Official BenQ FP241W Thread !!! Info, Pictures, Reviews

Ahh interesting. Thanks for the tidbit. I was looking at NCIX as well which claims to have the latest firmware but yet it still has a bit of some problems. Hopefully the ones we get from www.benqshopper.com will have them. I will throw up an extensive review as well and I'll get it to you guys with 7mp's of clarity.

I'll just throw whatever I have. I do hope it ships out today or tomorrow! Can't wait.

But just as a teaser, here's what I'll test:

Playstation 2 with official sony component, s-video, and rca (yes I have all official cables thanks to TV transitions)

Xbox 360 with rca cables (I'll try to get a vga or component set if my BenQ has aspect and 1:1 ratio capabilities)

Powerbook G4 Aluminum 1.33Ghz 1.25Gb ram (I'll be hooking this up to the BenQ with DVI>VGA adapter (therefore going in through the VGA on the BenQ. I can also test it straight from DVI to DVI if anyone wants).
 
I do hope it ships out today or tomorrow!

But just as a teaser, here's what I'll test...

5-7 days before it ships, then ups ground wait. Patience is a virtue =P

Looks like you have a lot of it covered. I'll supply x.org modelines and test Wii s-video & component.
 
Minor update on the 1:1 pixel mapping crop issue and switching between inputs causing a lost signal case, the service centre have acknowledged there is a problem and they are waiting to get in contact with Benq engineers for advice. I have a feeling i'm in for the long haul.
 
The nice man from BenQ Holland rang me at 09:10 this morning to say new firmware is available for test on monday to finally fix 1:1 for 1080 sources. Could be available in a week or so.
 
Hi All,

I'd like to know if anyone who owns the FP241W/Z gets blurred/distorted text at the desktop in any other picture mode apart from Standard.

You can see exactly what I mean from the following pictures:
Standard Mode http://www.mofakham.co.uk/benq/DSC_0264.JPG
Dynamic Mode http://www.mofakham.co.uk/benq/DSC_0265.JPG
Photo Mode http://www.mofakham.co.uk/benq/DSC_0266.JPG
Movie Mode http://www.mofakham.co.uk/benq/DSC_0267.JPG

When I told BenQ the 'product specialist' said that it is designed like this.. which I seriously doubt.

It is blatantly noticable when using drop down boxes (i.e. black text on grey backgrounds).

Please respond as I've already asked once.
I am still wondering if you use the DVI from your VGA card to DVI input into your TFT?

I noticed with my 24" TFT (see sig) that with the VGA Input the picture and text are remarkably more soft edged than when using the DVI in and output.

I can say that every TFT is at it's best at default resolution and frequency you cannot mess around with that like on your old electron canon tube (CRT Monitor).

Also in games and video's I crank up the brightness on 100% in normal use nearly 20% brightness.

All these special modes are not always that usefull better calibrate your screener yourself with a simple TFT color test prog like Eizo Monitortest and only use your brightness to adjust for games and video.

EIZO Monitor Tester
Do you want to test your monitor properties quickly and simply? The EIZO Monitor Tester software is precisely what you need. The software offers you 24 test images for you to be able to judge properties like geometry, convergence, brightness, homogeneity and panel response time.
 
I'm still waiting for BenQ (UK) to call to arrange a date exchange my monitor. They've gone very quiet.
 
I hope they install some kind of new firmware on my BenQ from BenQshopper.com so I can play some Gears of War or something on my LCD with aspect or 1:1.
 
I hope they install some kind of new firmware on my BenQ from BenQshopper.com so I can play some Gears of War or something on my LCD with aspect or 1:1.

Let us know if they do... and in what condition the monitor comes in. The price of a refurbished model from there is very tempting.
 
greetings,

almost 3,300 messages, I can't read it all.

can someone write a quick nice summary?

1. does it support 1:1?
2. will it do 1920x1080p without stretching?

I'm planning on a 24" lcd monitor to which I can hook my dell xps gen 2 laptop (and watch HD content) and also a HD-DVD player that'll support 1080p.....

thanks....
 
1. does it support 1:1?
2. will it do 1920x1080p without stretching?

I'm planning on a 24" lcd monitor to which I can hook my dell xps gen 2 laptop (and watch HD content) and also a HD-DVD player that'll support 1080p.....

thanks....

1. yes, with updated firmware
2. yes, with updated firmware

Also, my benqshopper.com order shipped :) BenQ sent it Fedex even though I selected UPS Ground, which I feel is cool. I've had better luck with FedEx not ruining stuff. Now it just has to make its way from Anaheim, CA to Hanover, NH.
 
I've seen mixed reports and somewhere in this thread are pics showing a ps3 in 1080p working properly.

what are the cons of the fp241w?

Some people are still having problems with the firmware. Some prefer IPS to P-MVA panels. It doesn't have the newest backlighting that allows a 92% spectrum (does it? either way that's not too common yet). It seems like it's the best 24 incher under $1k, at least. It may be worth it to wait for the Dell 2407-hc, but I refuse to get another Dell after they refused to honor the Complete Care on my laptop that overheated because they used FOAM instead of thermal paste.

Anyway, I'll make a detailed 2005fpw vs fp241w review rigorously testing image quality, input lag, and the scaling and de-interlacing of dvi and s-video inputs. The losing monitor gets sold at a bargain price in the FS forum.
 
Hello all,

I have had the BenQ FP241W, with the 1:1 firmware upgrade, for just about two months now. Despite the firmware upgrade, you probably know that you cannot get the precise 16:9 aspect ratio with a 480p signal via the component input connection. I figured out how to do it with my Nintendo Wii, so I thought I would post exactly how it is done. This post describes how to get the right aspect ratio, brightness, and contrast with the Wii and other widescreen 480p devices. The experience is even better if you have a Dolby Pro Logic II decoder to decode surround sound out of Wii games. Since I have surround sound speakers but no decoder, I also show how you can decode Dolby Pro Logic II in realtime with this setup.

View all images here

Video
Requirements:
  • BenQ FP241W
  • Widescreen 16:9 480p source (Nintendo Wii)
  • VGA cable
  • Component Video to VGA transcoder, such as the Vdigi VD-Z3

Hook everything up. After much experimentation, I found that the following settings work optimally:
For the Vdigi VD-Z3, use the following dip switches:
1-on; 2-off; 3-off; 4-off; 5-on; 6-on
Note that ON is where the dip switches point downwards, towards the labels. The Vdigi manual is dyslexic and has instructions that suggest the opposite (in addition to being inaccurate for dip switch 6).

The back of the Vdigi has a recessed contrast screw (the manual calls it a "brightness adjustment switch") next to the DC input. I did not modify the screw; it came tilted at about -5º from vertical.

For the BenQ FP241W, use the following settings on the D-sub input:
Display: H. Position-52; V. Position-33; Pixel Clock-45; Phase-25
Picture: Brightness-30; Contrast-50; Sharpness-3
Picture > Color: Color Temperature-User Mode; Red-50; Green-50; Blue-50
Picture Advanced: Picture Mode-Standard
System: Display Mode-Full

As you may see from the linked pics, you will get the correct aspect ratio of 16:9 on the FP241W! The transcoder or the FP241W (not really sure which one) will add or at least shift very narrow black bars to the top and bottom of the video signal. The FP241W's adjustment controls are very weak, but they are enough to shift the vertical axis, and shift and compress the horizontal axis, to get the correct aspect ratio. As shown in the v-news picture, there is a minor amount of overshoot on the left and right edges. However, this overshoot is negligible since games should be designed not to have any valuable information in the 10% safe zone area. Between missing the overscan and having the picture stretched incorrectly, I would much rather miss the overscan. As shown in the Zelda: Twilight Princess calibration screens v-z-sn, the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the three square boxes are exactly 43mm.

The calibration screens illustrate the proper brightness and contrast, at least as far as I could eyeball. All four grayscale boxes are clearly identifiable, as is the background. You can also see the subtle stripes and gradients in the Wii system menus v-wiim-x and backgrounds v-wiis-x. Screenshots of the Zelda opening illustrate the soft changes in color in the rays of sunlight; I could not see these details before. This information appears to be lost when plugging the component video cables directly into the FP241W.

I have not yet calibrated the color on my system, but it already looks quite good. I will fiddle with color some other time.

Audio
If you are unfortunate enough to lack Dolby Pro Logic II decoding, you can roll your own decoder.
Requirements:
  • Stereo input (I am using a FusionHDTV card)
  • Multichannel output (I am using the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum)
  • 5.1 or 7.1 speakers without built-in Dolby Pro Logic II decoding (I am using the Creative Gigaworks S750 speaker set)
  • PowerDVD version with Dolby Pro Logic II or IIx decoding (I am using PowerDVD 7 Deluxe; WinDVD comes with similar filters but I was unable to get them to run correctly)
  • GraphEdit

Set up the DirectShow graph in GraphEdit as illustrated here. I did not want to monopolize my Sound Blaster's line input, so I figured out how to use my FusionHDTV card's stereo RCA inputs instead. Note that I used the DirectShow filter found in WDM Streaming System Devices. If you use another type of filter you may run the sound through the Windows kernel mixer, which will add up to two seconds of delay (obviously unacceptable for games!).

Before playing, open up the properties of the CyberLink Audio Effect filter, set your number of speakers, and set the Speaker Expansion Mode to Pro Logic II, Movie. Then, run the graph. If you do this incorrectly, GraphEdit may crash, but if you do everything correctly then the graph should run and should should hear your Wii in glorious 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 surround sound.

Let me know if this is helpful! Your mileage may vary, but I am curious to know if settings on other people's systems are similar or identical.

Sean
 
Sean,

It sounds like the computer is acting as a pass-through for the Dolby Pro Logic II signal, it's only use being to accept a stereo input and output analog surround (i.e. 1/8" jacks as opposed to SPDIF). Would you not be just as well if you removed PowerDVD from the arrangement? It is not as though PowerDVD is needed to encode or decode Dolby Pro Logic II.

Remember, Dolby Pro Logic II is a way of interpolating a stereo signal into surround sound, not an encoded surround format like Dolby DTS.
 
So will I be able to watch 1080p files from my computer that is hooked up to this BenQ without stretching?
 
Robstafarian,

It sounds like the computer is acting as a pass-through for the Dolby Pro Logic II signal, it's only use being to accept a stereo input and output analog surround (i.e. 1/8" jacks as opposed to SPDIF). Would you not be just as well if you removed PowerDVD from the arrangement? It is not as though PowerDVD is needed to encode or decode Dolby Pro Logic II.

The audio filter is actually interpolating the stereo signal into surround sound using a software-based Dolby Pro Logic II decoder.

dplii-graphedt.png

dplii-claud.png


Dolby Pro Logic IIx (the x is 7.1) is one of PowerDVD's advertised features.

Sean
 
So will I be able to watch 1080p files from my computer that is hooked up to this BenQ without stretching?

If the 1080p files are on your computer and you're using your computer to view them, then it just depends on your media player. Most media players don't stretch things.
 
Despite the firmware upgrade, you probably know that you cannot get the precise 16:9 aspect ratio with a 480p signal via the component input connection.

Wait, serious? Now I'm kind of disappointed. I do have a component -> vga adapter but it requires a progressive scan signal which means that it doesn't work with some of my games (trauma center). Not gonna switch cables on a per-game basis. Not pleased about a 16:10 stretch.

How does it deal with 4:3 GC games? How does it do with the Wii over s-video?
 
Sean,

I completely misread your original post, I thought you said that your speakers had a built-in Dolby Pro Logic II decoder.
 
Sean

Thankyou thankyou thankyou!

The post about the Wii is the one I've been waiting for. Could you just answer a few questions
1. How well does the setup perform without the VDigi box?(Component only)
2. Any problems with fast moving games ?

Oh and hows the best way to get a Vdigi for those of us who live in the UK

Cheers Sean (Big thanks)

How about posting images with and without the Vdigi

Thanks
JJ
 
JJ,

You are welcome.

The post about the Wii is the one I've been waiting for. Could you just answer a few questions
1. How well does the setup perform without the VDigi box?(Component only)

Connecting the component video cable directly gives you the following properties when displaying a 480p signal:
  • Display Mode Full: stretched to 16:10
  • Display Mode Aspect: stretched to 3:2 (i.e., 720x480, fullscreen with vertical bars on the left and right sides)
  • Display Mode 1:1: a 720x480 image in the middle of the screen
  • Color: I have not calibrated the monitor, but in general you will see higher contrast from black to white, and some obvious clipping of the color space on both ends (i.e., very dark gray->black, very light gray->white). Your tastes may vary on this point, and I did not fiddle with the brightness, contrast, and other settings enough to really tell if you can fully adjust back to get the full range of color.
  • Tweaking Position: I do not remember offhand, but there are fewer geometry adjustment controls in Component Video mode than in D-Sub mode.
  • Anti-Aliasing: There is more anti-aliasing apparent in Component Video mode. For example, you can clearly see the pixel steps on text in the Wii menus in D-Sub mode. In Component Video mode, it is much harder to distinguish individual pixels at a reasonable viewing distance, so the high-contrast lines look "better" (that is to say, less square-stepped). This may be a function of the increased contrast, which also eliminates more of the subtleties in the picture. Which one you like is, of course, a matter of personal preference.

Some other forum members have posted about this issue, but their posts have been buried somewhere in the past 163 pages. :rolleyes:

2. Any problems with fast moving games ?

None to speak of, but I have not tested too many fast-moving games.

Oh and hows the best way to get a Vdigi for those of us who live in the UK

Check the Vdigi website. In the United States, DataPro offers the Vdigi for $69.99, and they currently have over 400 in stock. It might be easier to order from the United States than wherever Vdigi is (Hong Kong?).

Cheers Sean (Big thanks)

How about posting images with and without the Vdigi
Unfortunately, no time right now to post the component video images (it requires changing my whole setup around). I will see if I can get to it in the next week.
 
J.archer,

Wait, serious? Now I'm kind of disappointed. I do have a component -> vga adapter but it requires a progressive scan signal which means that it doesn't work with some of my games (trauma center). Not gonna switch cables on a per-game basis. Not pleased about a 16:10 stretch.

The Vdigi VD-Z3 has a "mode" (dip switch 6) that is supposed to deinterlace 480i signals to 480p according to the manual. I cannot vouch for how well it works--I did not test it that much. However, it also has a curious side effect: it increases the brightness of 480p signals. When I turned that switch on (among other things), I got the brightness and contrast in a good enough range that tweaking the BenQ would handle the rest.

How does it deal with 4:3 GC games? How does it do with the Wii over s-video?

I just tried using the Vdigi with 4:3 GC games. While I do not have time to calibrate the precise geometry settings, it works pretty well! The important property, it appears, is that the FP241W recognizes the Vdigi signal as 640x480, 60Hz. When you switch the FP241W to aspect or 1:1, it will use a 4:3 aspect ratio. The 52/33/45/25 settings look close enough while playing Super Smash Bros: Melee that I could not notice any distortion. To fully calibrate, however, I would want to check some reference patterns.

Sean
 
Got mine last week and im really satisfied. No Backlight bleed, no dead pixels, no problem with the screen shutting off for awhile. Productiondate Jan 07. me so happy :)
 
Got mine last week and im really satisfied. No Backlight bleed, no dead pixels, no problem with the screen shutting off for awhile. Productiondate Jan 07. me so happy :)

where did you buy it?

did it come with the latest revision?

1:1?
 
Nobody has a working 1:1 fp241w for 1080 yet. BenQ are not even testing the firmware to fix this till Tuesday 10th!
 
can someone please explain, in dummy terms, what exactly is 1:1 and problems caused by the lack thereof.

Thank you.
 
in osd options. Also noticed has HDMI as well as DVI and component. Its only 799.99 in Canada. Maybe this is answer instead of BENQ.
 
can someone please explain, in dummy terms, what exactly is 1:1 and problems caused by the lack thereof.

Thank you.

1:1 makes sure an image is reproduced the way it's suppose to look, with no stretching of any kind. Without 1:1, a 16:9 aspect ratio video source will be stretched to fit the 16:10 aspect ratio of widescreen monitors.
 
1:1 makes sure an image is reproduced the way it's suppose to look, with no stretching of any kind. Without 1:1, a 16:9 aspect ratio video source will be stretched to fit the 16:10 aspect ratio of widescreen monitors.

hummmm.... I have my dell xps gen 2 with its 17" widescreen display... it's 16:10.

I notice that DVDs and movies in general (which are 16:9) aren't stretched... I can see the little black bars at the top and bottom of the screeen.

what does that mean?
 
1:1 makes sure an image is reproduced the way it's suppose to look, with no stretching of any kind. Without 1:1, a 16:9 aspect ratio video source will be stretched to fit the 16:10 aspect ratio of widescreen monitors.

Your example works in the case of a 1080p signal at this particular resolution, but a more generalized definition would be that 1:1 reproduces an image in its original resolution. In 1:1 mode, a 640x480 image coming from a Playstation will be a small box in the center of the screen, 640 pixels wide, 480 pixels tall. Aspect scaling will preserve that aspect ratio while expanding the image (in the example, the image would be displayed at 1600 pixels across, 1200 pixels down). Fill/Full scaling will ignore concerns regarding aspect ratios and make the image fill the entire panel.
 
Your example works in the case of a 1080p signal at this particular resolution, but a more generalized definition would be that 1:1 reproduces an image in its original resolution. In 1:1 mode, a 640x480 image coming from a Playstation will be a small box in the center of the screen, 640 pixels wide, 480 pixels tall. Aspect scaling will preserve that aspect ratio while expanding the image (in the example, the image would be displayed at 1600 pixels across, 1200 pixels down). Fill/Full scaling will ignore concerns regarding aspect ratios and make the image fill the entire panel.

My example seems fine to me. Without 1:1, a 16:9 source will get stretched to fit the screen. You assumed I meant only stretching vertically. He wanted the most simple explanation and that's what I gave him.
 
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