Possibly the best 3D monitor you'll lay eyes
on
When it comes to PC monitors, there are two
things we find tiresome. The first is novelty ‘gaming’ monitors that are underpinned
by cynical marketing tie-ins. The second is finding yet another TN panel under
our noses.
Say hello, then, to the new BenQ XL2420T,
brought to you by pro-gamers HeatoN and SpawN (apparently, now retired as ‘too
old’ at 24). And, yup, the BenQ XL2420T has a TN panel. Oh dear.
BenQ
XL2420T
Fortunately, this monitor is much more than
just another chintzy branding exercise with a cheap panel. For starters, it
supports Nvidia's latest 3D Vision 2 technology – that means Lightboost is
part of the mix, which essentially doubles the brightness. There's hope here
after all.
The basic image quality kicked out by the
1920x1080 BenQ XL2420T is truly exceptional. With rich and vivid colors, good
contrast, and relatively little evidence of color compression on any of the
scales, it might just be the best TN panel we've ever tested.
The only truly significant shortcoming
compared to IPS, PVA, and new-fangled PLS panels involves the vertical viewing
angles, which are distinctly mediocre. Everything else is in pretty much the
same ballpark. The pixel response is typically excellent, as you'd expect from
a TN panel, and doesn't betray any obvious symptoms of overdrive, which is a
big bonus.
If the image quality isn't quite spot on,
the good news is that this is one monitor where adding tweaks is a true
pleasure. The clever OSD that sits just above the Windows Taskbar and the
soft-touch, backlit OSD controls are the best we've seen, period.
The
basic image quality kicked out by the 1920x1080 BenQ XL2420T is truly exceptional
Likewise, the programmable, mouse-like S
Switch allows you to quick-jump between three panel presets in an instant. The
chassis and stand are quality items, too, and offer the full gamut of adjustments:
tilt, rotate, swivel, and height.
Finally, there's the Nvidia 3D Vision 2
support. In the first instance, that means a 120Hz refresh, which is a good
thing regardless of what you use the screen for. It even makes using the
Windows desktop smoother and more responsive.
In 3D mode there's absolutely no doubt that
Lightboost delivers the best-looking stereoscopic 3D visuals to date. The colors
are rich and the contrast is huge. It's truly spectacular stuff. OK, it will
still make your eyes/brain (delete as applicable) hurt, but this is as good as
stereoscopic 3D currently gets.
Those
concerns aside, the BenQ XL2420T offers a super screen experience
With such a strong all-around performance,
it's hard to find any flaws. However, in terms of image quality, the vertical
viewing angles are clearly inferior to any IPS, PVA, or PLS monitor. It's also
worth noting that you'll need to pick up an Nvidia 3D Vision pack, as it's not
included in the price.
Those concerns aside, the BenQ XL2420T
offers a super screen experience. If that isn't enough to tempt you, it's the
best stereoscopic 3D monitor we know of, too, thanks to Nvidia 3D Vision 2 and
Lightboost.
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Details
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Price
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$425
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Website
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www.benq.com
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Pros and cons
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Pros
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Jaw: Bright and colorful; excellent OSD
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Cons
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Jaw 3D: Vertical viewing angles are TN
bad
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Specifications
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Pane
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24-inch, TN, LED backlight
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Native resolution
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1920x1080
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Pixel response
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2ms (GtG)
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Inputs
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DVI, 2x HDMI, VGA
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Mounting
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VESA MIS-D 100
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Verdict
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9/10
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