Once you go IPS is it really impossible to go back?

mrbios · 23 Jun 2011 at 22:42

Over a year ago now i had a Hyundai W240D+ TN monitor, it was wonderful life was lovely but then i decided to sell it, in it's place came 2 x BenQ G2420HDBLs....they looked utter crap to put a long story short and no amount of calibration was going to fix that.

I then bought a Dell U2410, loved it but had to sell it due to a house move.

In its place came a Hanns.G 27" TN monitor, loved the size hated the picture with a passion.

So i replaced it with a Hazro HZ27WC Glass fronted monitor, lovely monitor but let down by the reflective glass screen and nvidia incompatibilities (right on cue for me going nvidia for the first time in about 4 years ¬_¬)

I recently decided that a 27" IPS monitor was probably slightly overkill for my requirements so i thought i'd give this 120hz nonsense a go.....suffice to say the picture quality (BenQ XL2410T) is in a word: awful.

IPS users have you ever been able to adapt to going back to TN screens? I use two at work and i get on ok, it never seems like a drastic change, but when ever i replace mine on my personal PC it looks dreadful.

God i wish i could afford a Dell U2711

I'm now tempted to replace my GTX580 with something else just to get rid of the hazro/nvidia control panel nonsense which is doing my head in!

Speed · 23 Jun 2011 at 22:52

Personally no, I can use them for a few hours, but not for extended periods of time. I really don't think I could sell up and go back down to a TN panel, PVA maybe.

Not quite sure what issues you were having with the nVidia control panel, but I've no problems with my Dell screens. Maybe it is time to go back to Dell, either with another U2410 or save up and get the U2711.

It really depends on what games you play etc, you could sell the GTX580 and current monitor to get a U2711. The problem being the higher resolution, if you like very recent titles with all the eye candy and options on then anything but high end cards are going to mean less than acceptable frame rates.

mrbios · 23 Jun 2011 at 22:57

Speed said:
Personally no, I can use them for a few hours, but not for extended periods of time. I really don't think I could sell up and go back down to a TN panel, PVA maybe.

Not quite sure what issues you were having with the nVidia control panel, but I've no problems with my Dell screens. Maybe it is time to go back to Dell, either with another U2410 or save up and get the U2711.

It really depends on what games you play etc, you could sell the GTX580 and current monitor to get a U2711. The problem being the higher resolution, if you like very recent titles with all the eye candy and options on then anything but high end cards are going to mean less than acceptable frame rates.

Yea that's my current draw back, i bought the 580 for use with the 2560x1440 resolution, and it's the only part i could sell that could fund the extra for a Dell U2711 but then i lose the benefit of playing things at max settings

I've decided to send the benq back under DSR and keep the hazro for the time being, but im in this zone now of feelign like it's not the 'right' monitor for me.....and im a bloody impatient person!!!

Speed · 23 Jun 2011 at 23:02

mrbios said:
Yea that's my current draw back, i bought the 580 for use with the 2560x1440 resolution, and it's the only part i could sell that could fund the extra for a Dell U2711 but then i lose the benefit of playing things at max settings

I've decided to send the benq back under DSR and keep the hazro for the time being, but im in this zone now of feelign like it's not the 'right' monitor for me.....and im a bloody impatient person!!!

Yeah, looks like you are going to have to be patient or trade off between monitor image quality and in-game eye candy. If you can save up then maybe selling the monitor and GTX580 before the next generation comes out would be a good plan, get the U2711 and a 6950 modded to a 6970. You might have to dial back some of the options but at least you should have a screen you are finally happy with. Then when funds allow get a second 6950 if your board supports Crossfire.

I'm exactly the same and frankly I got fedup in the end of rubbish monitors with iffy image quality and repair warranties. Then having to deal with the dreaded "repair" tech when they of course failed. I've always had a good experience with both the image quality and after sales service of Dell monitor so I just got their best screen while I had the funds spare.

mrbios · 23 Jun 2011 at 23:09

Speed said:
I'm exactly the same and frankly I got fedup in the end of rubbish monitors with iffy image quality and repair warranties. Then having to deal with the dreaded "repair" tech when they of course failed. I've always had a good experience with both the image quality and after sales service of Dell monitor so I just got their best screen while I had the funds spare.

I think if hazro fixed the nvidia problems and i could remove the glass front it'd probably be close to perfect (i'm one of the lucky ones with no dead pixels and... i think... only 1 lazy pixel which is impossible to notice in any day to day use) .... i bet if i sold this one and bought a non-glass version i'd be riddled with dead or lazy pixels!

I've just sent another email to a guy at hazro to see if there's been any progress as i never get a response to my last email beyond the one asked for more details, and i decided to be quite ****y with them this time

Rroff · 23 Jun 2011 at 23:33

I have to admit I'm far from impressed by the image quality on the LG and BenQ 120Hz panels - I use a Samsung 2233rz every day for gaming (properly calibrated) and its pretty acceptable for a TN - shame its relatively low resolution (1680x1050).

I'm only that bothered by TN when editing images tho, for programming, general desktop useage and gaming I'm quite happy, for movies or image editing tho I do move over to the Dell Ultrasharp.

mrbios · 23 Jun 2011 at 23:36

Rroff said:
I have to admit I'm far from impressed by the image quality on the LG and BenQ 120Hz panels - I use a Samsung 2233rz every day for gaming (properly calibrated) and its pretty acceptable for a TN - shame its relatively low resolution (1680x1050).

I'm only that bothered by TN when editing images tho, for programming, general desktop useage and gaming I'm quite happy, for movies or image editing tho I do move over to the Dell Ultrasharp.

See i find i can't even do general desktop use like browsing the web on a TN without being pretty disgusted.....hell i don't even like being on my desktop!! My wallpaper looks grainy in comparison to my IPS.

To be honest i can't understand why i ever used a TN panel when IPS screens are so good, I mean, im quite an avid gamer, used to be a competitive one with css! and i can't see why anyone would want a TN screen even for gaming UNLESS they were a competitive player playing in high skilled teams in a game like cs/css because i barely notice a difference between TN and IPS with everything else (l4d, crysis etc)

Rroff · 23 Jun 2011 at 23:43

Yeah I can see the dithering on gradiants on my desktop wallpaper if I look for it, don't tend to notice otherwise unless I look for it tho unfortunatly once you do notice it its hard to ignore.

I find IPS panels have slight residual image issues on fast moves and nothing like as responsive as a 120Hz panel for gaming - fine for MMOs but definitely not for COD, Quake and even L4D I prefer on the 120Hz - I'd use an IPS for general desktop use/programming too but I find 1920x not quite enough real estate for programming and 2560x the text is a bit too small so I've stuck with a 2048x TN for general desktop and programming (afaik no one does a IPS at this res).

Marvin · 24 Jun 2011 at 00:10

I'm with you on this OP, now I've had IPS, I could never go back. That said, I can say the same for 2560x1600 - it's mentally nice to use.

Cheapest place I can see for the U2711 is £609, which I'm not sure I could justify given the Hazros at £375+. (I know of the various benefits like the OSD, full scaler and multi inputs, but they're not important to me).

You could always sell the GTX580 and get 6950 2GB Crossfire - estimate £300-320 sale on the 580, ~£60-80 outlay on the 6950s, which will have tons of performance at 2560x1600, and extra **** over the GTX580 (I think drifting has the word I starred out on constant search, and I really don't want another debate...)