Dell S2740L or Achieva Shimian QH270?

[euskalzabe]

I've been using my trusty Dell ST2220T and been really liking it for a couple years now. Having gone down to 21.5" from a 42" TV-as-monitor, lately the Dell has started to feel a little on the smaller side and I want to go up in size to about 27". I've been looking around and my final decision comes down to the Dell S2740L or the Achieva Shimian QH270.

Both are glossy 27" IPS which is fine with me, I like glossy. The Dell is only 1080p while the Achieva is 1440p. I trust Dell - my experience with them on monitors has been flawless - and I have no idea if I can trust Achieva. Dell is $300, Achieva is $365, which should be taken into account too. The extra resolution on the Achieva would be nice, but that would force me to upgrade my GTX470 to a high-end 600 or 700 series this summer and I don't know how I feel about spending so much money on a GPU. I was considering getting a 760 TI in the next couple months when it comes out, which should be enough to game at 1080p (and that resolution would not bother me at 27", because my 42" was also 1080p and I was happy with it, gigantic pixels and all ). In fact, I'm gaming on all modern games (Tomb Raider, Bioshock Infinite, Crysis 3, etc) on my 470 perfectly on High settings lowering resolution to 1600x900 and I'm happy with it anyway, so I'm not sure I'll need the extra resolution of the Achieva.

I've been checking many threads at [H] and the Dell seems like a solid buy (considering all I do is gaming, watching Hulu/Netflix and working with MS Office) but I cannot find many opinions on the Achieva.

Any suggestions out there? Dell or Achieva?

 

[Syradil]

Ah, the Dell S2740L is the only topic I bother signing in to comment on, because it was utter garbage in my opinion.

I returned the Dell S2740L to Amazon after using it for ~3 weeks, I couldn't stand gaming on it. The overdrive the monitor has to improve pixel response leaves a dark overshoot behind moving objects, it's extremely noticeable and you can't turn it off. I wouldn't consider it an option for gaming under any circumstances, unless they manage to add a way to disable the overdrive.

In addition, the screen isn't just glossy, it's a glass front similar to Apple Cinema Displays. This glass is so shiny it reflects the image on the screen onto the back of the glass. I'm probably not describing it very well..but it's more or less a double image if you're looking at objects towards the edge of the screen; the image on the front and back of the glass. It's not so bad if you're looking at the screen dead on, but this ruins any viewing-angle improvements you might be hoping to get from the screen being IPS.

 

[livefastdieyoung]

two good glossy 1080p alternatives to the s2740l are the hp 27xi and philips 278c4qhsn. they have configurable overdrives, less than half a frame of input lag, and color performance about the same as the dell's. the hp has a dvi port, the philips only has hdmi (not a problem if you have a dvi to hdmi cable).

 

[euskalzabe]

Thanks for the HP and Phillips recommendations, I'll check them out.

As for the overdrive thing, I'm sure my ST2220T also has it and it's probably worse since it's an older panel, and I have never noticed it so it must obviously not bother me...

In fact, I just checked and it does have overdrive enabled - I tried switching it on an off and frankly I see absolutely no difference...

 

[Syradil]

Not all overdrives are created equal, see the TFT central links below, ST2220T is first and doesn't display the dark overshoot, the S2740L does.

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/content/dell_st2220t.htm#gaming

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/content/dell_s2740l.htm#gaming

 

[euskalzabe]

I see what you mean about the overdrive stuff... and you're totally right, my monitor is much less noticeable than the S2740L. I'm considering just risking it and getting the Achieva, it's not that much expensive...

 

[NCX]

You can see the S2740L's overshoot captured on camera in my review:

http://wecravegamestoo.com/forums/m...740l-review-1920x1080-edge-ege-glass-ips.html

Looking at PRAD's charts the ST2220T's OD On overshoots only a bit less than the S2740L

http://www.prad.de/new/monitore/test/2011/test-dell-st2220t-teil13.html

http://www.prad.de/new/monitore/test/2012/test-dell-s2740l-teil6.html#Reaktionsverhalten

Any reason you want the Achieva over the new QNIX PLS which can potentially overclock to 120hz?

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1759502&highlight=

 

[euskalzabe]

You can see the S2740L's overshoot captured on camera in my review

Ha, funny! I actually found your review on Youtube and it was you who convinced me that I would really like this monitor (I just realized now that you posted a link to your text review which I hadn't seen). So, many thanks to you, sir, excellent review. As you mention in your analysis, I very much doubt I'd notice the overshoot or that it would even bother me, since I haven't used a CRT in about 15 years and never, ever laid eyes on a 120hz display. My ST2220T does overshoot a little too according to you, and I've NEVER seen it... so that is a good sign for the S2740L.

After I was quite convinced I'd buy the Dell ($300 is excellent and I like being "limited" to 1080p so I won't require a crazy expensive GPU and can probably squeeze another year out of my GTX470), I saw the Achieva with so much more resolution and it got me thinking. I didn't even know about the QNIX, but I'm not sure I want to test waters with PLS when I've had such a good experience with IPS (and yes, I know they're similar/equivalent, but it makes me feel uneasy...). Also, I'm not one to tinker with forcing the refresh rate... I'd be afraid to break something.

Honestly though, while I was considering one of the Korean panels, 2 things are putting me off: crappy build quality/cheaper and less durable materials, and the power supply thingy that if it dies you can't get a replacement in the US and need to order another from Korea. That sucks, bad. Anyway, what really sold me on the Dell was actually your video review (seriously, it was awesome, I've watched it twice already, thanks again) when you mentioned the colors were some of the best you've seen and that I wouldn't have to tinker much with the settings, which I'd like to avoid. Another definite winner detail against the Korean hi-res panels is that this Dell has HDMI, which I really want cos I'm used to my ST2220T in Ycbcr mode which you cannot do through DVI, and I really notice a difference between that mode and RGB, so I'd like to keep that too. I use my PC on a low-lit room also, so the super glossiness of the panel shouldn't be an issue.

As I type this I'm realizing I'm pretty much decided for the S2740L (I'm actually leaving next week for Europe for a full month of vacation, so I won't be ordering this monitor until mid-june) but I'm still open to other suggestions! The Dell does seem to fit all my wants/needs though, and I keep looking for videos on YT to see it in action as much as possible!

 

[NCX]

Thanks, I try to be objective as possible in my reviews...but on the forums I do not recommend the S2740L since there are other 27" 1080p IPS options now and the S2740L suffers from overshoot and the super reflective edge-to-edge glass makes blacks look grayish.

The Acer S275HL is essentially the same as the Dell (same overshoot but it can be deactivated in the service menu) but it has a normal glossy coating. The HP 27Xi is not supposed to overshoot at all, has a normal glossy coating but has an ugly bezel imo.

The S2740L is also known to vary from unit to unit in terms of black levels and gamma. While mine was excellent out of the other review units were not.

I made a thread on the OC.net forums with links to all of the S2740L reviews

http://www.overclock.net/t/1308171/dell-s2x40l-s2x40m-glossy-1920x1080-ips-a-mva

External power supplies for the Korean monitors can be purchased for around 40$.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/230838320475?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[euskalzabe]

on the forums I do not recommend the S2740L since there are other 27" 1080p IPS options now and the S2740L suffers from overshoot and the super reflective edge-to-edge glass makes blacks look grayish

That Acer is an interesting option if I can turn off the overdrive, and the price at amazon is good as well. The HP 27xi is also decently priced at Newegg and I kind of like the design anyway... If it doesn't overshoot and it's not as reflective as the Dell, maybe the HP is a better option for me? Aaaaaaah! So many options now, which one to buy...

If I may ask, what monitor would you recommend at 27" IPS 1080p overall, for office work/movies/gaming? And what 27" IPS 1440p of the Korean panels would you recommend? As long as it stays around $350 I'm satisfied, and you obviously know much more about this than I do. I was trying to figure out from the TFTcentral panel list which one is the best and concluded it's the LM270WQ1-SLB1 because it's the only one that has a native 8bit panel capable of 1billion colors (as opposed to the regular 16 million) and still has 6ms GTG, but I can't figure out which Korean monitors have it... I was also looking at the Crossover from your video review but can't figure out if it would be a good purchase or not...

Any help would be greatly appreciated, before I fork $300 on a new display

 

[#Grey]

I have the S27. The overshoot isn't noticable and I game on it all the time. The edge-to-edge display and IPS panel really makes colors pop, for a 27" 1080p display it looks great. I'd highly reccomend it over gambling on some Korean monitor since if you don't like it you can just return it to the store.

Mine looks excellent and I couldn't be happier, the VESA compatibility is also a plus since they clearly skimped on the stand quality. I found it too wobbly for my tastes so I have mine mounted on an arm. I could have bought a more expensive display but I found this one to fit my needs perfectly.

 

[euskalzabe]

I have the S27.

Do you mean the Dell or the Acer that NCX just mentioned?

 

[#Grey]

Do you mean the Dell or the Acer that NCX just mentioned?

Oops. The Dell.

 

[euskalzabe]

OK, I'm down to the Acer S275HL (since NCX says it's essentially the same as the S2740L but I can turn off the overdrive if it bothers me) and the HP 27xi which is equally good, there's no overshoot and has a nicer/narrower bezel around the screen than the Acer. They both cost about $290 and both have HDMI which I want for YCbCr444 mode.

Which one to buy?

 

[NCX]

All of the Korean IPS are 8 bit (16.7m), there was a Davi being sold which is wide gamut (bad for games and movies) and 8 bit+FRC but it uses the same panel as the U2711=junk (grainy matte coating, poor black levels, high chance of tinting). 1 billion vs 16.7m colors does not matter.

IMO the HP is really ugly and the inner bezel is so dark it, like the dark glass covered bezel of the S2740L, it makes the blacks look grayish.

The S275HL uses the same trick found here to deactivate the overdrive

Check out livesfastdiesyoung's thread

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1726127&highlight=

There is a way to get better colors vs. ycbcr444, follow the instructions in this thread

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1729604

I recommend the Qnix or X-star matte (semi-glossy coating) or glossy models since they overclock

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1759502

 

[fyleow]

Did you get your Qnix yet NCX? Curious to hear about your thoughts on it after personally handling it.

 

[euskalzabe]

The QNIX QX27 has some very good prices on eBay, I'll have to look at PLS vs IPS to see if it's worth the money savings.

 

[livefastdieyoung]

OK, I'm down to the Acer S275HL (since NCX says it's essentially the same as the S2740L but I can turn off the overdrive if it bothers me)

on the acer, the overdrive setting reverts back to 'on' every time it loses sync (power cycle, resolution change, waking from sleep, etc.). and since the overdrive setting is in the service menu, and to enable the service menu you have to hold down the 'acer' button while powering the monitor on, this essentially means that every time you turn the monitor on, you'll need to press two buttons. then you'll need to turn off the overdrive. then every time you play a game that changes resolution, or wake your pc from sleep, you have to go turn off the overdrive again. trust me, it gets annoying.

i see no reason to buy the acer now that there are other glossy 27" 1080p ah-ips monitors available that don't have overdrive issues. get the hp or philips instead.

 

[livefastdieyoung]

IMO the HP is really ugly and the inner bezel is so dark it, like the dark glass covered bezel of the S2740L, it makes the blacks look grayish.

the acer will be no different. the inner bezel on all of these 'frameless' ah-ips panels are the same deep black color. my viewsonic vx2770smh that i run with a .12 cd/m2 black level, still looks grey compared to the inner bezel.

back when i reviewed the acer, it was the only glossy 27" 1080p ah-ips monitor aside from the dell. now that the hp and philips exist, i don't see any reason to get the acer.

 

[#Grey]

There's also the fact that the overdrive on the Dell is a non-issue which any typical user is not likely to ever notice. Just saying.

 

[NCX]

I didn't know the Acer had the same inner bezel or that the phillips was available (passive 3D model right?=faint gray lines on white+light backgrounds are visible to some people) in North America.

 

[euskalzabe]

on the acer, the overdrive setting reverts back to 'on' every time it loses sync (power cycle, resolution change, waking from sleep, etc.). and since the overdrive setting is in the service menu, and to enable the service menu you have to hold down the 'acer' button while powering the monitor on, this essentially means that every time you turn the monitor on, you'll need to press two buttons. then you'll need to turn off the overdrive. then every time you play a game that changes resolution, or wake your pc from sleep, you have to go turn off the overdrive again. trust me, it gets annoying.

i see no reason to buy the acer now that there are other glossy 27" 1080p ah-ips monitors available that don't have overdrive issues. get the hp or philips instead.

Oooooooooh I had NOT thought about that, that'd get real annoying real fast. Thanks for that tip. I actually like the HP's design the best anyway, so I think I'll probably go with that one. THANK YOU everybody! You made my monitor buying a very well informed (and informative) process. I was going to sell my ST2220T and just have the HP, but the sale fell through and I don't want to sell it through eBay (I'm kind of paranoid it'll break in the shipping process since I don't have the original box or anything...) so I'll probably keep it as a Start screen monitor or whatever, and use the HP for games, yay!

 

[livefastdieyoung]

I didn't know the Acer had the same inner bezel or that the phillips was available (passive 3D model right?=faint gray lines on white+light backgrounds are visible to some people) in North America.

you're right about the philips having passive 3d and possible visible lines for some people. it's being sold on amazon, but from a third party vendor called 'fusion imports' so it's probably safe to assume it's not 'officially' available in the u.s. yet.

the 'inner bezel' is actually part of the panel and not the monitor housing, and the inner bezels only come in black so as to promote the illusion of a 'bezelless' monitor when the display is off.