BenQ FP241VW ~my review/thoughts

[jdbrown_82]

I have an Ephex system built by Maingear. if you haven't heard of them go check them out. great company. wwww.Maingear.com.

I bought the Samsung 305T with the Computer back in Sept 07. it went out and I got a refund back from Samsung. good customer service from them on that part. didn't expect that from Sam....

I ran into a bit of a snag while changing my liquid coolant and tubing. I know how to resolve it now so ill have it up later so ill be able to test this more.

be aware while reading this I'm not a pro. I don't use the tools they do to configure and adjust things. I'm a married man who loves electronics and video games. I just want to share what I think of the monitor in general. maybe this will help others like myself make a decision. my specs are in my signature.

rating 1-5. 5 being the best


BUILD QUALITY 4~

First of to compare this to the Samsung 305T I will say i personally think the BenQ is far superior. it looks and feel and feels a lot better. the stand is looks like brushed aluminum and is what first drawed my attention to it. im rather impressed because is the first BenQ monitor i have ever seen. the screen doesn have any real noticable glair, if any. the buttons are easy to push and make a nice little click sound so i know i pushed them.


PICTURE QUALITY ~5

PC~ So far Ive played COD4, Crysis, UT3, GRID demo, and Bionic Command. i played all them at max settings with the exception of crysis p). this monitor looks amazing. the sharpness is great. i have not noticed any input lag whatso ever. if any it is when i have the perfection motion mode off. it just seems maybe a tiny pit sluggish but you can turn the PM on and its well..perfect. it doesnt bother me and really wasnt even worth mentioning. ive been playing with the PM mode off and the res on 1920x1200. its great!

PS3~ I tried out GTA 4, Star Wars Unleashed demo, Face Breaker demo, and Bionic Commando Demo. they all look amazing. honestly its a little hard to tell the difference between the pc. no stretching issues, no input lag, nothing. its great. im sure when GTA 4 is released on pc it will look better though.... just thought i would throw that out there.


INPUTS 4~

I had gave it a 3 because I didnt know you could use the headphone jack with ps3, etc.
thanks to 10e for clearing that up for me. still giving it a 4 though because it doesnt have fiber optical or any other audio inputs.


CONCLUSION

My conclusion is very simple. thanks a ton to every for the help in making a good decision. this is by far the best LCD monitor i have ever owned. i like it more than the Samsung 305T and its smaller......

 

[jdbrown_82]

I took a few pics while opening the box and one quick one just now to post here. sorry I don't have more pics to share because my camera was going dead last night and I had to charge it. like I said this is more of a mini review for now. after I finish up my pc and try it out more ill edit this post with a bit more detail.

*I have a 12 mega pixel Sony Cybershot camera.
links to 2048 X 1536 res pics are below as well as compressed preview pics.*

http://image69.webshots.com/569/9/83/44/2974983440100141805mWcZCj_fs.jpg
http://image60.webshots.com/760/1/36/33/2410136330100141805VBrcFz_fs.jpg
http://image72.webshots.com/72/0/6/61/2201006610100141805vRmfJL_fs.jpg
http://image69.webshots.com/569/6/58/76/2810658760100141805ZsrPzB_fs.jpg
http://image50.webshots.com/750/0/66/58/2713066580100141805CKXfnS_fs.jpg
http://image72.webshots.com/72/0/77/76/2560077760100141805OemyIN_fs.jpg
http://image69.webshots.com/569/0/54/70/2463054700100141805tcafjm_fs.jpg

 

[Bucken]

Cant read the blue text but other than that thanks. I am looking at this and the newer HP

 

[bbi]

BenQ is running free shipping now through 9/1. Best timing to buy BenQ now.

 

[10e]

Nice summary. The headphone jack can output to headphones or PC speakers, but only for HDMI, not DVI or VGA.

Enjoy!

 

[ZeroH]

BenQ is running free shipping now through 9/1. Best timing to buy BenQ now.

Really? I just ordered my the other day and had to pay shipping.. maybe they'll give me a credit.

Yeah, I'm not sure I understand the comment about needing audio inputs..

 

[jdbrown_82]

Cant read the blue text but other than that thanks. I am looking at this and the newer HP

I changed it to white

Nice summary. The headphone jack can output to headphones or PC speakers, but only for HDMI, not DVI or VGA.

Enjoy!

Really? I just ordered my the other day and had to pay shipping.. maybe they'll give me a credit.

Yeah, I'm not sure I understand the comment about needing audio inputs..

I didnt know i could just hook up the headphone jack to my speakers when use hdmi on ps3. thanks for the tip 10e.

 

[jdbrown_82]

Ive got my pc up and running. I put the 8gb in too. definitely worth it. i can tell a huge difference.
so far i have played Grid and UT 3. its great on this monitor. i took a few pics ill upload in a bit. i think i love this monitor. it looks great. i like it a lot better than the Samsung 305T if you can believe that.

 

[jdbrown_82]

So here are those photos i took. ive been playing COD4 on it and it looks amazing. on some of the darker missions if you turn the action mode on it really brings out the light and dark missions. it really looks amazing.

http://image69.webshots.com/569/4/49/5/2664449050100141805KBTSqR_fs.jpg
http://image69.webshots.com/569/1/15/64/2507115640100141805RUmfEv_fs.jpg
http://image69.webshots.com/569/3/73/41/2424373410100141805KPMGGG_fs.jpg

this one turned out blurry, ill get some better ones later.

 

[the snake]

looks nice, but i can't get to see the high res shots, says Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /569/4/49/5/2664449050100141805KBTSqR_fs.jpg on this server.

do you notice any input lag while gaming ?

what did you have for a monitor before this one ?

 

[ZeroH]

Nice shots.

Question for you.. which OS do you have and do you see all 8GB in Task Manager? I thought 4GB was the most Windows will see (really 3GB useable).

 

[pixelperfect]

Nice pics but how about some console pics... that is the test for a versatile monitor.

 

[jdbrown_82]

lol... im hear you guys. ill try and get what i can later tonight. if not ill get some more info/pics tomorrow. spending some quality time with my wife tonight

 

[jdbrown_82]

looks nice, but i can't get to see the high res shots, says Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /569/4/49/5/2664449050100141805KBTSqR_fs.jpg on this server.

do you notice any input lag while gaming ?

what did you have for a monitor before this one?

Not that I noticed, but ive never noticed lag before. I tried out the action game mode a few times. it basically lowers the brightness and increases the sharpness. it really makes a difference though. especially on the darker scenes of call of duty 4.it makes the shadows and lighting look at lot more realistic.

I had the Samsung 305T 20 inch LCD. the BenQ is a far better LCD in my opinion.

Nice shots.

Question for you.. which OS do you have and do you see all 8GB in Task Manager? I thought 4GB was the most Windows will see (really 3GB useable).

Im using Vista Ultimate 64 bit, and yes I see the 8gb in the task manager. it really made a big difference. I was using 4gb of Corsair Dominator memory before. same speed and etc. I gave it to my wife to put and her pc and put the 8gb in mine. I tried out paintshop pro and i could tell a huge increase in performance. when using the tools such as light/dark, soften/sharp it rendered it a lot faster. it can actually do it as fast as i move the mouse.

Nice pics but how about some console pics... that is the test for a versatile monitor.

Im going to take a few pics of PS3 games and blue ray movies playing.



thats all i have for now. but im going to post more for sure soon as i can.

 

[jdbrown_82]

here is some more pics i just took. you can find more pics in the webshots link in my sig and the ones above. all pics have higher res versions there also.

.

look how sharp the text is. no tricks. i just put the camera up close and snapped a photo


CALL OF DUTY 4 -all settings on max/ 1920x1200 resolution/ (the text fading is not the monitor. that is the game itself)
STANDARD

ACTION GAME MODE

UT 3 -all settings on max/ 1920x 1200 resolution
STANDARD

ACTION GAME MODE

STANDARD

ACTION GAME MODE

 

[jdbrown_82]

CRYSIS -all settings on very high/ 1024x768 res/ x8 anti-aliasing
STANDARD

ACTION GAME MODE

ALL SHOTS BELOW WERE TAKEN IN STANDARD MODE

 

[Luder[PAK9]]

nice review--thanks for the pix

 

[BigwaveDave]

Nice review\Pics. What are your thoughts on the ghosting? Like when moving this forum page window around, or anywhere theres grey to black transitions or dark colors on grey

Mine ghosts quite a bit in these situations. It's the only thing this monitor does that I'm a little dissapointed with.

 

[jdbrown_82]

no problem guys. i got lots of help from everyone when i was looking, dont mind giving back. fun to do anyways..

if it does do any ghosting i havent really noticed it. its not enough to bother me in other words. i love the thing so far. going to hook the ps3 up when i can and take a few more pics with a couple hd movies.

 

[jdbrown_82]

here is a video i done earlier, finally got it uploaded.

this is where i upload all my vids. it compressed it a bit and it looks darker and less quality. its a lot sharper and brighter than in the video...dont think the monitor looks that bad..iT DOES NOT..!!

http://www.viddler.com/explore/jdbrown_82/videos/11/

 

[10e]

This is all MVA/PVA screens. They are awesome with dark to light or light to light color transitions and not very good with dark to dark.

Even though I'm not a fan of it, try the Perfect Motion on setting 1 when you game. It doesn't flicker much at 1 and it does help this problem a lot.

I notice the black separator smearing a bit on messages in this forum as well when scrolling up or down, but the PerfectMotion reduces it a lot.

Nice review\Pics. What are your thoughts on the ghosting? Like when moving this forum page window around, or anywhere theres grey to black transitions or dark colors on grey

Mine ghosts quite a bit in these situations. It's the only thing this monitor does that I'm a little dissapointed with.

 

[pixelperfect]

Sweet video but why didn't you move in them? The monitor looks nice and sharp. Maybe get another video showing off the scaling options for consoles... (thats what i wanna see)

 

[the snake]

okay, ya got me sold on this, ordered mine a few minutes ago

will give my impressions of it next week after i mess with it some.

 

[pixelperfect]

I just got mine... its epic...lol

 

[jdbrown_82]

yeah sorry i didnt move. i was holding the camera with one hand and doing the mouse with the other. i dont have a stand or anyway to hold the camera and play....it sucks i wish i had some way to do it.

ill try and get the ps3 on it sometime. the thing is i got it hooked up to our plasma tv in the living room and i have to unplug it then bring it in here. its kind of a pain. ill get on it though soon.

any more questions feel free. the Snake i think you make a great choice. i love it!

 

[jdbrown_82]

quick update. loving the monitor still...but.. ive got a small leak with my water cooling. think im going to go ahead and replace my hardware with a dedicated CPU water block and pump instead of the Apogee drive series i have now. i dont like the push on fittings it uses. i would like to get something with screw on fittings so i can use the bitspower fittings on them as well... they work great !

that said sorry i havent updated with pics as promised. i havent been using it right and ive been rather buisy with other things.

 

[Pocatello]

Nice review and pictures! Thanks!

 

[firey-eyez]

looks good - 2 questions.

1. can the panel be removed from that "frame"? or if you mount it to a VESA arm will the whole apparatus be suspended?
2. does anybody know how to get the promo codes working for US buyers? it's supposed to be $450 shipped but the codes don't work (it says right on their website that it will be good until 11/15).

 

[microdian]

are you using the following codes:

FP241VW50 (this one sometimes appears automatically depending on how you add the display to your cart)

the other code I used for free shipping was:

freeship10

i've stated it elsewhere but it was the best FREE shipping ever...44 hours was all it took for the display to be delivered after ordering on a Sunday afternoon

 

[Curve]

freeship10 does not work..

 

[firey-eyez]

are you using the following codes:

FP241VW50 (this one sometimes appears automatically depending on how you add the display to your cart)

the other code I used for free shipping was:

freeship10

i've stated it elsewhere but it was the best FREE shipping ever...44 hours was all it took for the display to be delivered after ordering on a Sunday afternoon

yes i was using that code - it does not work. thankyou10 still works, but freeship10 also does not. maybe it's a stacking thing...i.e. freeship10 only works once you already applied FP241VW50.

if i could get those working i would probably buy this thing since the lag is supposed to be lower than the 2408WFP. i'm going to think about it some more and maybe call customer service later this week and get them to do it manually or something...if i decide to go for it.

 

[Inverted08]

dude, thank you so much for the reviews and pics. This should hold me through until the monitor comes.

I have a small question. I ordered this on Saturday morning off benq website with standard shipping. I live on east coast, when should this monitor come?
ty

 

[Curve]

Looks like I'll be joining the FP241VW club. Just called them up and had them give me the discounted price of 450.00 cant wait to get it

 

[Pocatello]

Looks like I'll be joining the FP241VW club. Just called them up and had them give me the discounted price of 450.00 cant wait to get it

Cool.

I emailed them about the codes not working.

I want one right away!

 

[Inverted08]

Cool.

I emailed them about the codes not working.

I want one right away!

Lol, so i buy this screen on saturday for 500, cause only one of the codes was working. Then i read that someone called them to order and got it for 450. So i call these people, tell them about the code issue, and they give me 50 dolla cashback