BenQ XL2420T colour gradient/banding

[Verrenus]

Hi guys!

I just joined the forums and wanted to ask any other owners of a BenQ XL2420T 120Hz if, even after calibrating the monitor (I, for one, used an X-Rite ColorMunki colorimeter), you still experience noticeable colour gradient/banding in games, or when viewing certain websites containing gradients (e.g. www.pcgamer.com, www.geforce.com)?

Just to give you a concrete example of what I'm seeing:

http://pcmonitors.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Xl2411T-colour-burst.jpg

http://pcmonitors.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/XL2411T-starfield.jpg

When it should actually look like this:

http://pcmonitors.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/original-colour-burst.jpg

http://pcmonitors.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/original-starfield.jpg

I know the links are from a review of a different model, but it seems this issue also applies to the Xl2420T, not just the XL2411T.

Is there anything that can be done about this at all? I really like this monitor apart from this (quite annoying) problem!

 

[Rusty0611]

The colours aren't great on the BenQ compared to some of the competition out there even on the TN side of things. I have mine along side a calibrated Dell IPS panel and the difference is really pronounced there (obviously).

The BenQs main selling points is a fantastic gaming 120 Hz screen. You lose a bit of colour accuracy for that unfortunately.

 

[Verrenus]

The BenQs main selling points is a fantastic gaming 120 Hz screen.

Well, that was my main reason for buying the BenQ in the first place, after doing my own research and reading dozens of reviews for it and other 120Hz monitors.

Needless to say, I fell in love with the smoothness of gaming on the BenQ at first sight (pun intended) and I'm never going back to 60Hz now, the experience just wouldn't be the same! Still, I really wish it didn't have those horrible gradients in the lower end...

Just an afterthought, but since my monitor is connected to the GPU (i.e. ASUS GTX 670 DirectCUII) through a DVI cable, I *am* getting the full 0-255 RGB spectrum, and not just 16-235, as it might be the case for HDMI or DisplayPort, am I not? I am asking because that might be one reason for colour banding in the lower spectrum.

 

[PCM2]

As explained in the text surrounding those images in the review, what you are observing (uncalibrated state) is largely down to the 'Black eQualizer' revealing 'unintended detail'. In 'Standard' mode the Black eQualizer is enabled to some degree and there is no way to disable it. When you apply an ICC profile it will have to make massive changes to the gamma and colour behaviour of the monitor and take things way beyond the native settings of the monitor. That in itself reduces shade range and is likely to induce banding. In short; it's something your stuck with on this monitor, and sadly something that is common to monitors using all current 24" 144Hz panels.

 

[Verrenus]

In short; it's something your stuck with on this monitor, and sadly something that is common to monitors using all current 24" 144Hz panels.

I knew that Black eQualizer was responsible for the banding to some extent, but since it's a feature of BenQ monitors I'm surprised to hear that the problem is also common for all other 24" 144Hz panels not of BenQ make.

 

[PCM2]

I knew that Black eQualizer was responsible for the banding to some extent, but since it's a feature of BenQ monitors I'm surprised to hear that the problem is also common for all other 24" 144Hz panels not of BenQ make.

Dodgy low-end gamma enhancements to artificially bring out detail that shouldn't be there in dark areas are also used on the ASUS and AOC 24" 144Hz models. This is all the Black eQualizer 'feature' is really and that sort of thing is by no means unique to BenQ. I'm not sure about the Philips one as I haven't tested it yet, but I suspect it might be similar.

 

[Verrenus]

Dodgy low-end gamma enhancements to artificially bring out detail that shouldn't be there in dark areas are also used on the ASUS and AOC 24" 144Hz models. This is all the Black eQualizer 'feature' is really and that sort of thing is by no means unique to BenQ.

Alright, I see now! I really thought that I had only made a poor choice with the BenQ because of this Black eQualizer feature messing up the low-end gamma, but if similar panels also have these artificial "enhancements", then I don't regret my purchase of the XL2420T at all.

Thanks a lot for the information, it was great to hear an expert's opinion on the matter!