HP Omen 32" VA 2560x1440 75Hz Freesync

[thilanliyan]

http://h20386.www2.hp.com/CanadaStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=W9S97AA&opt=ABA&sel=MTO

I ended up returning the BenQ 3200PT I had as I could not get used to it, but I am definitely going to miss that little puck. The motion blur was not great on it, and it was affecting me while I was just web browsing for example.

I ended up picking up a HP Omen 32" monitor and am happy so far with it. The 75Hz refresh rate definitely makes a difference...even the mouse cursor looks smoother in motion. And you can edit the freesync range down to get LFC from what I've read.

Another annoyance solved with the HP monitor over the BenQ is that the USB ports can be shut off when turning off the monitor. With the BenQ it was on all the time, so my mouse with it's ghastly "gamer" lights was on constantly. Minor nitpick, but not something I wanted to live with.

The monitor software that came with it isn't that useful. It seems to lock out the OSD when in use, and unfortunately cannot control all the functions that the OSD can. I thought it could replace the BenQ puck, but there's not enough functionality.

As a bonus, I have no dead/stuck pixels, and panel uniformity is great, however, there is what I'm guessing is the dirty screen effect on about 1/6th of the panel on the right side. It is only noticeable really on light colours such as white or grey. There is much less of the vertical banding inherent to this panel though than the BenQ had, so I'm happy about that.

Overall a great monitor, and I've heard it can be had for <$350 USD sometimes (I paid $530 CAD with 3-year next day replacement warranty), which is a bargain for this I think. If you have any questions, shoot.

 

[Headfoot]

There's been only glowing reviews on that monitor. There was a sale earlier around black friday for $300 USD at costco which is a steal for this one. Good to hear

 

[meson2000]

I have this monitor and really like it as well. I picked up an Sapphire Nitro Fury to go along with it for $280. Runs everything great at 1440p. Have you had any luck updating the freesync range? I have read the steps how to do it online, but haven't gone through with it yet because I was too nervous I would break something.

 

[thilanliyan]

Yeah I read about that, it's a ridiculously good deal for ~$300

 

[thilanliyan]

I have this monitor and really like it as well. I picked up an Sapphire Nitro Fury to go along with it for $280. Runs everything great at 1440p. Have you had any luck updating the freesync range? I have read the steps how to do it online, but haven't gone through with it yet because I was too nervous I would break something.

I did it in Custom Resolution Utility, not by changing the edid as I have seen somewhere else. I'm not sure how to test it though.

 

[Bacon1]

I'm not sure how to test it though.

To test Freesync/GSync there are two easy options:

Amd freesync windmill demo: https://www.asuswebstorage.com/navigate/s/2B197749034A48E1B00E4B3B5EDFFC66Y

Gsync Demo: http://www.nvidia.com/coolstuff/demos#!/g-sync

Make sure Freesync is both turned on in the drivers as well as in the monitor on-screen display (OSD).

Tearing is harder to see until you get to real low resolutions with both unless you cause a lot of motion on the screen. I prefer the moving bars as its super easy to see the tearing that way.

Both allow you to turn on/off vsync (make sure it's off!) and then change the target FPS (it will fluctuate around this value, it's not constant).

To test out frame skipping do to OCing the monitor:

http://www.testufo.com/#test=frameskipping

 

[thilanliyan]

Thanks! Will give those a go.

 

[meson2000]

Yeah, i read about the Custom Resolution Utility. Please let us know how the testing goes. If it works for you i will do the same. What was the new freesync range you tried to use?

 

[thilanliyan]

It appears to work judging by the Windmill demo although the lowest it allows me to go is 40fps. It looks a bit smoother than just using vsync even. I used 32Hz to 75Hz.

 

[meson2000]

Great. I will try to give it a shot this weekend. The default freesync range for this monitor is 45hz to 75hz, correct?

 

[thilanliyan]

Great. I will try to give it a shot this weekend. The default freesync range for this monitor is 45hz to 75hz, correct?

48-75Hz I think.

 

[lopri]

VA panels seem to have better screen uniformity than IPS. Is that a general consensus? How about power consumption?

 

[thilanliyan]

Not sure about panel uniformity but power consumption is similar I'm guessing if the back light is led on both?

 

[biostud]

If it didn't have speakers I would be interested. I have limited horizontal space where my monitor is placed.

 

[amenx]

If it didn't have speakers I would be interested. I have limited horizontal space where my monitor is placed.

I think you are referring to the old 32" Envy model: https://www.amazon.com/HP-32-Inch-Display-Olufsen-Speakers/dp/B0159BSB6E/

The Omen doesnt have the space hogging speakers: https://www.amazon.com/OMEN-HP-32-inch-QHD-Display/dp/B01J90PKPG

 

[biostud]

I think you are referring to the old 32" Envy model: https://www.amazon.com/HP-32-Inch-Display-Olufsen-Speakers/dp/B0159BSB6E/

The Omen doesnt have the space hogging speakers: https://www.amazon.com/OMEN-HP-32-inch-QHD-Display/dp/B01J90PKPG

Ah, yes I was thinking on the 32 envy.

 

[thilanliyan]

Yeah this Omen doesn't have speakers. Never used them on my benq anyway so I'm glad it doesn't have any.

 

[amenx]

Incredible value. I mean I'm perfectly happy with my 27" 1440p but for the price ($325 Amazon) could easily by an Omen on impulse.

 

[biostud]

Just make the freesync 2 version of this monitor, and they have a guaranteed win.

 

[meson2000]

i tried out the freesync demo linked above on this monitor. is there anyway to set the FPS to less than 55 so i can see if i am able to lower my freesync range below 48hz using the custom resolution utility. Thilian above mentioned that 40fps was an option? i only see 55fps and 60fps as options.

 

[Bacon1]

i tried out the freesync demo linked above on this monitor. is there anyway to set the FPS to less than 55 so i can see if i am able to lower my freesync range below 48hz using the custom resolution utility. Thilian above mentioned that 40fps was an option? i only see 55fps and 60fps as options.

Hmm.. mine has 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and fps sweep (goes from 35 -> 60)

The Test Pattern option shows it easily if there is tearing, plus upping the windmill speed will make the bar move faster.

Make sure to disable vsync.

You can also use the gsync demo it has slider down to I think 15 fps as a low point, been a while since I ran it.

 

[thilanliyan]

i tried out the freesync demo linked above on this monitor. is there anyway to set the FPS to less than 55 so i can see if i am able to lower my freesync range below 48hz using the custom resolution utility. Thilian above mentioned that 40fps was an option? i only see 55fps and 60fps as options.

40fps only became an option once I lowered the Freesync range to 32 using CRU. Before that only 55 and 60 were available.

 

[meson2000]

Ok. So last night i lowered the freesync range using CRU to 40. After i did that the freesync demo gave me the options for 45fps and 50fps as well. 45fps and 50fps also appeared to work correctly in the demo. I am going to do some gaming tonight to test it further. If all goes well i will try to lower the freesync range a bit further and see how it works.

 

[Bacon1]

Ok. So last night i lowered the freesync range using CRU to 40. After i did that the freesync demo gave me the options for 45fps and 50fps as well. 45fps and 50fps also appeared to work correctly in the demo. I am going to do some gaming tonight to test it further. If all goes well i will try to lower the freesync range a bit further and see how it works.

Interesting, I didn't realize that the demo application read any info about the monitor refresh ranges, wonder why it limits to 60 still. The GSync demo is more advanced and lets you do more ranges and works with Freesync as well if you want to try it out.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Lack of speakers is why I went with a different monitor rather than a Pavilion/Omen 32" display. Well, that and the matte screen. I went with a Dell S2415H (yes it's only 1080p) which should hold me over at least until OLED monitors are commonplace.