Samsung 173P 17" LCD monitor

[DrumBum]

My old CRT monitor is starting to go bad and I am looking for something new.
The reasons I want and LCD are:
1) easier on the eyes
2) saves space (I have a really small desk)
3) looking for a better, sharper, more accurate image

My most important criteria is the image quality. It would be nice to not deal with ghosting, but that is secondary to image. I am into graphic design and 3D animation, so I need something that will display colors accurately. At this pointI am not considering price.

I have been looking at the Samsungs for a long time, and the 173P looks like it might fit my needs. Does anyone have any experience on this monitor or does any one have any suggestions for me?

Here are the specs:
Specifications


Model 173P-Silver
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Panel Type a-si TFT/PVA
Size 17"
Pixel Pitch (mm) 0.264
Brightness 270 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio 700:1
Viewing Angle (H/V) 178/178
Response Time (ms) 25
Aspect Ratio 4:3
Interface Analog/Digital
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Frequency Horiz. Rate (kHz) 30-81 (Analog)
30-63 (Digital)
Vert. Rate (Hz) 56-76
Bandwidth (Mhz) 140
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Resolution Maximum 1280x1024
Native 1280x1024
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Colors Supported 16.7 Million
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Signal Input Input Video Signal Analog RGB, DVI Digital Link
Video Level Analog : 0.7VP-P; Digital: TMDSTM
Sync Type Separate H/V, Composite H/V, SOG
Input Connectors 15pin D-Sub, DVI-D
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Plug and Play DDC 2B
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Power On/Working (Watts) 40
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Wall Mount VESA® 75mm (optional)
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Cabinet Color Front/Back Silver
Available Colors Silver
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Dimensions (W*H*D) Physical (inches) 15.0 x 15.6 x 9.3
Packaging (inches) 18.7 x 16.1 x 6.9
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Features Special Ultra Narrow Bezel and slim design, dual hinge stand, dual CPU input, pivot technology, buttonless design, MagicTuneTM, MagicBrightTM
Included
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Warranty Parts/Labor/Backlight (yrs) 3/3/3

 

[sugarkang]

GOOD:

it's got the best viewing angle.
one of the best as far as image quality.
you can tilt, pivot, 180 degrees anyway you want.
looks really freakin good.
one button, auto sensor bright/contrast.


BAD: 25ms.

i'm going to be waiting for samsung's 12ms panels, which should be out this year.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Asides from the physical body (mounting and pivoting), the panel specs look just like my Samsung 173T. While the 25ms does allow some very very slight ghosting, it does not bother me playing games or movies.

 

[DrumBum]

Thanks for the input.
my major concern is image quality and accuracy of colors displayed.

Does anyone know of an 17" LCD monitor out there that has better image quality than this monitor?

How much credibility does the 700:1 (which sounds really nice) contrast ratio have?

Sugarkang, by "samsung's 12ms panels", do you mean the 172x? Most of the reviews I have read on this monitor dont hold it up to the 12ms rating. The other thing I am worried about with that is the 16.2M colors, instead of 16.7M on the 173P.

Does anyone have experience with this monitor (173P) and can tell me their thoughts on image quality/color reproduction?

 

[WobbleWobble]

My 173T is advertised 700:1 but it's actually a 450:1 panel.

Samsung also inflated the contrast ratio on older models even though the hardware was the same.

 

[DrumBum]

wow, I didn't know about that much of an inflation in the contrast. Is that personal opinion, or did you get that information from somewhere?

Also, the specs (at least listed from the website) are different from the 173t:

173P: viewing angle 178/178, colors 16.7M
173T: viewing angle 150/120, colors 16.2M

 

[WobbleWobble]

Not a personal opinion, but information floating around the Internet.

Try the monitor, I don't think you can go wrong with it

 

[DrumBum]

right on, thanks for the information

 

[sugarkang]

Sugarkang, by "samsung's 12ms panels", do you mean the 172x? Most of the reviews I have read on this monitor dont hold it up to the 12ms rating. The other thing I am worried about with that is the 16.2M colors, instead of 16.7M on the 173P

the 172x AFAIK, got recalled. at least they did here (in south korea).
there is a new 12ms panel called the 172p, but it's different than anything else on the market. it's only got an analog video too, so i need to wait for dvi.

from what i've heard, samsung should be coming out with some fast 17" and 19" panels this year. the 173p (USA) should make you pretty happy though. everything on it is perfect, minus the response time.

 

[sugarkang]

ok. i just won $500 at the casino, and decided to splurge on this monitor.
everything is as i expected.

PROS: everything is great. you can play games perfectly (almost) at 1024x768 instead of the native 1280 resolution. you won't be able to tell the difference running at 1024 or 1280. it's amazing.

CONS: ghosting is DEFINITELY present. ignore what other reviewers are saying about this monitor. i'm talking about fast paced games like UT2003/4. NFS:U isn't too bad. i haven't played any other games on it just yet.

so what good is IQ when you've got ghosting? i don't know. i figure my life on the computer is about 10% gaming, and it's perfect for that remaining 90%. games are playable, but if i were shopping for an lcd monitor for gaming, i'd get a MINIMUM of 16ms.

i played UT2003 on my friend's LG 16ms panel (L1720p), which is a true 16ms AFAIK. there is less ghosting on that monitor compared to this one. you'll definitely notice it in that game, compared to a CRT, but it's very very slight.

i'm definitely sensitive to ghosting, and i think it's better to wait for the true 12ms panels if you can. the downside is that your IQ, viewing angles, etc. will suffer.

 

[DrumBum]

 

[DrumBum]

Originally posted by: sugarkang
i'm definitely sensitive to ghosting, and i think it's better to wait for the true 12ms panels if you can. the downside is that your IQ, viewing angles, etc. will suffer.

how does the ghosting effect the image quality and viewing angles?

How are the black levels? I was looking at one of these the other day at Fry's and I was expecting the black to be better. But it was plugged in with analog (Will that make a difference with black levels?).

Also, I noticed that when I looked at it a a certain angle, part of the screen went a little bluer (blacklight?). Have you noticed anything like this?

Last thing, what does "AFAIK" mean?

 

[KnightPalatine]

Originally posted by: DrumBum


How are the black levels? I was looking at one of these the other day at Fry's and I was expecting the black to be better. But it was plugged in with analog (Will that make a difference with black levels?).

Analog makes a difference, as does the signal degradation caused by the splitters they run the monitors on. You might try to get them to connect the floor sample directly to a PC so that you can more honestly evaluate the monitor. The image of a big $$ prospect walking out the door, never to return, usually motivates a high degree of cooperation.

Also, I noticed that when I looked at it a a certain angle, part of the screen went a little bluer (blacklight?). Have you noticed anything like this?

Some blue "push" seems fairly typical of LCD monitors, from what I've read.

Last thing, what does "AFAIK" mean?

As Far As I Know.

 

[sugarkang]

it's pretty general knowledge that there's a tradeoff between fast response vs. iq/viewing angle.

i live in the country where these samsung panels are made. there's just no comparison as far as image quality is concerned. this is the best 17" you can get.

that said, i wish i had waited for the 12ms panels. IQ is not that important to me. 2D image quality will always be better on an LCD than a CRT (for regular use, i'm not talking about photoshop nerds).

but gaming is very frequently poor on the LCD.

if you're into first person shooters, then get at least a 16ms panel. a true 16ms. use xbit labs as a guide.
the LG 1720P is a good choice, since i played UT2003 on it, and so far that seems to be the most demanding/fastest game available.

EDIT:

i forgot you did graphics work. don't buy the LG, or any other monitor for that matter. buy this samsung.

 

[DrumBum]

Thanks for your analysis SugarKang. I think I am pretty much set on this monitor. For me, image quality is more important that response time.

Originally posted by: sugarkang
it's pretty general knowledge that there's a tradeoff between fast response vs. iq/viewing angle.

Sorry, I misunderstood you. I thought you were saying that ghosting will cause image quality and viewing angles to suffer. I understand the response time vs. image quality and since gaming is secondary, I am looking for the best image. Again, thank you very much.

Maybe I will just get one of these and a 172x, and use the 172x for gaming and my secondary monitor.

 

[sugarkang]

doh. i hope you didn't buy that 172x.

that thing has terrible reviews, and ghosting up the ass.

here, in south korea, those monitors got recalled a couple weeks after release.

afaik, there is only one true 12ms panel from samsung, and that isn't available in the states.

also, you should wait for xbitlabs or other reputable source to review a gaming monitor.
because the specs on the monitors are always useless, as xbitlabs pointed out with their reviews of 17" end of last year.