From IPS to TN, will I notice?

[EasterEEL]

I've had an NEC 20WGX2 for about 4 years now and it's really put me in a bit of a spot for when I want to upgrade (or it breaks). I still think that it holds it's own against most newer panels and you really do start to take the vivid/bright colours and generous viewing angles for granted - and it merely shows up the inadequacies of other screens I use regularly (particulary laptops, which all seem pretty awful). I personally feel it was worth the premium at the time and couldn't take a step backwards either.

I'm in exactly the same position and have been for a while.

I've got two 20WGX2's and while the buttons are incredibly annoying when I look at my friends TN panels I know I wouldn't be able to suffer the inferior quality.

It's annoying because I've had them for... 5 years? If not slightly longer and I just really want something new but I'm sitting in front of £500 worth of monitors which work perfectly well and are much better than anything else I'd be likely to replace them with....

I too have an NEC 20WGX2 (Pro) circa 2006 and it is a great monitor; it took me a while to get used to the glossy screen and understand the benefits. I puchased an HP ZR24W for the bigger real estate a few months ago. It is a great monitor but I went back to the NEC as I really didn't get on with the matt defused screen and the IPS glow which I noticed in the corners when sitting in front of it. I have passed it on to a friend. I was tempted by the Hazro 27" glossy screens but backed off because of the QC dust issue that has surfaced.

Back to the original question. IPS screens have their own problems. They suffer with "IPS glow" and the bigger the screen the more likely you are to notice it with dark backgrounds. THe NEC suffers with purple and the HP white IPS Glow. This you-tube video exaggerates but shows the problem with the NEC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iopyUpKhYJg

The wide viewing angles are compromised by IPS Glow on dark scenes. IPS screens have higher response times and often more inut lag and worse black level.

The main issues with TN screens is colour shift when you are sitting in front of it, poor viewing angles and colour accuracy. Quite frankly though, I have seen some excellent 24" TN screens recently from Viewsonc and Samsung (we roll them out at work) and they are a third of the price.

So in summary sitting 3ft away you will see colour shift with a 27" TN screen sitting in front of it moving your head. But based on my experiece with the 27" IPS HP ZR24W you will see IPS Glow on dark screens (games & movies!) sitting in front of it moving your head.

I've pretty much made my mind up that I don't absoutely need an IPS screen going forward and am waiting for a decent 24" or 27" without the horrible matt defused finish an unwanted feature of most IPS screens. The TN matt screens don't seem to have the same problem based on the 24" Viewsonic and Samsungs I have seen.

 

[neologan]

I hate to recommend the Hazro 27" C version with glass screen (no anti glare coating) because of it's problems with dead pixels, etc, but it's an incredible screen if you get lucky.

Input lag on a select few IPS screens is excellent these days, like the 24" Dell, the HP ZR24w, the C Hazro, and so on. And while the response times are still touted as 6ms, it's no different to those 2ms TN film panels to my eyes, and i'm very sensitive to these things. TN Film panels can die for all i care, they are all junk in my eyes, and beyond 24" it would be an absolute nightmare.

 

[robcat101]

I'm in exactly the same position and have been for a while.

I've got two 20WGX2's and while the buttons are incredibly annoying when I look at my friends TN panels I know I wouldn't be able to suffer the inferior quality.

It's annoying because I've had them for... 5 years? If not slightly longer and I just really want something new but I'm sitting in front of £500 worth of monitors which work perfectly well and are much better than anything else I'd be likely to replace them with.

There's the U2311H but if I'm paying £400 I'd like some noticeable upgrade but there isn't one. To my eyes an IPS panel is an IPS panel and differences between IPS monitors tend to be in functionality and build quality rather than image quality.

Kinda makes me wish I started out with a TN panel so I'd have some "wow" factor in an upgrade.

I know what you mean about the buttons! The only blot on an otherwise great monitor.

I've come to the conclusion that I need to avoid change just for the sake of change, as I'm not likely to see any improvement other than a larger screen (which I don't really need), and I would certainly not sacrifice IPS quality for more pixels. I am concerned that some day it will pack in as my previous monitor conked out after 4 years, in which case my choice will be somewhat limited.

I too have an NEC 20WGX2 (Pro) circa 2006 and it is a great monitor; it took me a while to get used to the glossy screen and understand the benefits. I puchased an HP ZR24W for the bigger real estate a few months ago. It is a great monitor but I went back to the NEC as I really didn't get on with the matt defused screen and the IPS glow which I noticed in the corners when sitting in front of it. I have passed it on to a friend. I was tempted by the Hazro 27" glossy screens but backed off because of the QC dust issue that has surfaced.

Back to the original question. IPS screens have their own problems. They suffer with "IPS glow" and the bigger the screen the more likely you are to notice it with dark backgrounds. THe NEC suffers with purple and the HP white IPS Glow. This you-tube video exaggerates but shows the problem with the NEC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iopyUpKhYJg

The wide viewing angles are compromised by IPS Glow on dark scenes. IPS screens have higher response times and often more inut lag and worse black level.

The main issues with TN screens is colour shift when you are sitting in front of it, poor viewing angles and colour accuracy. Quite frankly though, I have seen some excellent 24" TN screens recently from Viewsonc and Samsung (we roll them out at work) and they are a third of the price.

So in summary sitting 3ft away you will see colour shift with a 27" TN screen sitting in front of it moving your head. But based on my experiece with the 27" IPS HP ZR24W you will see IPS Glow on dark screens (games & movies!) sitting in front of it moving your head.

I've pretty much made my mind up that I don't absoutely need an IPS screen going forward and am waiting for a decent 24" or 27" without the horrible matt defused finish an unwanted feature of most IPS screens. The TN matt screens don't seem to have the same problem based on the 24" Viewsonic and Samsungs I have seen.

Wrt glow and reflections, I think it depends on the viewing conditions that you are going to use the monitor under. I was particularly wary of reflections when I bought my previous monitor (which was also glossy), but luckily in my room the desk is perpendicular to the windows so I have the benefits of the glossy coating without the disadvantages. Similarly in the room lighting conditions, the IPS glow is more something I only see if I look for it, especially for what I use it for.

What it does highlight is that the IPS "look" is something you have to like. It is not neccessarily the most accurate or realistic, but it is certainly punchy.

What I have trouble with is the fact that it's very difficult to assess how a monitor image will appear in your own home when looking at it in a shop - and that's if you can actually see the monitor in person. (I bought the NEC on the basis of a couple of reviews - it just turned out to be exactly what I wanted!)

 

[mrbios]

I went from a 24" Dell U2410 to a 27" Hanns.G TN...... Never again, as of today i'm back on IPS with a hazro 27" and i will never again purchase a TN screen for my home PC, even being the very avid gamer that i am!

 

[Elma]

my old well 2209WA was so much better than the tn panels ive use i regret selling it but have an apple cinema display 20 inch and the dell was much better . i am saving for a new ips monitor atm

 

[arnoldma]

dont go to tn... i've had my dell IPS for about 5 years (not a single problem/dead pxiel, dont know how they make them so good!!) and it's MUCH better than the new dell TN panels we have at work! i really do notice the difference when moving from work to home.

plus isnt it nice knowing that ur IPS technology will still be better than new tn and va panels in a few years time. also, i use my computer mostly for watching hd movies - 70%, so it really does make a difference to me.

my next upgrade will be a 27" ips (prob dell), i moved straight form CRT to IPS, screw TNs

 

[Freddie1980]

my next upgrade will be a 27" ips (prob dell), i moved straight form CRT to IPS, screw TNs

Ah good old Dell, I can't stand there computers but I love their monitors!

Does anyone know if we are likely to see 120Hz IPS panels any time soon? Is there something about IPS technology that has prevented 120hz displays from appearing on the market?

 

[Somnambulist]

Yep, think it's a technology thing. Will have to wait for OLED before we get a marriage of high quality image and 120hz.

 

[robcat101]

Yep, think it's a technology thing. Will have to wait for OLED before we get a marriage of high quality image and 120hz.

It seems a shame that IPS never really caught on and became mass market - obviously it was an economic decision as it appears most people aren't bothered too much about image quality and therefore were happy with TN, and so IPS panels became a specialist option and prices remain high. (Although Apple seem to be quite keen on IPS - the iPhone 4's screen is fantastic. They don't seem to do a 24" screen anymore though).

Not had any experience of OLED so I'm not really sure about that.

 

[PCM2]

not had any experience of OLED so I'm not really sure about that.

Neiter have the vast majority of people. Maybe on a smartphone or digital camera but that is a very limited implementation of the technology. It is a technology undergoing constant refinement but even from what I have seen myself and know from research it shows a massive amount of promise.

 

[zoomee]

I never knew what backlight bleed was until i got my NEC 20WGX2!, thanks to the maaasive thread that used to this forum. I often point it out on all monitors I come across now lol

 

[Elma]

i remember buying my first tn panel and taking it straight back because of poor back light bleed defenitly going ips when i get some more money together