Question OLED TV as a monitor?

[MtSeldon]

I was looking for a new monitor.
Dell 32" IPS 4k monitor was my first choice but then LG C2 42" OLED TV was mentioned.

Price seems ok for a 42" OLED but there are other technical issues. Burn-in is the first issue of course. While I'm going to use it for some gaming and movie watching, a considerable amount of time it will be used in Word, Excel, VS Code.
Another problem is the RGB placement. Subpixels have the RGBW orientation. Some reviewers say text rendering is a bit of a problem, but I don't know how big the problem is or does it get better with some tweaking in Windows Settings.

Another alternative is on the way. But there is no info about the subpixel orientation.
Philips 42M2N8900 from the Evnia 8000 series is unveiled with a 42" 4K OLED display and a 138Hz refresh rate (displayspecifications.com)

So, any advice or experience about these?

 

[Leeea]

On my previous monitor, I had turned down the brightness to 30.

After turning "TPC Enable" off, the TV was much brighter. After a day or two of turning it down, my OLED pixel brightness is now 30.

I guess I just like dim monitors for some reason. On the upside, it will probably last forever before it burns in.

 

[Zor Prime]

Really hard to use anything but OLED after you've tasted it. 3600 hours on my C1 I got 10 months ago.

Enjoy that C2 Leeea.

 

[Leeea]

Really hard to use anything but OLED after you've tasted it. 3600 hours on my C1 I got 10 months ago.

Enjoy that C2 Leeea.

yes, in dark mode the infinite contrast looks and feels better then any other monitor I have ever used.

Like Wendel said, it is living in the future.

 

[Leeea]

So, about the fonts.

For anything that uses windows cleartype it looks very good. Which is nearly everything. For example, Firefox fonts look excellent.


Google Chrome does not use windows cleartype, and the fonts suffer for it. It looks pretty bad. The only app so far I have found that does not use clear type.


The problem is, Firefox does not support HDR at all. And HDR on this monitor is just impressive. Chrome does support HDR, but the fonts suffer horribly.

-first world problems-
I refuse to use MS Edge!

 

[igor_kavinski]

The problem is, Firefox does not support HDR at all. And HDR on this monitor is just impressive. Chrome does support HDR, but the fonts suffer horribly.

You are talking about youtube/netflix/amazon/disney video HDR? Use Firefox for reading and Chrome for video.

 

[MtSeldon]

And how is it on Edge?

 

[Zor Prime]

yes, in dark mode the infinite contrast looks and feels better then any other monitor I have ever used.

Like Wendel said, it is living in the future.

There's the Dark Reader plugin for Firefox and dark themes for other browsers I am sure.

I do the basics to avoid burn in but I don't go overboard with it. Closing in on 4k hours with no issues.

I use it for work as well with static images. I move windows around maybe once every week or two to even things out.

It's truly a breathtaking experience that doesn't get old.

 

[zinfamous]

So, the Auros F048U is currently $780 on the egg.

Are you a human?

www.newegg.com

This is a real competitor for the top OLEDs out there, and for those in this debate about getting on OLED TV designed as a monitor...this is that solution of an OLED monitor that is designed as a monitor, with all the same bells and whistles, but also the actual monitor bells.

I think it's been as low as $1k-1.2k, and this looks like real Newegg store, so worth a look if people in this thread are not quite sold yet, but could easily be, and also end up rather satisfied with the impulse.

From what I understand, this has generally tested at the LG C1 level in terms of PQ and the standard gaming specs, but sort of a phantom because it has usually been way more expensive than the LG TVs (which is why TVs started entering this chat in the first place, haha).

 

[SKORPI0]

Really hard to use anything but OLED after you've tasted it. 3600 hours on my C1 I got 10 months ago.

Enjoy that C2 Leeea.

Wow, that's about 12 hours/day. What do you do with it to leave it on that long?

 

[mindless1]

^ That's normal to me. I wake up, I check email and some forums, go get coffee and breakfast, do my daily work, and after that is done (timeouts for real world life things whether cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc where the monitor isn't timed out yet), either get lazy and watch multimedia on my compute monitor, or more often feel more sociable and join others in the living room if not going out for the evening. Depends on the day.

I don't turn my TV-monitor off. It only turns off when it times out from lack of computer use. Basically that means while I sleep. It's not constant use but often enough that it stays on, more often than not.

 

[Zor Prime]

So, the Auros F048U is currently $780 on the egg.

Are you a human?

www.newegg.com

This is a real competitor for the top OLEDs out there, and for those in this debate about getting on OLED TV designed as a monitor...this is that solution of an OLED monitor that is designed as a monitor, with all the same bells and whistles, but also the actual monitor bells.

I think it's been as low as $1k-1.2k, and this looks like real Newegg store, so worth a look if people in this thread are not quite sold yet, but could easily be, and also end up rather satisfied with the impulse.

From what I understand, this has generally tested at the LG C1 level in terms of PQ and the standard gaming specs, but sort of a phantom because it has usually been way more expensive than the LG TVs (which is why TVs started entering this chat in the first place, haha).

I totally would have got this over the C1.

That's a good price for the monitor bells and whistles as you said.

 

[Zor Prime]

Wow, that's about 12 hours/day. What do you do with it to leave it on that long?

haha, yeah I get what you're saying. But it is legit.

I pull 12 hour shifts for work.

Then I watch movies or television or game with it. Typically gaming the vast, vast majority of the time.

My girlfriend and I have a Costco table along a wall with monitors and computers. I use the C1 which replaces multiple monitors I would typically use in my actual office at work.

Instead of having several 1080p monitors as I normally would I use the C1 in 4K resolution and effectively have quad 1080p windows.

So when I'm not working, it's either watching stuff with my girlfriend or gaming.

Since I don't really sleep a whole lot the thing can be on for 18 hours a day, easily. And I still somehow find time for an hour of exercise several times a week, lol.

 

[Leeea]

And how is it on Edge?

I have not tried it in Edge. Online they say Edge is better out of the box.

 

[Leeea]

So this is a bit of an embarrassing post...


I fired up a spreadsheet I work with in libreoffice today, and it was just meh. Usable? yes, perfect? no.


First attempt was this:

GitHub - bp2008/BetterClearTypeTuner: A better way to configure ClearType font smoothing on Windows 10.

A better way to configure ClearType font smoothing on Windows 10. - bp2008/BetterClearTypeTuner

github.com

It didn't do much for me.


Next up was MacType, using this guide:

Spoiler: link to reddit thread

https://www.reddit.com/r/OLED_Gaming/comments/t30fi7

Where it works, it is very nice. It doesn't work anywhere useful.

MacType does not work in Libreoffice, Chrome, Firefox, Visual Studio....

Part of installing MacType was just turning cleartype off.

Everything that was using cleartype looks better with cleartype off. Especially libreoffice.


-wanders away embarrassed-

 

[aigomorla]

Dont...
I caved in and got a LG C2 because they are flooring in prices for pre black friday sales....
Verdict... had to return the LG C2 on the 24th day.
Here is why...

1. HDMI will not put the TV in sleep. The TV has its own sleep, but my 3090 could not put it in sleep.
IT was more like my HDMI would stop displaying... monitor would go no connect.... and then sleep after like a few minutes for screen saver. Then waking the monitor was a whole other can of worms. Eventually i just got annoyed and would turn the TV on and OFF as required with the Remote.

2. The Explorer White windows causes the auto dimming to go crazy.
That means whenever i expanded my windows explorer window and increased the white, the entire monitor would dim.
It was not a fast dim either, but a more gradual one was it was registering more white to be displayed.
This is what i mean... i had this exact issue:

Which leads me to think i believe that is the EXACT same panel as the C2... and if you really want a OLED monitor even after you read my post... get the gigabyte, as it costs the same right now, and has a real DP for real monitor usage.

Lastly, i got slight burn in at the top because of my windows desktop icons.
FML.... (this is what killed all OLED's for me from now on unless its for a console or real TV usage)

Its very difficult to notice until you overlay a white window over it, but clearly you see the burn in.
At first i thought it was the window being transparent, until i moved the icons and repeated it.
OLED makes great gaming monitors, and content display, but absolutely the worst desktop and production applications.

I did all the tricks needed.... minus moving my desktop icons ever few hours.
I do not think i can put that much work into trying to extend a 900 dollar monitor, that is seriously tedious work.
But it could not handle the desktop icons....

I caved in and decided i am going to get the Samsung Odyssey ark if it dips to about 2499 as its micro LED with 1000+ zones, and has no chance for burn in, as well as has a real sleep function.

 

[Aikouka]

1. HDMI will not put the TV in sleep.

There is a piece of Windows software (LG Companion) that can help mitigate that. From what I've heard, it isn't perfect, but it does effectively turn the TV on and off upon waking the computer. I believe this is performed through Wake-on-LAN functionality, which means your TV must be connected to your network. I know some folks are likely not fans of that given how intrusive some smart TVs can be. For example, my Sony x930e is connected to the network, and even though I never use the smart features, it has something like 10GB downloaded and around 600MB uploaded (according to my network tracking).

2. The Explorer White windows causes the auto dimming to go crazy.

Honestly, I don't see auto-dimming problems too often, but I also try to push sites toward dark mode if available. Although, if I let the screen sit there for a bit, it will dim automatically regardless of white levels. A common example of that is if I'm writing a post on this forum while on my HTPC. It often takes enough time and the text displaying isn't nearly enough to trigger the TV's activity detection, so it dims.

Which leads me to think i believe that is the EXACT same panel as the C2... and if you really want a OLED monitor even after you read my post... get the gigabyte, as it costs the same right now, and has a real DP for real monitor usage.

I'm not 100% sure if it's the same panel, or if it was based off the C1, but it's definitely an LG panel. LG pretty much makes all large format OLED panels on the market, which even includes for rivals like Sony. (I am not including QD-OLED in that, which is a Samsung product, and is fairly distinct enough.) I think the only downside to that Gigabyte monitor is that there isn't a 42" option. It's interesting that 6" can mean that much, but at least some seem to highly prefer the 42" over the 48". I could imagine it has much less neck craning.

Lastly, i got slight burn in at the top because of my windows desktop icons.

If you're going to use an OLED as a monitor, I highly recommend you do the following:

• Use a black, solid-color background/wallpaper.
• Set the taskbar to auto-hide.
• Remove all desktop icons and avoid using them.

In regard to desktop icons, it would be nifty if there could be a pop-out tray for them. Like if you were on the desktop and moved the mouse to the side of the screen, the icons popped out. I know some folks love their desktop icons, so it would help provide a way to still have them to a degree. Also, it's important to keep in mind that any notifications in an open app or in Windows' notification system can stop the task bar from auto-hiding. There are times where I need to select something just to get the bar to hide.

 

[Muadib]

And so my good chap, which one wins?

 

[igor_kavinski]

But it could not handle the desktop icons....

My C8 has the brightness issues you mentioned. Used to it.

Turning off with remote isn't a big deal for me.

Did you ensure to let it have power in sleep mode when you turned it off with remote? If I use my TV for a few hours, turning it off causes the TV to go into pixel refreshing mode. I hear a low whirring hum, like the pixels are being scrubbed. That clears any temporary image retention. Which begs the question: are you sure the faint desktop icons were indicative of permanent burn-in? Did you run the manual scrubbing process to give it a chance to fix the pixels?

 

[Zor Prime]

There is a piece of Windows software (LG Companion) that can help mitigate that. From what I've heard, it isn't perfect, but it does effectively turn the TV on and off upon waking the computer. I believe this is performed through Wake-on-LAN functionality, which means your TV must be connected to your network. I know some folks are likely not fans of that given how intrusive some smart TVs can be. For example, my Sony x930e is connected to the network, and even though I never use the smart features, it has something like 10GB downloaded and around 600MB uploaded (according to my network tracking).

Yup, there is a tool that'll turn the TV on and off with the computer, I'm guessing it's that one.

There is a OLED Reddit group that has a plethora of information on using them as monitors.

Personally, I just push the remote button.

If you're going to use an OLED as a monitor, I highly recommend you do the following:

• Use a black, solid-color background/wallpaper.
• Set the taskbar to auto-hide.
• Remove all desktop icons and avoid using them.

This is the way.

 

[aigomorla]

Did you run the manual scrubbing process to give it a chance to fix the pixels?

Yes, it made it less noticible until i viewed it from a white background.
When auto dim kicked in tho, it was very hard to notice it without almost kissing the monitor.
When auto dim was not on, you could see the icons, like my window was set to transparent mode.

In general, i do not think OLED is optimized for desktops.
This is probably why they are taking forever to come out, and have almost been slipped over entirely to micro leds with FALD display.
I do miss those blacks tho... you can't beat the picture and HDR a OLED brings when watching movies or playing a open world game.

Also i didnt mind the remote thing.
But i tend to wake my computer up... do some light work, and walk away.
So it idles a lot on a static screen.

I also don't like auto hiding my task bar, my background is set to black, and i use night mode on a lot of things, but text is still white, and icon, some are super bright on that OLED and there is no way to change that without changing the picture on the icons.

And so my good chap, which one wins?

wins what? the best monitor?
For a console... i would get a OLED and not look back.
For a TV and Media Content OLED easily.
For a PC... QNED Class85 mini led with FALD.

But before that i would probably use a real monitor and not a TV, unless you really do not mind turning your TV off everytime ur done with it.

 

[Zor Prime]

But before that i would probably use a real monitor and not a TV, unless you really do not mind turning your TV off everytime ur done with it.

It's unfortunate it didn't end up being a good experience for you.

The auto hide taskbar thing did take some getting used to but I did. No icons, absolute black background, just minimize everything and you can walk away from the thing for days without turning the power off and you're fine so long as you shove your cursor off screen.

This does take a degree of effort. Not like, a lot. Basically not being forgetful. But it's definitely not a regular monitor. You most likely had image retention and not actual burn in but I can't say for sure, all I know is that the rtings website abuses OLEDs and the more recent ones it almost takes ten thousand hours of intentional retina-burning abuse to get burn in. Remember image retention? Like as in plasmas. I still rock a Panasonic plasma and retention is frequent but never have burn in. Common, it isn't burn in, it goes away and isn't visible so long as you have something to perceive in that area.

Hope you're enjoying your new setup nonetheless!

 

[Aikouka]

Pretty sure I passed out last night while using my HTPC on the C1 and woke up with the TV still on and active. My screensaver normally would kick in after a few minutes, but I must've knocked into the keyboard enough (I use a basic Logitech K400 for browsing) that I ended up on Steam and hovering over an item that popped up a revolving image preview. (Might need to look into a way to disable things like that.) Since the preview was displaying a video, it wouldn't enable the screensaver. Goodness... I was quite worried that I caused any sort of degradation with that, but it seemed fine. Whew!

The auto hide taskbar thing did take some getting used to but I did. No icons, absolute black background, just minimize everything and you can walk away from the thing for days without turning the power off and you're fine so long as you shove your cursor off screen.

I'd be more of a fan of it if I could customize small things about it. For example, I don't care about alerts; always hide the taskbar. Also, do not show a single pixel line at the bottom to signify that the taskbar is hidden. (Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't. It's weird.) If I want it hidden, I want it hidden.

 

[Zor Prime]

Pretty sure I passed out last night while using my HTPC on the C1 and woke up with the TV still on and active. My screensaver normally would kick in after a few minutes, but I must've knocked into the keyboard enough (I use a basic Logitech K400 for browsing) that I ended up on Steam and hovering over an item that popped up a revolving image preview. (Might need to look into a way to disable things like that.) Since the preview was displaying a video, it wouldn't enable the screensaver. Goodness... I was quite worried that I caused any sort of degradation with that, but it seemed fine. Whew!

Yeah I've had some butt-pucker moments of passing out and waking up the next day with everything still on screen. Fortunately no issues. It's happened several times. It's one reason why I leave the auto dimming feature enabled. I don't use a screen saver because I can't decide on which one I want to use, lol. I'm not completely worried about it, that rtings website leaves static images up for thousands of hours and no burn in. I'm legitimately confused how aigomorla got burn in, which is why I suspect it was retention instead.

I'd be more of a fan of it if I could customize small things about it. For example, I don't care about alerts; always hide the taskbar. Also, do not show a single pixel line at the bottom to signify that the taskbar is hidden. (Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't. It's weird.) If I want it hidden, I want it hidden.

Yeah sometimes I can see that line, some times I cannot. The times I cannot, I imagine the pixel shift feature moves far enough that it's off screen. There is a way to remove that line but it takes some jumping through hoops with utilities.

 

[igor_kavinski]

I don't use a screen saver because I can't decide on which one I want to use, lol.

I use Mystify.

And if you use the remote to switch to the TV's built-in media gallery, play a media file in the TV storage (they have some good 4K HDR samples) and pause the video, the TV's own "tiny fireworks" screensaver will kick in after a few minutes.

 

[Zor Prime]

I use Mystify.

And if you use the remote to switch to the TV's built-in media gallery, play a media file in the TV storage (they have some good 4K HDR samples) and pause the video, the TV's own "tiny fireworks" screensaver will kick in after a few minutes.

Thanks. I hadn't tried any of that.