The inevitable Sammy 750/950 thread

stevetuk

stevetuk

stevetuk

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I've been reading and reading and reading over the last month reviews, forum posts, all kinds of information, about a host of 120Hz monitors and am struggling to get anywhere. So, here is Yet Another Thread About 120Hz) ;)

Here is my situation: I have a Dell E228WFP 24" TN panel. I recently purchased a custom build PC with a 680 gfx card and 3930K processor working off the ASUS rampage IV extreme mobo. I wanted a build that would last a long time so no upgrading needed for the short->medium term.

I feel like my monitor is letting the thing down and I'd like the perfect system so I'm in the market for a new one.

Here are my circumstances/preferences etc:

  • TN vs IPS: I've only ever used TN panels - I know the IQ is worse than IPS but I don't know any different. There may be a world of IPS out there I haven't experienced but what I don't know about won't kill me.
  • Primary use: I use my PC in the evenings for a few hours each night and at the weekends. My main use atm is playing The Secret World (MMO) but I also used to be an FPS gamer back in the day so there's a good chance I'd return to BF and the like. I also use Windows a lot for Internet/email etc. I don't use my computer to watch TV or films. That's what my 50" plasma Sammy is for.
  • Resolution/monitor size: Max size monitor I've ever used is my current 24" with a res currently of 1680x1050. I'm struggling to figure out whether a bigger monitor is better, and whether compromising on resolution for that is an issue or not.
  • Matte vs glossy: the only PC monitors I've had have been matte. They seem to dull the colours. I have an iPad and iPhone which are glossy - reflections are there, yes, and would be an issue if main use occured during peak daylight hours but the IQ is notably better. I'm leaning towards glossy at this point because reflections are less of an issue given I mainly use my PC in the evenings after work and in the UK it's only ever light at this point for ~5 months of the year if we're lucky :cool:

So I heard good things about 120Hz monitors and how much smoother and responsive things are. My gfx card has display port and dual-DVI capabilities so 120Hz is possible with the right monitor.

I've looked at:
  • Samsung S23/27A750D
  • Samsung S27A950D (the 24" isn't available anywhere it seems)
  • ASUS VG278H/HE
  • BenQ XL2420T

The BenQ has the most consistently positive reviews. The downside is it's matte and I dislike the styling.

The Sammies are both positively reviewed but people experience issues with DP connectivity. My issue is deciding here about resolution/size vs connectivity: the 950D is 27" which will reduce resolution quality vs the 750D 24" which will lose the dual-DVI connectivity. Dual-DVI sounds a safer bet given the problems reported with DP.

The ASUS seems to get divided views. I think it would lead on 3D capability given it uses Lightboost and Nvidia 3D Vision 2 however 3D isn't a deal for me right now. I wouldn't make a choice based on this.

For now it's the 120Hz/responsiveness, IQ and the design which are important for me.

So....given the above info I wondered what opinions people had? I'm hoping my circumstances will help: I've read a LOT of forum posts and reviews where people are commenting on monitor preferences without knowing what a person's use is so it hasn't helped me too much :(
 
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I am in a similar situation to yourself.

I want to stay at 1920x1080 to limit the gpu power I need for games, keeping my monitor size at 23-24". I'm not a fan of having larger pixel density on 27" screens.

I'm torn between the Samsung S23A750D and Benq XL2420T. Both review very well and there isn't much in it. You obviously prefer the glossy screen so that puts the Samsung at a huge advantage, the styling is also great. I feel the lack of adjustability is a major drawback, really something I wish the Samsung had, and the Benq covers well.

I've owned a glossy screen in the past and am very tempted to do so again with the Samsung. It has come down significantly in price since release. The Benq seems to get more praise from the ocuk community and is extremely popular, so it must be doing something right.

I wish there were more head-to-head comparisons of these monitors to make the comparison a bit easier.
 
Glad I'm not the only one!
Part of why it's tough is the lack of choice for 120hz as well tbh.

There's a lot of standalone reviews but not much in the way of comparison, you're right. I guess this is partly because they're quite different designs (matte vs glossy, design vs. functionality etc) and the 3D functionality is different?

My current monitor has a fixed height stand and isn't adjustable anyway and I get by so this is a 'desirable' but not essential for me so the BenQ still doesn't pull ahead of the pack on that one. It gets consistent (positive) feedback though, and is still in production whereas Samsung discontinued the 750D and 950D (www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/pc-peripherals/monitors/design/LS27A950DS/EN and confirmed by a well known online retailer). Which makes me wonder why they did... :S Market not ready for it yet is all I can think of?
 
I'm not sure I can recommend the S23A750D, isn't it Displayport only (along with the numerous displayport issues)? Even if you're lucky and it works without any problems, what's to say it will work with your graphics card upgrade a year or two from now?

I have a S27A950D myself, and honestly it's a great screen (pixel density hasn't bothered me at all). Hooked up via dual-link DVI of course. Though unfortunately I think you'll have trouble finding one at a reasonable price right now (or in stock at all, for that matter). :(

With that in mind, just get the Benq and save yourself the headache of possible displayport issues. When it comes down to it, a monitor is a longer-term investment than even a PC itself! No point buying one that might have problems later.

Regards,
Stanith
 
I have recently bought the Samsung S23A750D and I have to say I love it. It is DP for 120Hz, not sure what the DP problems are as I don't have any issues with this monitor. It took me ages to decide which one to buy from a long list lol but I'm very happy with my choice to the point that I'll be buying 2 more of them.
 
A lot of people (especially with nVidia cards) report the signal dropping randomly, or sometimes the monitor not working at all via DP. Not sure if it's quite as bad for the S23A750D as it is for the 27" version (I had assumed they were identical aside from the size), but the latter has all of these issues for a large minority of people.
 
Some ATI users have reported issues with the 27" monitor too, though nothing as major as it not working entirely. I think the vast majority of ATI users have had no issues at all.

nVidia tried to fix it with drivers, but in the end they claimed that the monitor itself was reporting the displayport version improperly (it was reporting itself as being version 1.2, when in fact the hardware was version 1.1).
 
That's the risk it seems - that the 23/27 A750D puts all of its eggs in the DP basket, and if DP isn't supported by future gfx card upgrades or has issues then the whole 120Hz functionality is lost.

I'm tempted by the 950D. To those who own it and have owned other monitors (smaller and/or higher res): is the lower res on a larger screen irritating or undesirable or does it get away with it?
 
Or even the S23A700D.

Different appearance to the 750D, but same panel and DVI interface.

Just finding these monitors now is a bit tricky. The 700D had a great cashback price around April 2012. Shame we weren't looking to buy one then... :rolleyes:
 
I've just read a heap of reviews about the 950D on US Amazon and there's a huge amount of people complaining about QC issues :(
I was very tempted and really close to ordering it but now...back to being not sure again :(

I read about backlight bleed issues with the 700D too. If it wasn't for the DP problems on the 750D it would definitely be the choice. Argh! What to do?!
 
I think it's important to remember no monitor is perfect. People are always going to moan about the issues, it's just important to check yours when it arrives to eliminate that risk. I wouldn't settle for some issues that may crop up later in a monitors life. Issues like the DP connectivity really put me off since it's hard to prove and get sorted.
 
I'm going to wait for a new model to be honest. I want the 27 950D but I'm not risking DP problems or the bleed. It's such a great looking monitor as well but Samsung are being a bit of an ass with recognising the problems with it.
 
Yeah no. But there just isn't a monitor I'm happy to spend 500 quid on only to have it outdated in 6 months by a new model which fixes the problems. My Dell has lasted me years and that's what I have come to expect. Not something to be upgraded as often as a graphics card.
 
Exactly Tobes. It's a one-off purchase which I'm expecting to have at least several years use out of. I think I might do the same and wait for a new model to be released...
 
I have been having the same issue as everyone here, i get to a point when i go yeah thats the one. read a bit and look at my current rig and then add the amount of money up it will cost to get 120hz set up and decide to wait. i'm still running a GTX295 the problem with that is there is no DP on the old GTX295 and so i'd have to get a new Graphic card too. when you add it up S23A750D x2 + a 670 or somthing its easily about £700

the trouble with S23A750D is there is so few connections to it there is DP but if you want an Nvidia card which i do your a bit screwed. all nvidia cards have 1 Dp and 2xDVI the S23A750D only have 1 DP and 1 DVI.

so to get 120Hz on both monitors it would mean i would need another Nvidia card on top of all that. so thats £1000 just for 120Hz with Nvidia. it seems a massive amount of money. the other opition is i go ATI as there cards have loads of DP connections, but im not a fan of ATI so thats not going to happen.

it all seems a bit of a mess in monitor land right now so i guess i'll keep ploding along with my nec 24wmgx3.i really do want 2 monitors and the nec 24wmgx3 ghosts quite a bit so am looking for quality TNs again. its just the whole working together thing with 120hz and Graphic cards appears very messy and a money pit of endless issues.

Anyone else feel the same way?
 
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