17 inch LCD comparison: 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 ms (page 11: Conclusion)

Conclusion

We were looking for the Hydis 20 ms panel successor and we found two. The first screen is designed by Belinea and the second Iiyama. Both have a reduced afterglow compared to the best screens tested so far. User comfort isn’t equivalent to that of CRTs but quality is improved compared to previous flat screen generations.

Despite this excellent news, the conclusion to this test is rather negative; the perfect screen still doesn’t exist. The 10 17 35 does, however, come close. The price is low, it’s vertically adjustable, the panel can be used in portrait or landscape mode, color quality is excellent comparable to a CRT (proved by its spectrum) and reactivity is the best tested so far. Only small viewing angles and the poor video display reduce its overall grade.

The Iiyama E435S could have been a candidate for the perfect screen with its wider vision angles, but poor ergonomics and video display disqualified it. In fact, none of the screens had a truly good picture in movies without the twinkling effect-or at least a reasonable level like that of the AS4314UTG. The AS4314UTG lacks homogeneity and color accuracy.

The BenQ 8 ms panel is not a success. Like the precedent AU 12 ms, in practice it’s equivalent to the 16 ms AU Optronics. It isn’t better, but does have good results. Color quality is excellent and pixel reactivity good.

Sony stands out thanks to Black LCD “technology”. Adding a filter has an advantage and downside; a bothersome mirroring effect and a new sensation of depth in games.

NEC was a contender with the new 12 ms LG-Philips panel. We liked the screen ergonomics rather than the panel itself despite good color quality.

And finally, a false start for Shuttle. They should disclose their screen’s components if they want to succeed in the gaming market.