Benq FP241W (Now available from OcUK!!!!!)

kumar101 · 8 Jun 2006 at 09:27

Looks like this may be the one. Has HDMI, DVI, Component, PIP. They quote it as being PS3 comapatible @ 1080p on the HDMI input.

Confused about the specs however. On the Product page http://www.benq.com/products/LCD/?product=812&page=specifications

Quoted Brightness is 300 and contrast 800:1 all others based on this Samsung Panel quote 500 and 1000:1 i.e. Samsung 245T.

Baddass do you think that they are deliberately under-specifying?

Baddass · 8 Jun 2006 at 22:20

i've been looking at this online today in fact. some more info for you on the BenQ FP241W. BenQ announced it on their UK news site here on...well, in fact in the future, tomorrow!

(9/6/06). It looks like there are two versions, the FP241W and FP241W (BFI):

FP241W (BFI) not only has the same features as FP241W, but also encompasses BFI technology, which eliminates ghosting effect.

Bit more info on BFI technology avaialble here

The spec looks a little different though. It was originally touted to be:

8ms G2G, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 178/178 viewing angles and was listed as a Samsung S-PVA panel (a la Dell 2407WFP / Acer 2416W). This was listed at Prad.de spec and would have been the LTM240M2 panel.

However, the pic from the link to BenQ's site above shows a spec of 6ms G2G, 800:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m2 brightness. This is clearly difference. It might still be a Samsung S-PVA panel as their 24"WS is one of the only panels in the market which seems to be used in screens this size so far.

To add speculation about it, with BenQ's affiliation with AU Optronics, it could potentially by their 24" P-MVA ( M240UW01 varients) panel. The spec does even look like S-IPS technology with lower contrast ratio and brightness specs than mdoern MVA / PVA panels seem to offer. However, I've not seen any from LG.Philips certainly and not at this size. CMO have an S-MVA panel at 24" whose spec looks potentially similar, the M240J1. We will have to wait and see, although my money is on the Samsung S-PVA at this stage. It is possible that they have used a different backlighting structure and so brightness rating (and therefore contrast ratio) is now lower. This is reasonably common, with the panel still fundamentally being the Samsung S-PVA, but then altered a little thanks to BenQ's panel construction and electronics

kumar101 · 9 Jun 2006 at 10:09

After reading your Post its starting to make sense to me, thanks for clarifying this Baddass.

http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php report the Panel as being LTM240M2 as well.

However, this is a Worldwide launch and they are marketing it on being "first HDMI dispaly" my concern is that they may use a mix of Panels to fulfil demand . As long as they stick to S-PVA or P-MVA Panels it would be fine with me, but they switched to TN on the 20" viewing angles would be a big issue on a 24".

I suppose they will end up offering two versions standard and BFI. BFI seems like a good idea but do think it would inroduce Latency?

I am I right in assuming this will enable playing of 1080p HD Content at 60fps via HDMI. Its not 1:1 as with the latest 1080p HD TVs from Sony and Samsung. So the image would need to be stretched?

Baddass · 9 Jun 2006 at 17:46

kumar101 said:
http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php report the Panel as being LTM240M2 as well.

Yep, they list it as the LTM240M2 as does TFT Central, and early specs where they were released were more inline with that panel. It is only the BenQ listed specs for contrast ratio and brightness which are adding a little confusion, but i'm pretty sure it will turn out to be the Samsung S-PVA panel since other panels are not readily available or widely used at that size

However, this is a Worldwide launch and they are marketing it on being "first HDMI dispaly" my concern is that they may use a mix of Panels to fulfil demand . As long as they stick to S-PVA or P-MVA Panels it would be fine with me, but they switched to TN on the 20" viewing angles would be a big issue on a 24".

It might very well be the world's first HDMI display, it doesn't really matter about the panel at all. HDMI is just an interface standard and so perhaps this will be the first PC TFT so feature this connection for peripheral devices. It doesnt matter what panel it uses. I'd be very surprised to see a 24" TN Film panel, i know some are being developed in the 22" size, but not at this time are they being made for 24" screens.

I suppose they will end up offering two versions standard and BFI. BFI seems like a good idea but do think it would inroduce Latency?

from early reports BFI looked very promising at CEBIT 2006. Did you read the bit about it on the link before? It looked to be a good technology for improving percieved responsiveness.

kumar101 · 9 Jun 2006 at 22:25

Baddass said:
from early reports BFI looked very promising at CEBIT 2006. Did you read the bit about it on the link before? It looked to be a good technology for improving percieved responsiveness.

I read a little bit about BFI and got a vague idea of what its about. Ive since been doing a lot more reading today and its complex stuff. If I understand it correctly its to do with improving the the way an image is presented to your eyes retina in order that your brain can reproduce it better. The terminology they use is Spatial/Temporal Integration. Found the best explanation here: http://www.cog.brown.edu/~max/3Dspl/research/integration.html

I have to admit this stuff is too much for a moral like me its more for boffins doing R&D in Universitys.

Seems that a lot of Display manufactures are going to be using BFI. Benq reckon by inserting a Black frame in-between every 2 Data frames does the trick. Your eyes are presented with much better images with controlled luminosity from the screen thus reducing afterglow. The BeHardware guy has seen it in action at Cebit and was impressed so the technology seems to work.

Well if they price around £800 mark I might take the plunge and buy it. Has state of the art tech, all inputs and a good Panel. Release is supposed to be end of June.

Baddass · 9 Jun 2006 at 22:57

yeah it's touted as "cleaning the eye's memory" by inserting a black frame. Interestingly Viewsonic list this as a component of their ClearMotiv technology already, but i don't think it's been actively used as part of any of their screens. It's something BenQ are pioneering mainly and early reports seem positive. Hopefully it will be good, i'm interested to see how it pans out

Humate · 9 Jun 2006 at 22:59

argg i hate waiting

kumar101 · 9 Jun 2006 at 23:25

Humate said:
argg i hate waiting

Same, Same here. Wish I could have it now so that I can watch all the World Cup matches on my new WinTV Card whilst surfing the Web.

p0rks0da · 11 Jun 2006 at 18:09

Hmm i guess this monitor is lacking HDCP? They advertise the HDMI connection but make no mention of HDCP on the page

Humate · 11 Jun 2006 at 18:15

p0rks0da said:
Hmm i guess this monitor is lacking HDCP? They advertise the HDMI connection but make no mention of HDCP on the page

bleh !

i know very little about monitors... but its getting on my giblets that i cant just buy a 24" monitor that comes with everything and supports everything... i dont even care how much it costs... I WANT IT AND I WANT IT ALL NOW !

kumar101 · 11 Jun 2006 at 20:09

p0rks0da said:
Hmm i guess this monitor is lacking HDCP? They advertise the HDMI connection but make no mention of HDCP on the page

It will be HDCP compliant all newly the latest release large Widescreens are cause allegedly its a VISTA/Bluray/HD-DVD requirement.

Link form Daily tech confirms it: http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2746

Dailytech quote:

'The HDMI input is fully HDCP compatible and will accept signals up to a full 1080p (1920x1080) resolution.'

In any case Movie Studios are going to have a 3 year grace period so its not going to be an issue for long time. However its not going to stop manufacturers from using a marketing ploy along the lines of 'you need to upgrade to our screen cause its Vista compatible'.

Humate · 11 Jun 2006 at 21:56

yay

salami1212 · 11 Jun 2006 at 23:44

any idea on a price and will it be more expensive than the dell?

kumar101 · 12 Jun 2006 at 00:04

salami1212 said:
any idea on a price and will it be more expensive than the dell?

According to http://www.prad.de/en/news/shownews506.html

End June @1200euros which is around £825.

But then again we live in rip-off Britain so .....

Having said that they do however need to remain competitive with your Dells and Samsungs. I personally wont be buying if its going to be more than £850.

p0rks0da · 12 Jun 2006 at 13:50

Good news on the HDCP then, but that price is totally crazy imo.

queamin · 12 Jun 2006 at 23:06

Was thinking of getting a lcd tv but might get this instead as i am watching tv from my pc at moment

Q

kumar101 · 12 Jun 2006 at 23:35

queamin said:
Was thinking of getting a lcd tv but might get this instead as i am watching tv from my pc at moment
Q

This is what appeals to me so much about this configuration as well. You'd have six inputs available D-Sub/DVI-D/S-Video/Composite/ component /HDMI

So you could hook-up a Console via HDMI, PC via DVI, Freeviewbox or DVD via Component, Camera via Composite still have S-Video and D-Sub available!

Just hoping they price it right it may turn out to be a bargain when you compare it against cost of 1080p HDTVs.

igors · 13 Jun 2006 at 00:50

kumar101 said:
In any case Movie Studios are going to have a 3 year grace period so its not going to be an issue for long time. However its not going to stop manufacturers from using a marketing ploy along the lines of 'you need to upgrade to our screen cause its Vista compatible'.

It's not just screen. You will have to upgrade your microwave, your dishwasher, your boiler and at the end even maybe your house, just to be Vista "compatbile" :rolleyes:

Dear God. It's no news that M$ will participate in such marketing ploy ... but who else will join the party, time will tell.

igors · 13 Jun 2006 at 00:58

kumar101 said:
This is what appeals to me so much about this configuration as well. You'd have six inputs available D-Sub/DVI-D/S-Video/Composite/ component /HDMI

Or ... you may use some nice video breakout box / switch. It maybe costs more money, but at least you don't have to hunt down the monitor with all video inputs.

Anyhow, as 24" screens are on the edge (and maybe even braking that thin line, mostly because of the price and screen size) to identify themselves as LCD TV, I guess that we would see more and more monitors with such video inputs as "standard" feature. Well, honestly, for the price you are paying for such screens it's pretty much strange that they are already not including this as standard feature. It's shouldn't be THAT much expensive that they include this in the manufacturing process.

Humate · 13 Jun 2006 at 22:35

I expect to pay a premium price for a premium product... i just hope that it doesnt turn out to be a dissapointment. I wanna be sat in my chair ramming out 1080p until my eyes explode... do me proud benq !