Acer AL732 LCD monitor, 16ms

[Jibby]

Just saw this on the website of a computer store new where I live.

Acer AL732
17"
1280x1024
450:1
260 cd/m^2
16 ms
Analog/DVI

I thought of getting the Samsung 152S ($655 Australian), but after seeing the Acer for sale for AUD $799, I'm tempted to pitch in another $145 for a 17" with 16ms response time. 1280x1024 isn't my favourite resolution (since there's some older games that run on maximum resolutions of 1024x768 or 800x600) though, but that's standard for 17" LCDs anyway.

I had trouble finding a review for this LCD. THe best I can come up with thus far is a preview of a review. Will keep searching though.

Anyone here have this monitor or can direct me to a review? Questions I have include:

1. How's the image quality in 1024x768 and 800x600?
2. 16 ms should be pretty good for gaming when it comes to LCDs, right?
3. The Samsung 152S has 350 cd/m^2 brightness. 260 cd/m^2 isn't too bad though, right?

I will be running off to the store on Wednesday to have a look at it. It'd be nice though if I can read up a bit on it too beforehand, so any help will be very much appreciated. It'll be my first LCD too. And please, no CRT vs LCD debate. I do have a good CRT (IMHO) too, but I wouldn't mind a good LCD for another computer I'm building.

 

[0roo0roo]

i have a benq 15" 16ms. benq/acer are the same now. i'm pretty satisfied. only gripes can't be helped with current lcd tech vs crt

250cd/m is fine. its as good as it gets currently for a fast response/gaming lcd. its resize mechanism for lower res is not bad.

 

[Jibby]

Found a short review at PC Magazine. After reading that, the only concern I have is with regards to the resolution scaling.

The review's dated April 2003 too, so looks like the monitor came out not long ago.

 

[Jibby]

*bump*

 

[JZilla]

I think it uses the same panel as BenQ, Hitachi and NEC (all 16ms 17"). Here you can see a review of the Hitachi (which should have the same panel), on this linked page RTCW is compared in 2 resolutions.

But go to a shop and fiddle around with. And if you see no ghosting, go for it.

 

[Jibby]

Many thanks for telling me that the Hitachi and the Acer use the same panel. Scaling doesn't seem to be a problem at all from that review, so I guess I'll definitely have a good look at it at the store. Thanks for the help, Oro Oro and JZilla.

 

[henmaster]

Hey 0roo, what do you have the brightness and contrast set to on your FP567? I went and did the monitor test at monitorsdirect and the only way I can see all the shades of black is to turn the contrast down to below 50. Brightness is fine at 100. If the contrast is higher than that everything is too bright. I have a FP567 too and was wondering if this is normal.

 

[0roo0roo]

i leave it at 55

 

[0roo0roo]

thats how it is with lcds, if you try for very deep black like with crts, ur gonna suffer.

 

[Jibby]

Damn! You know, the Acer the store has is actually the AL707. Over the weekend, I saw the website and it was advertising an "Acer 17" LCD monitor, 16 ms response." I gave them a call just then and they said that it is actually 20 ms, and the AL707 model. The AL732 will actually cost me $1000 (the AL707 is still $799). Grrr... Well, I'll be looking around for reviews, but if anyone has experience with this monitor, please tell me about what you think of it. If it's no good, I'm wondering if I should get the AL732 since it isn't as though I'll be getting new monitors all the time.

*sigh* got a bit too excited with the prospect of getting an AL732 for $799.

 

[Jibby]

Here's a link of the specs:
http://www.acer.com.au/Servlet/rwp-ps?/ACA/acer.nsf/webnav2/Products+&+Technology?OpenDocument&ML16&

 

[Jibby]

JZilla, about how the BenQ, Hitachi and NEC use the same panel as the AL732, which BenQ is it? Is it the FP767? I may be able to get that around the $799 mark.

 

[JZilla]

Originally posted by: Jibby
JZilla, about how the BenQ, Hitachi and NEC use the same panel as the AL732, which BenQ is it? Is it the FP767? I may be able to get that around the $799 mark.

FP767 yes. But beware that it does NOT have DVI, only analog.

But I would never recommend buying speakers or monitors with out trying first.

Also try and search the forums, there have been some threads on the BenQ, some on the NEC and even more on the Hitachi.

Edit: Try this thread also, it's gigantic and holds some good information.

 

[henmaster]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
thats how it is with lcds, if you try for very deep black like with crts, ur gonna suffer.

Thanks. I'm actually not disappointed by the colors once I tweaked everything. Black looks fine to me, maybe I'm not as picky.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: henmaster

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
thats how it is with lcds, if you try for very deep black like with crts, ur gonna suffer.

Thanks. I'm actually not disappointed by the colors once I tweaked everything. Black looks fine to me, maybe I'm not as picky.

mine sits right beside a beautiful crt so yea i guess its easier to pick the lcd apart.

 

[DOOPYLOOPY]

The 16ms matrices are manufactured by the same place AU Optronics a combined company of Acer and some other group.

so that's why they all have the same screens. You can only get the 16ms in 17inch LCD's atm I believe.

I've got the AL922 big brother and it looks great in my opinion.

 

[Belgain]

Where have you got the info about the Acer screen being the same as the Hitachi? Are you absolutely sure about this?

At the moment I have the AL707, and have the option of upgrading it to the AL732 for about 100 quid (160 euros). Is it worth it? I'm mainly disappointed with the AL707 for video (for blacks basically). I have a DVI connection on my graphics card by the way. Any feedback?

Edit: The specs for the contrast ratio don't seem to be the same on the Hitachi and the Acer...this would seem to indicate that they have different screens...?

 

[DOOPYLOOPY]

I mean the 16ms matrices substrates are from the same company, as far as I'm aware, that company being AU Optronics.

If you have a DVI connection on your video card then DEFINITELY use it. Your text will be so much crisper.

I tested the Matrix DVD on the AL922 a 25ms monitor and it looked sharp as the blacks were pretty good although obviously not perfect. Then only deficiency I noticed was the blacks bleeding but only in one particular scene where he runs off the roof to try his first "jump" as his coat billows from side to side the screen seemed to show slight distortion but other than that the screen was great.

 

[Belgain]

I was refering to JZilla saying that the Acer AL732 had exactly the same panel as the Hitachi:

I think it uses the same panel as BenQ, Hitachi and NEC (all 16ms 17"). Here you can see a review of the Hitachi (which should have the same panel), on this linked page RTCW is compared in 2 resolutions.

Is this correct.

As for the DVI connection, the AL707 I have now doesn't have one. I'm wondering if it's worth upgrading to the AL732 (in part because it does have a DVI connection)?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: henmaster
Hey 0roo, what do you have the brightness and contrast set to on your FP567? I went and did the monitor test at monitorsdirect and the only way I can see all the shades of black is to turn the contrast down to below 50. Brightness is fine at 100. If the contrast is higher than that everything is too bright. I have a FP567 too and was wondering if this is normal.

Try turning the brightness down, then the contrast back up a bit.

 

[JZilla]

Did some researching and this is getting confusing.

On AU Optronics website here, you can see the panel itself, funny thing is that they list it as only 262k colors, but it has 450 contrast ratio.

You are right that the Acer and Hitachi have different contrast ratios, 50 to be exact.

The BenQ 767 is listed as 400 contrast ratio. Yet the Acer 732 lists as 450 contrast ratio. And since I am 99,99% sure that these two uses the same panel (Acer and BenQ are basically the same company afaik), I think it is safe to come to the conclusion, drumroll please maestro, that Acer use some other way of measuring the contrast ratio than the others, maybe because of this or false advertising, I really don't know. Even the Planar shows as 400 contrast ratio, though the Nec lists 450. I am really getting confused now.

If anyone else has other info on the monitors please join in. I do not personally have any of these monitors, but have played with the BenQ in a shop, and it seems fine to me. I am waiting for a 18/19" 16ms monitor, I am hoping that these will be out during the sommer, otherwise I will buy one of these.

Again, my advice from earlier still counts...search the these forums and visit the arstechnica thread, there is a lot of good info found by doing these two things. And NEVER buy audio or video equipment without looking (listening) to it in a shop, then you can buy online.

 

[0roo0roo]

from what i've read from anandtech or was it tomshardware, contrast ratio stats are bunk. each company has a different method of measurement, there is no standard. which is why sometimes a 600:1 lcd will look no better then a 300:1 lcd. i think an anandtech review of the recent 18" viewsonic hotdeal lcd had that problem.

 

[Belgain]

Is there still no-one who has one of these monitors (AL732)? I'm probably getting one tomorrow, but I want to be sure first that they're good.

 

[zugdud]

Why do you want an LCD?

You can get a flat screen CRT that displays twice as many colors, looks crisper, doesn't have the blur effect, and can hit higher resolutions. AND for alot less money...

Here ya go, a monitor for less then $200 that is superior to any sub $1000 LCD other then the fact that it is heavier and uses more power:

KDS XFlat XF-9e 19" .25mm 1600x1200 @ $173

url = http://www.micropro.com/item.htm?item_id=MRKDSXF9

 

[DOOPYLOOPY]

Like I said before the matrice itself is from AU Optronics and everything else besides the matrice substrate can be altered by the manufacturer of the monitor, eg power placement DVI or VGA dsub backlighting placement etc.

oh and BENQ and Acer are actually the same company that's why you will find Acer selling BENQ from it's website.

Go for the 17inch after you view it and see if it's ok of course.