24" LCD Round-Up: Acer S242HL, Dell U2412M, And Samsung T24A550
Table of contents
- 1. Three 24" LCDs, Benchmarked And Reviewed
- 2. Acer S242HL bid
- 3. Dell UltraSharp U2412M
- 4. Samsung SyncMaster T24A550/T24A350
- 5. Display Profile And Tilt
- 6. Our Benchmarking Approach
- 7. Out-Of-Box Performance: Brightness And Contrast Ratio
- 8. Out-Of-Box Performance: Color Accuracy And Gamut
- 9. Out-Of-Box Performance: Maximum And Minimum Brightness
- 10. Calibrated Performance: Brightness And Contrast Ratio
- 11. Calibrated Performance: Color Accuracy And Gamut
- 12. Black And White Uniformity, Viewing Angles
- 13. Power Consumption
- 14. Response Time, Input Lag, And Final Words
Another batch of monitors just landed. This time, we're sampling 24" screens. If 27" is too big (and too expensive), and 23" is too small, this round-up is just what you need. We put three screens through the usual paces to find a definitive winner.
After a brief hiatus on the display round-ups, we're back. Why? Because, if you're an enthusiast spending big bucks on PC hardware, then you're going to also want a monitor of comparable quality. After all, why would you bother buying a pair of GeForce or Radeon cards if a lackluster screen prevented you from enjoying the highest-quality settings in the latest AAA title?
New LCDs aren't released on a predictable schedule, though, so it's difficult to put together comprehensive line-ups representing the latest and greatest. As such, we're reviewing monitors in smaller batches. This approach has worked pretty well thus far, and we'll continue taking your requests as the come in.
So far, we've covered:
- 22" LED LCDs: Dell ST2220L/SR2220L, LG E2241S/E2241T/E2241V, And Samsung SyncMaster S22A350H
- 23" LED LCDs: Dell SR2320L, HP 2311x, And Samsung PX2370
- 27" IPS-based LCDs: Dell UltraSharp U2711, DoubleSight DS-277W, NEC MultiSync PA271W
Based on comments from that last round-up, we're back with 24" LED monitors. This time, our three contenders represent a wider range of prices. We have:
- Your typical LCD TN-based monitor, Acer's S242HL bid
- An affordable IPS-based LCD, Dell's UltraSharp U2412M
- And a multifunction TV/LCD Monitor, Samsung's SyncMaster T24A550
Of the three screens in our comparison, the one we're most interested in is Dell's 24" UltraSharp U2412M. This is the successor to the CCFL-based U2410M, with a LED backlight and an e-IPS panel (more on that in a bit).
We're pitting that model against a typical TN-based monitor and one that performs double duty as a TV. If you're looking slight more display surface than what a 23" screen offers, the interesting results we generated should help shape your choice as you shop for 24"panels.
| Brand | Acer | Dell | Samsung |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | S242HL bid | UltraSharp U2412M | SyncMaster T24A550/T24A350 |
| Panel Type | TN | e-IPS | TN |
| Screen Size | 24" | 24" | 24" |
| Max Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1200 | 1920x1080 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:10 | 16:9 |
| Response Time | 5 ms | 8 ms | 5 ms |
| Brightness cd/m^2 | 250 | 300 | 250 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 |
| Speakers | No | No | No |
| VGA | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| DVI-D (HDCP) | 1 | 1 | - |
| DisplayPort | - | 1 | - |
| HDMI | 1 | - | 2 |
| Tilt | No | Yes | Yes |
| Energy Star-Qualified | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Warranty | Three-year | Three-year | Three-year |
kinda confused why you would be comparinig an IPS to lcd but idk
I would have liked to see the older U2410 model here too, because that uses the "older" IPS technology and is apparently better enough for Dell to justify a $100 price premium over the U2412.
kinda confused why you would be comparinig an IPS to lcd but idk
Uh, why wouldn't they?
I currently own an eIPS monitor, and will never go back to TN.
I would have liked to see the older U2410 model here too, because that uses the "older" IPS technology and is apparently better enough for Dell to justify a $100 price premium over the U2412.
So… you didn't read the article? The whole point of eIPS is it's cheaper than other IPS panels, not that it's better.
Dell's U2412 is NOT the replacement for the U2410. Dell is going to continue to produce the U2410.
Also the U2410 frequently goes on sale. I think it is a mistake to buy the U2412 when the U2410 is definitely superior to the U2412 in every benchmark.
Right now the most affordable HIPS monitors with the best performance are the Dell U2410 and the HP 2475W. I think that the HP 2475W has the edge slightly over the 2410. Asus also has put out a fairly good 24" HIPS monitor but the U2410 and the 2475W are better monitors per the professional reviews that I have read.
I own the HP 2475W and it does have beautiful picture. You have to go to NEC at twice the cost to improve on it.
God, really need an edit function here…
Just reread your comment and my response was probably a little off-base. However, the U2412's predecessor should be better in every way (except possibly response time) since eIPS is meant to be more economical by trading off some of the quality of other IPS panels.
God, really need an edit function here…Just reread your comment and my response was probably a little off-base. However, the U2412's predecessor should be better in every way (except possibly response time) since eIPS is meant to be more economical by trading off some of the quality of other IPS panels.
Hello
There is a huge difference between a picture quality HIPS monitor and a TN monitor. I have not seen an eIPS monitor but they seem to be pretty good also from the reviews that I have read.
I hate touch buttons !
Hello! Could you guys review the LG IPS236v? It's also a cheap IPS panel, i don't know if it's the same technology used to make the U2412M. From my researches it dosen't seem to be sold in the US, but it already arrived in other countries (in Brazil it is being sold for about $300).
PS.: Sorry if there's any mistake with my English. =)
"...since response time and input lag usually decreases with screen size. Why? Monitors with larger screens have higher pixel density, and as the number of pixels per inch (PPI) increases there are more pixels to refresh. Therefore, at 60 Hz, larger panels take longer to complete a complete screen refresh."
Ehr, what...?
Screens with 5 or more refresh rate... No thank you.
What a useless review from clueless writers.
Do any of those monitors are capable of 120hz? If no, they are useless for nvidia 3D. 60hz monitors look and feel ugly compared to 120hz. Vsync kills framerates on 60Hz monitors.
Blurring. That’s the feature that makes the deal for me. I hate blurring of moving images. They ruin everything from scrolling web pages, to playing videos, and playing games. The most important benchmark is response time from WHITE TO BLACK, and there is NOT A WORD on this article about it.
Response time analysis is a joke.
Blah... Show me some 26" displays with 2500x1600 resolutions.
Otherwise all the 1920x1080 monitors are nothing more than downgrades.
I can't stand 16:9 monitors. Is that Dell UltraSharp U2412M the only 16:10 monitor available these days?
I want to see the Dell U2410
kinda confused why you would be comparinig an IPS to lcd but idk
They're not. They are comparing 3 LCD screens, 1 with an e-IPS panel and 2 with TN panels.
What a useless review from clueless writers.Do any of those monitors are capable of 120hz? If no, they are useless for nvidia 3D. 60hz monitors look and feel ugly compared to 120hz. Vsync kills framerates on 60Hz monitors.Blurring. That’s the feature that makes the deal for me. I hate blurring of moving images. They ruin everything from scrolling web pages, to playing videos, and playing games. The most important benchmark is response time from WHITE TO BLACK, and there is NOT A WORD on this article about it.Response time analysis is a joke.
I tell ya what sparky, you write up a comparable review and let us be the judge of who's is better. This article was on a particular segment of monitors. You are referring to a totally different segment.
Didn't your momma teach you, if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all?
Great review!
Hopefully I'll get to see the Dell U2211H featured in a future review.
"...since response time and input lag usually decreases with screen size. Why? Monitors with larger screens have higher pixel density, and as the number of pixels per inch (PPI) increases there are more pixels to refresh. Therefore, at 60 Hz, larger panels take longer to complete a complete screen refresh."Ehr, what...?
My guess is that the monitors refresh progressively, one line at a time, so monitors with more pixels take longer. I may be wrong, but that's my understanding of it.