Iiyama XB2779QS or Dell U2713HM for gaming?

wapcatlet · 18 Dec 2013 at 13:40

The XB2779QS and U2713HM are currently priced at £432 and £440 respectively.

I have a DGM 27" IPS at the moment but it's already been replaced by OcUK (under warranty) once already. It has a dozen or more dead pixels and I am concerned that it's only a matter of time before something else goes wrong with it. So I am looking at getting the Iiyama or Dell as a replacement.

I want it for gaming (Tomb Raider, Skyrim, Diablo 3, Guild Wars 2 etc.) and web browsing.

I am after your opinions/advice please.

wapcatlet · 18 Dec 2013 at 14:04

Thanks Djxinator.
So that's 1 vote for the Iiyama which was the one I was leaning towards until I saw the customer review talking about dead pixels. I just don't want to end up with another screen with the same quality issues as Hazro/DGM.

I had a Hazro before the DGM. It died after 3 weeks which is why I bought the DGM. That lasted a few months before it died and OcUK replaced it.

wapcatlet · 18 Dec 2013 at 18:34

Thanks again Djxinator. You make some very good points.

Thanks Stuie but it has to be 27" IPS and 2560x1440. Dual screen gaming does not appeal to me. Neither does 1080p. I briefly considered the Asus PB278Q until I realised that it uses PWM for screen dimming and being a migraine sufferer I decided not to take the risk.

wapcatlet · 19 Dec 2013 at 00:14

I've ordered the Iiyama XB2779QS.

All of the reviews seemed pretty good.
When tested, the response times are okay for an IPS screen. It also returned a static contrast ratio of 1150:1 compared 475:1 on the DGM so I am hoping that the blacks will look a bit deeper on the Iiyama.
Also it means that any dead pixels will be easier to spot than they are on my DGM

Thanks Djxinator and Stuie for your suggestions and advice.

wapcatlet · 19 Dec 2013 at 13:12

I always like to have a spare "fallback" monitor just in case.
I gave away my previous spare monitor last week - A Hanns G 28" 1920x1200 TN screen. So the DGM will take its place in my cupboard, next to my fallback GPU - A Radeon 6950

wapcatlet · 19 Dec 2013 at 17:37

Djxinator said:
Can you post back on here to tell me how it is in comparison to both the DGM and the Hazro? Did you buy the QS-S or the standard S (One has a Silver/Black Bez the other plain matte black)

I can only see one model available at OcUK - the XB2779QS-S.
That's the one I ordered.
I will let you know how it compares with the DGM. I don't have the Hazro anymore but I do have some memories of it. (Mainly bad unfortunately.)

wapcatlet · 19 Dec 2013 at 17:41

Lakai_ said:
I've actually sent my iiyama back and received a full refund. It had severe backlight bleeding so I had to return it (I mean REALLY bad bleeding, couldn't even watch films with well lit scenes).

Sorry to read about your experience with the Iiyama Lakai.

I did see a comment in one of the reviews where they mentioned the backlight bleed but they partly blamed it on the 100% brightness that it gets shipped with. They said with the brightness turned down to a sensible level they hardly noticed it.

Like you said... I might be lucky. If not then it will have to go back.
There was a time when you could pay that bit extra and go for a Dell, knowing that it would be perfect. Sadly those days are gone. Dell seems to suffer from the same quality control issues as all of the other manufacturers now

wapcatlet · 21 Dec 2013 at 12:56

Lakai_ said:
I've actually sent my iiyama back and received a full refund. It had severe backlight bleeding so I had to return it (I mean REALLY bad bleeding, couldn't even watch films with well lit scenes).

You could be lucky though and get a decent panel which will make the iiyama a beautiful monitor to have. Solid base, stunning bezel, very decent.

I'm sure you'll get a decent panel though, don't be too worried! Just need to accept the fact that in the IPS/PLS world, it's a bit of a lottery to get a decent panel with minimal backlight bleed.

Sadly you were right Lakai

The monitor arrived and it was obvious as soon as I turned it on. The backlight bleed was very noticeable, even in a well lit room. I have turned the brightness down from 80 to 20 which helped a bit but it's still quite bad. I spent a couple of hours on it last night trying to convince myself that I could live with it but I don't think I can.
It looks even worse in a darkened room (obviously). I'm gutted because the contrast ratio is loads better than my old DGM. Dark scenes are much improved (in the areas where there is no backlight bleed).

The question is, do I try swapping it for another one and hope I get lucky or do I spend the extra and go for a Samsung?

wapcatlet · 23 Dec 2013 at 17:51

I am driving over to the OcUK store tomorrow (Christmas Eve) to swap the monitor. The RMA has been authorised.
If they were willing to unbox a new Iiyama and let me check it before I make a decision then that would be ideal. I doubt that they will do that so I think I might have to play safe and go for the Samsung S27B970D instead.

It's a shame because looking at the contrast/brightness tests in the reviews, the contrast levels are better on the Iiyama than the Samsung.

Thanks for the advice Lakai

wapcatlet · 24 Dec 2013 at 17:54

Well I swapped my Iiyama XB2779QS for..... another XB2779QS.
I spent a long time time staring at the images on the Samsung S27B970D in the OcUK shop. It looked good but it wasn't convincing enough to stop me giving the Iiyama another chance.

I've just switched it on. I've set my brightness to 18 and my contrast to 55 and the backlight bleed is not as bad as the one I took back. I think I can live with it.

As MooMoo444 said, the colours are amazing. It looks fantastic until I watch a film with black bars top and bottom but then again, I'm not too bothered about films.
I will give it another go with Skyrim and see just how bad it is in the night time scenes.

wapcatlet · 27 Dec 2013 at 12:11

Do you see the Iiyama logo a few seconds after you turn the screen on? I'm guessing not.
It sounds as if you have a faulty panel. That's annoying at any time of the year but it's even more infuriating when it's a Christmas present

wapcatlet · 27 Dec 2013 at 12:47

Backlight bleed too irritating.

Well I've tried to convince myself that I can live with the backlight bleed on this Iiyama XB2779QS but every time I run anything with a black background it's RIGHT THERE!

I love the colours and the contrast ratio but it's doing my head in so I am going to concede defeat and swap it for the Samsung S27B970D.

wapcatlet · 27 Dec 2013 at 17:02

Omar said:
wapcatlet, what did you think of the Samsung when you saw it in the shop? I'm trying to talk myself out of an upgrade from 2x Dell U2311H (1920x1080) screens to a single Samsung S27B970D but it keeps tempting me!

It looked pretty good to me. However the contrast ratio is no where near as good as the Iiyama. All of the reviews I have read put it around the 740:1 mark. Having said that, all of the reviews (apart from TechRadar) were very good.

I have just been told that I can take my Iiyama back for a refund. I told them that I wanted to exchange it for the S27B970D but I've since heard of some being returned with dead pixels and backlight bleed.

I guess it's just pot luck. I got 2 bad ones in one week. Hopefully it will be third time lucky but I won't be taking a chance on another Iiyama tomorrow. It will have to be Dell, Samsung or possibly even Asus although I don't know how I will get on with the PWM lighting on the Asus. Decisions, decisions...

wapcatlet · 28 Dec 2013 at 16:55

Robert said:
I love my new asus pb278 screen.

I drove over to the OcUK store, got a refund on my Iiyama and then had a long conversation with Niall on the support desk about my Iiyama and which monitor to try next.
After much discussion we narrowed it down to the Samsung S27B970D and the Asus PB278Q. The PWM dimming on the Asus could be a problem for me because I suffer with migraines. So that left the Samsung.

Just before I ordered it I took a quick look at this thread (using one of the laptops on display in OcUK) and saw your comment which made me think again. I then read some other reviews on the Asus PB278Q. All of them good.
Obviously the PWM thing is not ideal but I decided that I could always override the brightness levels on the monitor by setting it via the Catalyst Control Center which should (hopefully) stop the PWM kicking in.

Anyway I've bought the Asus and I have been using it for 20 minutes.
First impressions....

Superb!
No dead pixels.
A tiny bit of backlight bleed against the top bezel to the left of centre but hardly noticeable.

I've still got to play with it for a bit but so far so good.
So thanks Robert

wapcatlet · 19 Jan 2014 at 11:12

EasterEEL said:
wapcatlet how are you getting on with the Asus PB278Q?

My Hasro has somehow attracted some dust in one corner between the back-light and the front screen layer which I can't remove. I'm very tempted but coming for a glossy screen which I do like I want to make sure the Asus finish is not too matt for my tastes.

I had been using glossy for almost 2 years (Hazro followed by DGM followed by a few days of the Iiyama) so I was a bit dubious about moving to a screen with an AG coating.
I guess it's all down to personal taste but I really haven't noticed the AG coating having a negative affect on the screen image.
I haven't seen any of that cross-hatching that some of the Dell owners complain about. The image does not look grainy at all.
The contrast ratio is a lot better than my old DGM, and I base that on my personal (subjective) perception and test results in the online reviews, not the specification on the box.

I don't think the AG coating is particularly aggressive.

I did have some concerns about the PWM backlighting because I do suffer from migraines but it has had no effect on me at all.

Like I said, it's all down to personal taste but I have to say that I love this monitor!

wapcatlet · 19 Jan 2014 at 11:43

Thanks PCM2. I was struggling to describe the level of AG coating without resorting to a photo but I think your description of the 'haze value' helps to put it in perspective.

EasterEEL - Here is a photo anyway, just in case it helps you to get an idea of what the AG coating looks like. There is a window to the left of the monitor. That's the reflection you can see.

wapcatlet · 19 Jan 2014 at 15:39

EasterEEL said:
Many thanks I am going to press on and get the Asus PB278Q which is getting many good comments from users. Complaints seem to be mostly lit pixel related and that is luck of the draw. As far as I can understand this monitor is covered by the Asus Zero Bright Defect policy in the first 12 months which helps.

I'm irritated by the Hazro problem as the monitor is pretty good with no dead pixels but the shoddy bezel has allowed dust specks to get within the screen layers somehow and I doubt there is anyway I can get ride of them. The dust specks manifest like a group of dead pixels spread over a one inch square area bottom right. It is still just under RTB warranty but I don't know if I can face Hazro returns.

I'm sorry about your Hazro. I can understand why you don't want the pain of dealing with their warranty-RTB process.
Having owned a Hazro and a DGM I would say that the Asus is much better quality. Hopefully you won't get one with dead pixels. Mine was perfect.

I would really like to know what you think of the Asus so can you please post your thoughts here if/when you get it.

wapcatlet · 22 Jan 2014 at 23:23

EasterEEL said:
Received my Asus PB278Q yesterday and my usual quick scan confirmed no lit pixels and I have not noticed any dead pixels either and back-light bleeding is minimal so very pleased.

These are the setting I am using under User Mode:
64 - Brightness
77 - Contrast
6500k - Colour Temp
2.2 - Gamma
50 - Sharpness
40 - Trace Free
Default - Everything else

It is a keeper but I would like to get colours a little more vibrant and would be interested to know what settings others are using. The Scenery and Theater Modes certainly liven up colour but unfortunately introduce too many other issues to be of any use.

I happily sacrificed the noticeable backlight bleed and slightly more vibrant colours from my glossy DGM IPS-2701 for the improved contrast ratio (deeper blacks), better build quality, better responsiveness and zero dead pixels of the Asus.

You might notice some improvement by using an ICC profile from TFT Central.
Take a look at this thread http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18574468

wapcatlet · 25 Jan 2014 at 22:01

I consider myself to be very picky but perhaps I am mellowing because unlike you, I really didn't need to "gradually get used to" the semi-gloss Asus screen.
Perhaps my memories of the vibrancy of my glossy DGM screen have been tainted by the backlight bleed, dead pixels and poor contrast ratio.

I'm sorry that you're not totally happy with the Asus. I feel partly to blame for recommending it in the first place.

I can't imagine going back to a Hazro or a DGM unless I'm desperate and on a really tight budget. The quality control is awful. If the panel doesn't have a problem then the PSU probably will

True, if you get a good one then you'll love it but I would rather spend more money on a better brand.
Having said that, I always considered Iiyama to be better than DGM/Hazro but those 2 monitors I had to return over Christmas were a lot worse than my old DGM.
Here's hoping the Asus gives me good service for the next 3 years, at which point I might consider moving to a 4K display.