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?

 

[Aikouka]

I am having one issue with my LG C2 42" that I can't seem to figure out how to fix. For some reason, a bit of the left side of my screen is being chopped off. I mostly notice it when I go to maximize a program and I find that the menu bar is being slightly cut off on the upper left. The issue is reminiscent of overscan problems, but at least in my experience, overscan should affect all sides and not just the left. I've messed around a bunch with the Nvidia settings, and I'm not sure what I did, but I eventually got the problem to go away; however, it seems to have come back while just using the PC.

EDIT:

Awkwardly enough, it's fine again. It's also easy to tell because my mouse cursor will go beyond the left side of the screen when it's messed up, and when it isn't, it stops at the left border as expected. I wasn't messing with any settings nor did I power cycle any devices. I was just watching a YouTube video and I noticed that Chrome's tab had the slight space to the left.

 

[igor_kavinski]

however, it seems to have come back while just using the PC.

Are you on the latest GPU driver? Could be an issue from Nvidia's side.

Which resolution are you using? I always thought 3840x2160 was max supported by my OLED but installing the 3090 made run it automatically at the 4096 resolution.

 

[Aikouka]

Are you on the latest GPU driver? Could be an issue from Nvidia's side.

Which resolution are you using? I always thought 3840x2160 was max supported by my OLED but installing the 3090 made run it automatically at the 4096 resolution.

There is one newer driver (the Atomic Heart one), which I've been meaning to install.

I'm using 3840x2160. I do also have the option for 4K DI (4096x2160). I tried that resolution to see if it would work, and it didn't. I also tried options such as having the GPU perform the scaling, but that didn't work either. I did see one interesting comment where someone recommended using a custom resolution tool, and having the tool delete the 4096x2160 option as that fixed the issue for them.

I could also try a different cable just to make sure that isn't the problem, but I kind of doubt that's the issue.

EDIT:

I've installed the latest driver now. We'll see if that helps!

EDIT 2:

There is actually one thing that I completely forgot about that could be a cause... I've never updated the TV. I have no desire for the TV to have Internet connectivity, so it has never been hooked up. However, it's plausible that the TV's scaler is at fault given the issue is intermittent and doesn't appear to have a specific trigger.

 

[aigomorla]

Awkwardly enough, it's fine again. It's also easy to tell because my mouse cursor will go beyond the left side of the screen when it's messed up, and when it isn't, it stops at the left border as expected. I wasn't messing with any settings nor did I power cycle any devices. I was just watching a YouTube video and I noticed that Chrome's tab had the slight space to the left.

Its a burn in protection.
My LG Monitor also had that where it would shift the frame image so the same image does not get burned.
There should be an option to disable it on your TV like this (Screen Shift):



I don't know if you can adjust for how much of a shift on a TV, but on the monitor, it allowed 3 different settings.

Another reason why i gave up OLED as a monitor screen also.
I have OCD on little things like if things do not allign, and it bothers the hell out of me.

 

[aigomorla]

Things not looking good on the QD-OLED panels.

Longevity Burn-In Investigative Paths After 3 Months: QD-OLED vs. WOLED, LG vs. Sony, And More

Our accelerated longevity test has been running for over three months, and we've already encountered some very interesting results. We've already had three partial TV failures and one complete failure, which wasn't expected this early in the test.

www.rtings.com

.

Definitely get a LG if your thinking of making it into a pc/media monitor.

QD-OLED is Samsung's OLED panel. Its used by Sony as well.
Its also alienware's and a lot of other OEM.

 

[CP5670]

It looks like they are removing the ability to disable ASBL:

It feels like every year, they add a good feature and remove something at the same time. It happened with 120hz BFI too.

 

[Timorous]

It looks like they are removing the ability to disable ASBL:

It feels like every year, they add a good feature and remove something at the same time. It happened with 120hz BFI too.

You need to watch the follow up. Seems LG have fixed the dimming in slow / dark scenes issue anyway. How that impacts the x3 range for desktop use will remain to be seen though.

 

[Zor Prime]

Creeping up on 5K hours with my C1 as a monitor. Simply marvelous.

 

[Timorous]

Creeping up on 5K hours with my C1 as a monitor. Simply marvelous.

Trying to decide between G2, G3 and S95C at the moment.

The MLA G3 is appealing but so is saving £1,100 per screen going with G2s. S95C is also tempting but awaiting reviews to see if the black level increase with ambient light is fixed and a bit concerned about the Gen 1 QD OLED burn in.

At least with the G series you get a 5 year warranty.

 

[igor_kavinski]

The MLA G3 is appealing but so is saving £1,100 per screen going with G2s.

Nothing to decide, I think. G2 is the obvious choice.

You could save more by going with an older LG OLED model. I have a C8. If you don't have the old and new side by side, I doubt you would be able to tell what you are missing with the latest model.

 

[Timorous]

Nothing to decide, I think. G2 is the obvious choice.

You could save more by going with an older LG OLED model. I have a C8. If you don't have the old and new side by side, I doubt you would be able to tell what you are missing with the latest model.

I am leaning G2 but will see what prices are like when I actually need to buy. Having an extension done so when office is finished and kitchen is complete it will be time at that is 3/4 months away I think.

 

[aigomorla]

G series by LG is by far the best OLED panel.
Built in heat sink.
Highest brightness out of the entire family.

Only downside is it has to be wall mounted, or you need to buy a stand for it as it does not come with one.

Also the best time to get tv's is black friday / cyber monday.
I would try to wing it the best possible for 7 more months.

 

[Zor Prime]

Trying to decide between G2, G3 and S95C at the moment.

The MLA G3 is appealing but so is saving £1,100 per screen going with G2s. S95C is also tempting but awaiting reviews to see if the black level increase with ambient light is fixed and a bit concerned about the Gen 1 QD OLED burn in.

At least with the G series you get a 5 year warranty.

Just how big do you want? 48 is borderline obnoxious but I bought a Costco foldout table to put it on that I use as a desk (surprisingly, works great, aesthetics aside.)

I don't think the G series goes down to 42" territory. I would have got a 42" C1 but the smallest was 48".

 

[Timorous]

Just how big do you want? 48 is borderline obnoxious but I bought a Costco foldout table to put it on that I use as a desk (surprisingly, works great, aesthetics aside.)

I don't think the G series goes down to 42" territory. I would have got a 42" C1 but the smallest was 48".

Plan is 2x 55 screens wall mounted with the bottom of the screen about 1cm above the desk. Currently have similar with a 40 inch but the desk is a tad high for a proper sitting position so new desk will be a little lower making the screens a bit lower as well.

Desk will be pretty deep so I won't be sat on top of them when working or gaming.

 

[Zor Prime]

Plan is 2x 55 screens wall mounted with the bottom of the screen about 1cm above the desk. Currently have similar with a 40 inch but the desk is a tad high for a proper sitting position so new desk will be a little lower making the screens a bit lower as well.

Desk will be pretty deep so I won't be sat on top of them when working or gaming.

You're just about to proper justification for sim racing. Get a third 55 incher. lol

 

[Timorous]

Vincent reviewed the G3.

 

[aigomorla]

I don't think the G series goes down to 42" territory. I would have got a 42" C1 but the smallest was 48".

Smallest G is a 55.
The C2 and C3 EVO goes down to 42.

I think the best TV is a G series for TV duty.
Although having like 5 OLED's i am starting to not be a fan of them too much unless they get field advantage.
Like dark room, with very little glare, and HDR content with settings perfectly alligned.

For example...
If its a again a HDTV for TV duty / smart TV duty i would definitely look at OLED's.
If its a single primary monitor, not secondary, but primary, OLED's are ok, but autodim glare might annoy you in some situations.
If its a secondary monitor / productivity anything outside the top post, then get a Mini LED / QLED / IPS / VA.

The only thing i have not compared it across is if all 3 of my monitors were OLED.
But i think that would of pissed me off more, having 3 monitors randomly start dimming at there own intervals.

 

[Timorous]

RTings review of S95C

A little dissapointed tbh. Need to see the head to head vs the G3 but it does not seem to be as huge a leap from the S95B as it appeared it may be. Still lacks a polarizer so black levels increase in brighter rooms. The cleartype clarity will eventually get fixed by MS because they will need to with more and more QD oleds. Also the aggressive ABL and the fact it started to overheat and really turn down the brightness are not great signs.

 

[CodeBeholder]

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?

I would never suggest a TV as a monitor, OLED or not. I have three LG OLED TVs and they are a great value, but even if you can fix the auto-brightness "feature" they still aren't ideal for PC usage; this video illustrates some of the issues:

I'm very surprised nobody has mentioned the AORUS FO48U:

 

[jarablue]

I have the 48in LG C2 as my pc monitor. I won't go back to shitty monitor tech ever again. The PQ on this thing blows away anything I've ever used on PC since 1990. It's that good. Get what makes you happy. OLED is def worth it. To me and a shit ton of other PC gamers.

 

[CP5670]

One issue I've had several times is the TV can trip the fuse in my home. I have it and the PC on a 1500VA UPS, but not the speakers. It happens in bright games with HDR, have seen it in Psychonauts 2 and Jedi Survivor, but only in some very specific areas. The total power is 600-800W in most games but can spike to 1000-1200W in these games, and the GPU/CPU power is not that high, so I think it's the TV. I go reset the fuse and the system keeps running off the UPS, but Windows toggles HDR off and it can mess up the game.

 

[Leeea]

42 lg c2 here as daily use monitor.

need to get the factory remote to disable auto brightness. $10 on amazon. Do not hit the instor button.
need to get a color calibrator. Calibration from factory is questionable, I mean better then some of its competition, but it can be improved quite a bit.
I turned the brightness way down, like 30%, I like dim rooms to work in, dark mode themes, I find them relaxing.

For me, best thing that ever happened.

No burn in issues or anything like that, six months in so far.

screen scaling 125%, font issues go away.

 

[CP5670]

A good dark theme is BIB. I use it on both the LG TV and a laptop.

The default calibration is not great, I use an old program called Monitor Calibration Wizard to improve it, but that has its own quirks.

 

[Leeea]

A good dark theme is BIB. I use it on both the LG TV and a laptop.

The default calibration is not great, I use an old program called Monitor Calibration Wizard to improve it, but that has its own quirks.

I am using one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UBSL2TO

when I bought it the price was $129, so look for a newer cheaper model.

+ display cal (never touched the manufacturers software).
the results are very good, lg gives lots of in monitor settings to play with.

once you have one, you can use it on every monitor, laptop, tablet, and TV in the house, or you encounter. It is especially amazing on old crappy monitors. One of those tools that once you have it just keeps giving.

 

[CP5670]

Does it use software of some kind? One issue is the regular and HDR modes need different profiles. I have to toggle the MCW profiles manually whenever I switch, the regular profile I use looks really bad with HDR.