Samsung SA850 on PLS - the first review has been published (preproduction unit)

I'm still having that frame skipping problem I described a few pages ago... Can anyone here with the 27" help me? If you have a spare minute, try playing a game and see if you get some frame skipping every 5-7 seconds. It's easier to spot if you don't move, or if the background is static or semi-static. If you have a very trained eye for fluid and constant framerates, you'll notice it easily.
I'd like to know if it's a problem of my screen only, or if it's general.


By the way, my backlight bleeding is barely noticeable only when all the lights are turned off, the brightness is set to 100, and I display a veeeery dark and STATIC picture on full screen - otherwise, it's pratically inexistent. I bought and tested one of the newest Asus ML- IPS screens and they had the infamous harsh AG. Honestly, they are both EXTREMELY minimal flaws, but if I were to chose one, I'd choose the backlight bleeding 100 times.

And honestly, aside from my strange frame skipping thing, this is the only flaw this monitor has. If I manage to solve my problem with games, and if Samsung manages to reduce or cancel the backlight bleed that some unlucky people get, this becomes hands down the 2560x1440 king.
 
The monitor is tits. ( Am I allowed to say this?)

The only thing I noticed in regards to video is that Response Time in OSD needs to be set to "Normal" or "Faster." "Fastest" produces unwatchable artifacts.
 
Thought I'd share some high quality photos of the screen I found on the web (I've had a hard time finding non-official high quality photos of this screen). A bunch is available on this link: http://big5.ifeng.com/gate/big5/bbs...tid=8872556&extra=page-ifbase4-base8-JTNEMQ~~

one of them:
54869616201108150942018433966872876_007.jpg
 
Of the online retailers that sell this, which one has the best return policy, in case I get this and feel that the backlight bleeding is distracting?
 
I'm new to this forum & I read all your posts on the S27A850D. I was all set to get the Hazro HZ27WC from UK. I wrote them & they pretty much said they will not guarantee it if it's shipped to U.S. broken, they would not be responsible. So the S27 is my second choice. All of you have been extremely helpful in making my decision in ordering this monitor. I just have two question that I hope someone might be able to help me with before I order it. I was going to order it from Cost Central, they had the lowest price & free shipping. Anyone ever order from them? My graphic card is HD6750. will that be OK for this monitor?
 
DonnaL said:
I'm new to this forum & I read all your posts on the S27A850D. I was all set to get the Hazro HZ27WC from UK. I wrote them & they pretty much said they will not guarantee it if it's shipped to U.S. broken, they would not be responsible. So the S27 is my second choice. All of you have been extremely helpful in making my decision in ordering this monitor. I just have two question that I hope someone might be able to help me with before I order it. I was going to order it from Cost Central, they had the lowest price & free shipping. Anyone ever order from them? My graphic card is HD6750. will that be OK for this monitor?
Click to expand...

A 6750? Are you planning to game on it?
If not, then it's perfectly fine. The display has a displayport, too.
If yes, you'll find out that a 6750 is waaaay too little for such a big resolution. I have a GTX 570 SLI and it's barely enough to max almost all the games out there except Metro (Crysis has a few lows, but it's still ok). On the other hand, gaming on such a high resolution doesn't require 4x or 8x AA, I'm a graphics perfectionist and I can barely spot the difference between 2x and 4x @ 2560x1440 on a static image.
If you like gaming with all maxed up, you should seriously consider upgrading your graphics power. a 580, 2x6950 or 2x 560Tis are the minimum I recommend. If you like gaming but you don't care much about uber graphics and very demanding games, a single 6970 should be enough. If you don't care at all, forget my post :D

A quick memo to those that want to buy this and want to plug a PS3: apparently, the monitor doesn't have the ability to switch easily between video sources with different resolutions. The first time you plug the PS3 in, reset the video output by pressing the power button for 5 seconds - otherwise you'll see nothing but static. Once you did the reset, remember to NEVER change video source as long as the PS3 is on, otherwise you'll be again at the starting point. This isn't the most comfortable thing if you need to google something while you're playing, but it's nothing like a deal breaker. I learned it the hard way (hours of frustration and google-fu) :D
But here's some good news: the PS3 games look REALLY good. I was playing Valkyria Chronicles and OH WOW. The scaling is very well done - actually, I might go as far as saying that the scaling is so good, it reduces the alias!
 
Thanks for such a fast reply! I do enjoy playing games but I guess not really high end games. I like games like "Oblivion" or "Lord of the Rings". I'm a granny so I enjoy games that are a little easier to play, but I'm still too young for those click & move games:p. I do like a great picture though. Will I be able to still use that high resolution while doing other things? My monitor is a 7 yr. old Sony that has a glossy screen that has very low resolutions but it gets a very bright & sharp picture. Should I go the bucks for this higher end monitor if I'm not going to be able to set higher resolutions unless I buy a better graphic card:confused:? Never owning a monitor of this type I really feel stupid asking some of my questions & I appreciate all your help
 
I would read some 6750 reviews to see how it handles different games.
 
DonnaL said:
Thanks for such a fast reply! I do enjoy playing games but I guess not really high end games. I like games like "Oblivion" or "Lord of the Rings". I'm a granny so I enjoy games that are a little easier to play, but I'm still too young for those click & move games:p. I do like a great picture though. Will I be able to still use that high resolution while doing other things? My monitor is a 7 yr. old Sony that has a glossy screen that has very low resolutions but it gets a very bright & sharp picture. Should I go the bucks for this higher end monitor if I'm not going to be able to set higher resolutions unless I buy a better graphic card:confused:? Never owning a monitor of this type I really feel stupid asking some of my questions & I appreciate all your help
Click to expand...

You'll manage to use the highest resolution possible in everything, as long as you use a dual-link DVI or a displayport cable (so no single-link DVI, no HDMI).
2560x1440 is a problem only for games like I previously said, not because your graphics card isn't actually able to output that much pixels, but because it isn't powerful enough to bring modern games to an acceptable framerate at such resolutions (2560x1440 is 4 megapixels, that's two times the pixels of a 1920x1080 panel!)
Is your actual monitor is in something like 1024x768 and 1280x1024, then you'll DEFINITELY have some serious framerate loss - even if you're just playing stuff like Oblivion.
Like NCX said, google for some benchmarks and see for yourself. Keep in mind that 60fps is the smoothest experience possible, 30fps is acceptable (console framerate), under 30fps it's generally unacceptable.
 
DonnaL said:
I was going to order it from Cost Central, they had the lowest price & free shipping. Anyone ever order from them?
Click to expand...

I ordered the ThinkPad Tablet and Samsung S27A850D from them. Both times they did not ship the same day. Both times they emailed me and left a voice message saying I needed to call to verify.

The first time they said my credit card verification number was blank, yet I submitted it in the order form. After verifying some details over the phone, it still took days for it to be shipped.

The order status on their website is weird, and it kept updating in all these odd ways with the main order seemingly split and branching into sub-orders. I was watching to see when it shipped, and sometimes there were tracking codes that didn't work, which then changed.

After it finally shipped, it was from a warehouse further than I hoped, and took several days to arrive. They said on the phone that the shipment would require signature, so I changed my schedule and kept an eye out for it. But then it was dropped off and the driver left, so I wasn't even needed.

The second time, when I ordered the SA850 27" a few days ago, I was hoping it'd be shipped the same day, and arrive within a couple days so it'd be here before the weekend. But the day I ordered there was no notice, and the following day I received an email and voicemail saying I needed to call to verify information. Seeing this as a sign of a repeat of the previous experience, I replied to the email saying I'd just gone through this and asked them to cancel.

The next day I got a notice from my Bank saying they charged $1. It seemed to be one of those temporary checks to see if the card worked, because now that charge is gone. But why did it appear if they needed to verify my info before they could process the order? If I gave false info the charge wouldn't have worked, and since I asked to cancel, why were they trying?

Now each day I keep receiving emails, "ACTION REQUIRED!", "We regret to inform you that your recent CostCentral.com order is currently on hold. Please contact us immediately so we can quickly resolve the issue. We cannot process your order until we hear from you. " It says orders on hold for 10 days are subject to cancellation, which means I'll probably receive these emails every day for over a week.

My impression is that they're a small and disorganized company. The website interface isn't very sophisticated, and it feels like there's not a lot of automation. I imagine a few people doing everything by hand, manually updating individual orders without a refined procedure. They seem to be a frontend for some large warehouses. It seems like they take the orders, and order from whichever warehouse had that product. But I don't really know.

What I do know is, Newegg has the same monitor for $71.17 more. I know that when I order from a place like that my credit card is charged immediately, and if there's a problem it doesn't allow me to order until I've entered correct info. Then it is often shipped the same day, with tracking code emailed instantly, and from a location close enough where it arrives in 1-3 days. It's also easy enough to exchange the item if it's defective.

I received my ThinkPad Tablet fine, so I know it is not a scam business. If you want to save some money, and are willing to endure some potential hiccups in the order process, then buying from CostCentral.com should not be a problem. But if you want a more refined experience, and confidence that it should go smoothly, even if you receive a defective item, then you have to ask yourself if it's worth the $71 to risk it.

For me personally, I feel like although $71 is quite a difference, that overall the experience doesn't fit with my style and it ends up causing me stress and wasting time. I don't like paying more, but it's something I have to consider, because by paying more with a site like Newegg, I simply click the button and I'm done. I usually don't have to worry about it anymore, and it arrives smoothly within a handful of days.

But I haven't ordered the monitor yet, because when I went to Newegg there was a review added that said, "Not an IPS monitor. Closer to MVA. Colors gray out at 45 degrees vertical, not 80 like IPS. This means when the monitor is close, you can see variation vertically." Now I'm wondering how the PLS LCD truly compares to an IPS. I was already expecting some backlight bleed and flickering, but color shift too?
 
Shnso & Jamon, thank you so much for all your help. Lots to think about before I order this monitor. What a GREAT forum, such helpful people..again Thank You!
 
peppergomez said:
Of the online retailers that sell this, which one has the best return policy, in case I get this and feel that the backlight bleeding is distracting?
Click to expand...

I bought the 24" and 27" from Buy.com.

45 day no-hassle return policy, no restocking fee. Full refund.


Of course, I'm keeping both monitors.
 
Jamon said:
Newegg there was a review added that said, "Not an IPS monitor. Closer to MVA. Colors gray out at 45 degrees vertical, not 80 like IPS. This means when the monitor is close, you can see variation vertically." Now I'm wondering how the PLS LCD truly compares to an IPS. I was already expecting some backlight bleed and flickering, but color shift too?
Click to expand...
Is that a defective unit? Colors graying out at 45 degrees sounds more like TN than PLS. Someone please confirm or refute that please.
 
Shoplifter said:
Can anyone who owns this monitor say if this is as low as the panel can go?

I really like this display but that is too high for me and my desktop.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You can adjust it to where the bottom of the lower bezel is 5 cm (or just under 2'') above the base of the stand. So quite a bit lower than in those pictures, but not all the way to the base.
 
soixante said:
You can adjust it to where the bottom of the lower bezel is 5 cm (or just under 2'') above the base of the stand. So quite a bit lower than in those pictures, but not all the way to the base.
Click to expand...

How are you getting that?

The best I have been able to do is 2.25" on the 27" and 3.5" in the 24".
 
NM156 said:
How are you getting that?

The best I have been able to do is 2.25" on the 27" and 3.5" in the 24".
Click to expand...

Just checked again and yes, mine goes to just under 5 cm. To be clear, this is the distance between the lower edge of the bezel (not the actual screen) and the top of the square base that the stand rests on. Also, this is measured with the screen in its 'normal', upright position, not tilted (I find a slight backwards tilt to make for a more comfortable viewing angle otherwise).

And yes, this is for the 27''. It would seem odd if yours doesn't go as low as mine.
 
soixante said:
Just checked again and yes, mine goes to just under 5 cm. To be clear, this is the distance between the lower edge of the bezel (not the actual screen) and the top of the square base that the stand rests on. Also, this is measured with the screen in its 'normal', upright position, not tilted (I find a slight backwards tilt to make for a more comfortable viewing angle otherwise).

And yes, this is for the 27''. It would seem odd if yours doesn't go as low as mine.
Click to expand...

Facepalm!

I thought mine was upright,but when looked at it from the side I noticed I do have it tilted a bit for comfort.
 
Hello!

To make a long story short: I bought the S27A850 despite the shortness of reviews, and received it yesterday. However, no matter how I tried to get a picture, the monitor seemed to remain in standby mode; it showed only black, and I had access to only a couple of settings (PC/AV mode and PBP).

I tried both DVI outputs from my HD6870 card, with two different DVI dual link cables that was verified to work with my 2343BW monitor at 2048x1152 resolution. So, I almost thought my screen defect. (Maybe it is, as far as DVI goes). I therefore registered here to see if anyone else had the same problem (seeing that this is one of the few places with a discussion about the monitor).

As a last resort, I went and bought a miniDP-DP cable to see if it would help, and it worked flawlessly! So now, I have the monitor up and running, and love it, which is a relief considering I got a bit worried by the reports of backlight bleeding, poor contrast uniformity etc.

Bottom line, since I created this account, I thought that I should share my impressions and also snap a few pictures for those who are thinking about buying the monitor, but are a little hesitant to buy on nothing but the good faith in Samsung and their marketing hype. :)

Unfortunately I could not upload pictures here, so I threw them into my dropbox. Feel free to re-post them here if you can. https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/4360871/1/S27A850 pictures?h=4be841

I tried to expose the pictures the best I could, although some may be under or over-exposed. In words, the screen does have poor uniformity when blacks are concerned, and it comes off as slight backlight bleeding. There's also a slight glow that might be IPS glow, although I'm not sure since my previous monitor was a TN. I will compare to some IPS-panels at work. The color reproduction is great even at extreme angles, though. I would say it is like IPS regarding the color-angles, but more like a good TN when it comes to the blacks. :p
EDIT: The all-black pictures are all taken with the same shutter, exposure and ISO setting at manual. That's why they are a little blurry, but they are at least comparable among each other. The other pictures are also taken with manual settings, although with slight variations since I had to compensate to make it look "real". I think the info is embedded in the files, if you want to check something. All pictures taken with an EOS 550D with 18-55 IS lens at 18MP.

I also like the features of the screen, like the light sensor that handles the back light depending on the environment. The screen also has a really nice semi-gloss and I have no problem to have candles and a big plasma screen behind me in a dark room.

Go ahead and ask me if you want to know anything in particular. :)
 
Last edited:
Ugh, I wish the "backlight bleed" wasn't so noticeable. That would make the darker scenes in movies and games (especially sneaking around a dark cave in Skyrim or flying around in space in X3) look bad. Thanks for posting your impressions and those pics, though.
 
If the backlight bleed is too noticeable, swap it out for another.

Backlight bleed is virtually non-existent on my 27".
 
If some folks arernt encountering this problem, I think i might give one of these a cance on buy.com and send it back if backlight bleed is a problem. Will need to find out how much return shipping will cost though, if it applies.
 
peppergomez said:
Ugh, I wish the "backlight bleed" wasn't so noticeable. That would make the darker scenes in movies and games (especially sneaking around a dark cave in Skyrim or flying around in space in X3) look bad. Thanks for posting your impressions and those pics, though.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I just tried out a dark dungeon in Oblivion, and I must say it was not very enjoyable. (Not sure if another pic would represent it properly.) Backlight was on minimum, but the blacks were like grey, and shimmered weirdly with the viewing angles. However, I think that is the IPS-glow rather than backlight bleeding, so I'm not sure if any other panel of this size could perform better? Exept PVA-panels, of course.

My backlight bleeding is only visible in the lower right part, the rest is IPS glow. Anyone know if anti-reflective coating makes this better or worse? I would think that a glossy screen could reduce the glow, like Hazro's screens. They are better than many other, according to this review. http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...monitors/hazro-hz27wa-981678/review?artc_pg=2
 
my old samsung syncmaster 305t 30" lcd was not very good at handling blacks either, but that's an older monitor from around 2004. I'd hope that IPS can handle darks better.
 
There, I just sent a request to return this display. I really don't like the glowing of the blacks, and the backlight bleeding is not acceptable for such an expensive screen. My old TN-panel was actually better.

Think I'll try my luck with one of the Hazro 27" screens instead. They're cheaper, have glossy coating (I'd rather have some reflections during the day than glowing blacks) and are the same panels as Apples LED Cinema 27" as I understand it. Just checked one out today at an apple store and it's way better than this Samsung, even in a strongly lit store with fingerprints all over the screen.

Wish me luck. :p
 
No, the gloss might not be a help per se, but it does give an impression of crisper images. However, I think the Apple screen is better just because it is better, and i hope the Hazro is the same. It has got really great reviews.

Good luck peppergomez :)
 
Of course it has IPS glow, but I have actually found the SA850 blacks to be quite good (and I am accustomed to PVA blacks).

The Apple display is very different from the SA850. Both nice monitors, you may find that the glossy works better for you.

Let us know.
 
Seen this monitor next to u2711 in store (I have u2711 at home).

Samsung has less AG. Colours practically the same, flimsier looking. Perhaps slightly better green/yellow on samsung due to CFL limitations, most lighting class LEDs trounce CFL for these wavelengths. Buttons on front detract from smoothness IMO. The input lag/ghosting is slightly less noticeable on the Samsung. Unless you're used to super fast TNs or CRTs it shouldn't be a problem gaming on u27 or SA850.

Can't comment on black as showroom was too bright, going to ask for a demo at home as the rotate functionality alone is worth it for me when skimming datasheets/webpages. I was waiting for a LED IPS or similar but pulled the trigger 3 months early.

Regarding dell u27 AG: I think each to their own. Some people seem to notice it, everyone that's seen my screen has been absolutely blown away by it and has not noticed the AG. I did initially but got used to it. Once you set text display settings properly (no cleartype for me) it is much better.

Edit: vs 2011 Apple 27": the black reflections drove me absolutely mental, it was all I could see. Personal preference really! Slightly clearer with gloss but the reflections outweighed the benefits for me - these screens are bright enough that you'll see yourself, even with the lights off, with gloss. I'd suggest black facepaint and matte black clothes for using the apple. Just like the advertisements. If you have glasses, you're screwed.

For people migrating from average TNs: eyestrain is significantly reduced for me, colour is like seeing again, high res single panel multi-tasking pays for itself... do it, you won't regret it!
 
I am going to order this monitor today. I called Samsung up yesterday to ask them if there has been any improvements on the blacklight bleed & the girl said she was not aware of this problem. I asked her if I had this problem will they cover "all" expenses in returning it for another, she said yes. She had the monitor in front of her & said it was extremely beautiful in colors & sharpness. Hey, she does work for the company. Anyway, I will post all about it when I get it. I'm a far cry from being professional at this but I will do my best. All of you really seem so educated on monitors & all this stuff. Thank Goodness for all your help, very much appreciated!!!
 
Please do post your impressions. I am very interested in this monitor and would have purchased it but for the complaints (user and professional reviewer alike) about backlight bleed and the pictures showing has noticeable it is. Thanks.
 
Here are some pictures of my SA27850D. These were taken with a Lumix DMC-F20Z using standard Portrait setting. I am no photographer, and I should have at least used a tripod to reduce the blur.

sa850_4.jpg


sa850_3.jpg


sa850_1.jpg


Some low quality video:

sa850_5.jpg
 
Last edited:
NM156 said:
Here are some pictures of my SA27850D. These were taken with a Lumix DMC-F20Z using standard Portrait setting. I am no photographer, and I should have at least used a tripod to reduce the blur.

sa850_1.jpg


Some low quality video:

sa850_5.jpg
Click to expand...

Damn, that almost makes me want to exchange mine for another, and hope for the best! That's the least amount of bleed I've seen on a SA850 yet.

I don't even want to know what that video is about. :p
 
Bladestorm said:
I don't even want to know what that video is about. :p
Click to expand...
Haha, I was thinking exactly the same :D

The uniformity is quite acceptable on your sample, NM156. I don't think people didn't believe what you've stated about the uniformity, but it is always extremely nice to have pictures, just to outweigh the amount of "bad examples of bleeding" seen on the boards. Thanks for those, it is much appreciated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top