Any thoughts on the 23" ASUS PA Series PA238Q "IPS" LCD?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236201
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236201
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Any thoughts on the BenQ XL2410T would be appreciated, since I'm probably going to go for it (unless comments are negative) as my new monitor.
Any thoughts on the 23" ASUS PA Series PA238Q "IPS" LCD?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236201
Arrived today ($279 + Free Shipping from Newegg). First thing out of the box, noticed how wiiiiide it was. Have not had a 1080p monitor before (just TV's). Second, the base is AWESOME. Everything a base should be - stable on your desk, twist, tilt, and vertical adjustments all super easy. Monitor adjustments are typically enough to drive you batty on most LCD's - not this one! It's about half as thin and half the weight of my previous Dell 2408wfp LCD. Brighter, too, although my Dell is several years old now and isn't an LED model like this one. Picture quality is very natural - the 2408 is close, but the Asus is better.
There is ghosting, but not terrible. Nothing I would complain about. The text seems a bit harder to read than my Dell 2408. I'll have to play with the settings and use my calibrator this week to get it dialed in. All in all, amazing for $280. I thought I wouldn't like the ultra-widescreen (because I don't on the new laptops that are 15.6") but I actually really like it on the desktop-size monitor. The design is a bit interesting - it has ruler marks on both sides and the bottom, plus a red line across the bottom. I prefer Dell's all-black look (silver lining is OK) without any notches though. The viewing angles are phenomenal - I can go almost to the edge of where I can't see the screen before the colors fade! Best-looking screen I've purchased overall. Yay
So would you recommend it to anyone for that price? Looking for one for my wife myself. Spot a few of them but dunno hows Asus and their IPS.
I'm very happy with it so far. Aside from the picture quality, my favorite part is the stand - that's usually one of my biggest complaints with monitors, the lack of a highly adjustable stand. I also like the multiple inputs - HDMI, DisplayPort, D-Sub, DVI-D. This monitor doubles as my main home workstation monitor and my testbench monitor, so being able to plug in laptops and old computers over VGA and newer computers over DVI while still having my tower hooked up via HDMI is really nice.
However - AOC just today announced a brand-new 23" IPS LCD for $199. 1080p FullHD 16:9, WLED backlight, 50 million to 1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time, dual HDMI sockets, built-in speakers, brushed aluminum shell, less than 0.4" thick (9.2mm). So basically cheap and ultra-slim:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/the-aoc-aire-pro-a-23-inch-ips-monitor-for-199/
So if you don't need a ton of connectivity or a super-adjustable stand - check that beast out!!
Initially I reported that text casts a bit of glare/reflection. At the time I used VGA cable, but have since switched to DVI cable that came with the monitor. This has improved text readability and any glare or reflection appears to be reduced or at least now un-noticeable. I also found that the OSD control buttons have dual function that implements shortcuts to mode setting (eg, Theater, User, Scenery, sRGB, Adobe RGB, Standard, etc.) and for contrast and brightness settings. This is nice as it effectively eliminates the need to enter the OSD system for 90+% of what you typically will want or need to do. I do like the Theater mode with ASCR enabled. Increases contrast and results in movies displaying with a visual "punch". Total weight of the unit is not too bad at 16 lbs (seems my old Dell 1800FP might even have been heavier). Finally, black & whites are dead on both for photos and/or movies (ie, if you cant get a perfect black and white then your color PIXes arent right either). In retrospect, Im glad I held out for IPS at 1920 X 1200 (versus 1080).Was himming and hawing about getting the ASUS PA246Q from local Fry's. They originally got five in and when I went to check, they only had one unopened box left and the floor demo so I bought the new one they had left yesterday. (Didnt wanna buy mail order.) Stayed up till 3am testing it as I will be gone three days for the holidays and need to make sure that the unit operates satisfactory within Fry's 14 day return policy period.
So far so good. No pixel issues which I can see. Seems to get along with my P4 system (ATI 9600se video).
Things I like:
- Color adjustment and uniformity on this one are very good, better than the floor demo I spent quite a bit of time with before deciding to purchase.
- Lots of hooks and handles for color control
- Does include Adobe RGB as well as sRGB and a few other useful modes; if you like deep blacks with your movies, then Theater mode has an ASCR option
- The stand/mounting is pretty secure with a reasonable size footprint and offers all the necessary degrees of freedom and is pretty easy to work
- The built-in card reader is nice, but it does not accept CF (which I dont personally use; SD instead)
Things I might point out as weak areas
- A fair amount of IPS glow from a side view, but quite acceptable provided your eye level is at or below screen center level
- A bit of buzz/hum noise from the electronics (probably the high voltage for the CCFL); initially after first turning it on there was a concern, but the electronics noise turns out to be a non-issue relative to surrounding ambient (ie, at an acceptable level)
- Using a black desktop which I like and always use, icon text can cast a bit of a glare/reflection; I suspect this has something to do with the coating used for IPS. But after checking against my 18.1" IPS Dell UltraSharp 1800FP, that has it too, but not quite as extreme; all-in-all Ive decided that it is acceptable; there is no issue that I can see with other color combinations
- Oh yes (almost forgot); noticed this model puts more RF interference than I would like; bothers my AM radio; probably not an issue for most users
- A bit expensive overall,; $400 would have been better than $500 (and that's one of the reason this monitor tends to get dinged on its rating).
Conclusion
In general, text, photos and movies look real nice. You can adjust the PIX pretty much anyway you want or need in terms of color in user defined mode using the six axis color controls. Portrait mode works super using the ATI card's rotation feature.The OSD/Menu system is pretty straight forward/conventional and I do prefer the provided mechanical buttons over capacitance buttons other monitors use. No dead or hot pixels. Unless something turns up in the next two weeks, it looks to be a keeper.
PS: Just about every review makes note of the red stripe design below the display. Dont worry about that. It's irrelevant. I wouldnt even know it was there unless someone pointed it out and forced me to look.
Initially I reported that text casts a bit of glare/reflection. At the time I used VGA cable, but have since switched to DVI cable that came with the monitor. This has improved text readability and any glare or reflection appears to be reduced or at least now un-noticeable. I also found that the OSD control buttons have dual function that implements shortcuts to mode setting (eg, Theater, User, Scenery, sRGB, Adobe RGB, Standard, etc.) and for contrast and brightness settings. This is nice as it effectively eliminates the need to enter the OSD system for 90+% of what you typically will want or need to do. I do like the Theater mode with ASCR enabled. Increases contrast and results in movies displaying with a visual "punch". Total weight of the unit is not too bad at 16 lbs (seems my old Dell 1800FP might even have been heavier). Finally, black & whites are dead on both for photos and/or movies (ie, if you cant get a perfect black and white then your color PIXes arent right either). In retrospect, Im glad I held out for IPS at 1920 X 1200 (versus 1080).
Again, looks like a keeper.
Be sure to let us know how it turns out. The most recent report- ins on B&H Photo concerning purchase of this monitor are all five star.I think you have finally convinced me. I was debating this panel since early October. Well, my monitor is getting worse and worse, so I finally need to bite the bullet and replace it. I will be ordering when I get home from work.
i'd like to suggest that we get a section on true 120 Hz monitors for 24"+ range. Probably modify the "Hardcore Gaming" subsection for it.
I was following this thread with interest: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2208001
It appears that there are no 27" 120 hz with >1080p res, so now I'm hunting for the recommended 24" ones.
Be sure to let us know how it turns out. The most recent report- ins on B&H Photo concerning purchase of this monitor are all five star.
Also remember that the inf file on the disk that comes with this monitor is custom calibrated for the serial number of the monitor you will receive.
You will discover many small nice surprises embedded in the PA246Q (eg, speed buttons to access mode, contrast & brightness, theater mode auto wind down after terminating use of any overlay, etc.).
User mode can be used for regular operation with brightness set = 0 - 25 and contrast = 85. This is both comfortable and cuts down power consumption/heating to being quite acceptable. Movie viewing in theater mode can suck some juice, but it's worth it - ha.