Help choosing an IPS monitor

Help guys! I've decided I need more screen real estate than the 15.6 inches of my laptop. I have done epic amounts of research but I'm still no closer to deciding. I know for a fact I want IPS as I can't handle the poor colours and viewing angles of TN and I can't afford a good TN anyway.

I'll mostly use it for web browsing, watching movies and playing games but not FPS or online games.

So far I've narrowed it down between a 24" 8-bit VA BenQ Panel
BenQ EW2440L 24" Widescreen Flicker Free LED Monitor - Black

and a 23" 6-bit IPS AOC Panel
AOC I2369VM 23" Widescreen LED IPS Monitor - Black/Silver

Both have similar contrast (250 cd/m2) and viewing angles, with the BenQ having 4ms GTG (but some reviews say this is optimistic and its much slower between two tones of black) and the AOC has 6ms GTG (more realistic value). One review for the AOC said how amazing the panel is, how well calibrated it comes out of the box and the inclusion of displayport for the money is great! My budget is around £150 ~$200.

Thanks guys

 

I picked up two 22" AOC monitors a while back. They were IPS but the viewing angles weren't nearly as good as my LG IPS screen. I ended up taking them back and finding two more LG 2452 screens used on ebay and I'm extremely happy now.

 

Have a look at the Asus MX239H.... I was going to buy it for gaming (has total input lag of 10ms which is the lowest I've seen of any IPS pannel).. Firstly, I need to get a bigger desk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-MX239H...F8&qid=1425994879&sr=8-1&keywords=Asus+MX239h

 

Gah! That's the second time in two days I've been recommended that exact monitor, problem is I would say its out of my budget but the amazon price of £170 is oh so reasonable. I'll definitely consider it, thanks for your suggestion Tom

Gaaah! But picture quality from the AOC's displayport could still be superior as MX239H only has HDMI. Probably arguing HDMI vs DP here though.

 

I'd be more worried about the panel in the AOC effecting the picture quality than I would the port standard. They're both 1920x1080. As far as I know dp vs hdmi will look pretty much the same at that resolution. Please inform me if I'm incorrect.

 

Only thing is that both Nvidia and AMD will default to TV colour range when using HDMI and it sometimes requires a small tweaking program in order to display the full RGB colours. DP will automatically display the full colour range as it defaults to PC monitor

A review of the AOC monitor actually said the panel itself was one of the major pro's with some of the best blacks of any IPS display!
Read here https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/aoc-i2369vm/

 

I've never used DP tbh.. Always used HDMI... Since you have a AMD GPU, I don't think you'll have this problem (NVIDIA did but was fixed in recent drivers I believe)...On the whole, get the Asus .. I wish I had the desk space to get it..

 

On Nvidia this was fixed with a driver update a while back

 

And AMD?

 

AMD doesn't have this problem

 

Indeed.. Only NVIDIA had it.. I never noticed anything wrong when I had my 7970M... Thank go that 344.75 had this fix when I got the 970M or I wouldn't have been a happy bunny!

 

AMD just has the problem where you have to set it to 'overscan' when using larger TV sized screens as monitors. Its usually only one check box but you have to do it when setting up the PC the first time. Nvidia doesn't.

 

No idea, never tried using a TV as a monitor with an AMD card. But AMD doesn't have the limited RGB color bug when you plug in a PC monitor through HDMI.

 

Last time I tried an AMD it did it to me, and every time before that for years. I'm just using a 40" Toshiba LED LCD screen, but I've had it happen on many other monitors as well, small issue though unless your setting it up for a 90 year old client who doesn't know how to right click their desktop.

Nvidia doesn't have the RGB color bug after firmware version 347.09 I am currently on 347.52 So old news I guess?

 

Thanks for this info. Choices are now pretty much MX239H vs the BenQ EW2440L. I'm aware the MX239H has 300cd/m2 contrast compared to 250 on the BenQ. Would that make a big difference?

 

Found a brilliant website that has some great discussions. After reading this thread I'm leaning towards the BenQ
https://forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/best-gaming-monitor-for-dark-scenes/

 

I've seen this before too.. What's making you lean towards BenQ? The thing is if your using this monitor for gaming, the Asus is brigher and overall input lag is the least I've seen for any IPS monitor...

 

I'm struggling to find a review of the MX2369H that is as complete and detailed as the PCmonitors.info ones for the EW2470L (bigger brother of EW2440L) and i2369VM.
https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/aoc-i2369vm/
https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/benq-ew2740l/

These reviews are seriously in-depth. I'm learning towards the VA panel in the EW2440L more than any IPS screen in my budget, and if I'm honest the MX2369H is slightly outside my budget (except from Amazon but I hate them). What interests me about the EW2440L is the higher static contrast compared to most IPS and without the IPS-glow common with that panel type. This creates very atmospheric and detailed dark scenes in games and movies (particularly when playing or watching in the dark). It also has a good response times (although not for all colours). Finally I'm worried about Pulse-Width-Modulation or PWM, which can cause discomfort for some people and is present on most IPS screens including the AOC and Asus ones. The BenQ screen uses Direct Current method instead of PWM

The advice from pcmonitors.info was to buy a monitor with a good returns policy so I can return it if not entirely happy.

TomJGX I wish I could put the Asus and the BenQ side-by-side!

 

Get the BenQ then. Seems to satisfy your requirements. Flickerless DC instead of PWM backlight is easier on the eyes and nothing beats VA for black level and contrast ratio. Only thing is that VA has slower response time than both IPS and TN so you may notice ghosting during fast motion.

Oh and it's 8-bit too. Nice.

 

Don't you have enough money to get both from Amazon? Whichever one you don't like, return it... Amazon are really good when it comes to returns... Just make sure you buy from amazon.com and not a seller in the marketplace..

Also there are a few video reviews on youtube and I found this..

http://www.hardwaremx.com/reviews/review-asus-mx239h-designo-mx-series/5/

 

I'd rather not buy from Amazon as they have a horrendous reputation here in the UK for dodging corporation tax. Buying two monitors just isn't an option. Its fine returning them assuming you don't accidentally damage some of the packaging etc. I think, after discussions on PCmonitor.info, I'm going to go for the BenQ first and see if I can handle the smearing and/or overshooting, if not then I'll reconsider the Asus. You certainly seem a fan Tom.

 

ASUS' low-end monitors (MX Series) are junk and not worth getting over a similarly priced Dell. You have to get into the higher end PB Series to find good ASUS monitors but they're a lot more expensive and mostly slow panels meant for color pros not gaming. The only gaming model is the ROG Swift but it's TN and like $800.

 

That basically mirrors what was said on Pcmonitor.info except they did recommend a few Dell monitors for gaming such as the Dell U2414H https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-u2414h
They also said that the AOC i2369VM came better calibrated out of the box compared to the MX2369H! Going to have a chat with my chosen supplier about returns policy soon before pulling the trigger on the BenQ. Thanks for your input octiceps.

 

If you're on a low budget, might as well get an entry-level AOC instead of ASUS monitor.

And yeah, the entry-level Dell IPS monitors are some of the best in their price range.

 

OK lol... Your loss if you don't get it from amazon.. best returns policy I've seen... As for dodging corporation tax, blame the governement and not the companies... If the tax system wasn't complicated with so many loopholes and the rates were fair (which they are now tbh compared to places like US), companies would pay their fair share of taxes whether they liked it or not.. It seems a bit petty IMO that you won't buy from them for not being a bit slippery but its your money and your choice...

Who is your chosen supplier? I believe OC UK are a great choice.. Stay away from Dabs, Scan, BT Shop.. Their returns policies are horrendus...

 

OcUK is indeed my chosen supplier. Only heard good things about them. I'd rather pay £10-15 more to get it from them. Good to know about those other retailers, thanks.

Sure Amazon are only exploiting a far from perfect system but when it causes smaller (family or independent) businesses to go out of business because they can't take advantage of the same loopholes and this can't offer the same low prices, its very sad IMO.

 

I think it's more of a point of these smaller shops not innovating and not being able to hold onto customers as a result.. Amazon is just convinient to get anything from and returning isn't a problem etc.. As far as smaller shops going out of business, I think places like Comet etc kind of deserved it.. Their CS reps don't know anything about the products their selling and they're slow to respond to price changes.. All they try to do is shove extended warranties down your throat to earn comission etc.. I for one will never buy from places like Currys PC World if I can avoid it! Amazon/Ebay for me

 

Thanks! the above discussions are quite useful

 

Any updates?

 

I was close to pulling the trigger on the BenQ but boring life stuff got in the way, and since then I had a chance to see the AOC in person and was really impressed. Holding off on purchasing at the moment but unless I can find somewhere to have a look at the BenQ, I'm leaning towards the AOC.

 

Asus ips monitor, the MX239H works great.