. Great monitor otherwise though, just couldn't ignore it. All the TV's I've seen with VA panels have bad grey uniformity also.

 

[topmounter]

I had the BenQ BL3200PT for a few weeks and it is a very nice monitor (especially for $400 NIB delivered), but I ended up returning it. I'm used to 2560x1440 on 27" panels and couldn't seem to get comfortable with the same resolution on the 32" panel on either my work Mac or on my gaming PC.

 

[marcplante]

Bought a factory refurbished benq for 340 delivered. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[marcplante]

Looking at my BenQ right nowq hooked up to my Lenovo T450 with a displayport cable. I set the windows background to medium gray and saw no banding that was discernable to me. The pixel sizing is familiar. Just like my 24" 19x12 at home only a lot more real estate. This is very nice for work where I am constantly moving across large windows. Some day it will evolve to my driving sim windshield, though I'm thinking maybe a set of 3 27" monitors might make for a better driving cockpit.

Great monitor overall. I'm very glad I purchased it.

 

[amenx]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asus-pb328q-32-inch-amva-qhd-monitor,4427.html

 

[JoeRambo]

The pixel sizing is familiar. Just like my 24" 19x12 at home only a lot more real estate.
Great monitor overall. I'm very glad I purchased it.

32" 1440P is the new 1920x1200 for programmers and anyone spending time with text. Screen estate, pixel size are all perfect. And price is less than what Dell 2407WFP used to cost back in the day

 

[marcplante]

Asus sounds very nice, but refurb pricing on the benq was too good to pass up (watch their factory store for stock. It goes fast), and I can't see any shortcomings of this vs new. The lower lag might be nice for gaming, but I'm only a casual gamer at best.