Planar IX2850 28-Inch Ultra HD Monitor Review: Affordable 4K
Thanks to a new 28-inch TN panel part, inexpensive Ultra HD screens are practically falling out of the sky at this point. Buying one is a great way to increase your desktop's resolution for well under $1000. Today we check out Planar’s IX2850 in our lab.
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Results: Color Gamut And Performance
For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, please click here.
Our calibration adjustments were quite small, so there was almost no change to the chroma result. Despite excellent grayscale and gamma tracking, we still find hue errors in the magenta secondary. The chart tells us they’re caused by the over-saturated blue primary, which is also off in hue.
All of the monitors we test nowadays have LED backlights, most of them white-LED. The technology has inherent problems with blue that only a few high-end pro screens have solved. In a display at this price point, it’s a common issue.
Now we return to the comparison group:
An overall gamut error of 2.07 Delta E is quite good, despite the IX2850’s fifth-place finish. There’s no visible gamut error anywhere except for in the blue primary. Even that maxes at a tolerable 5.45 Delta E. Planar properly lowers blue’s luminance to compensate, so the perceived error is very slight. We have no real complaints about any aspect of gamut performance.
Gamut Volume: Adobe RGB 1998 And sRGB
The missing five percent of the IX2850’s sRGB gamut is attributable to the red primary, which is slightly under-saturated. We expect photo pros would go for a wide-gamut screen anyway, making this less of a concern. In our use, the Planar delivered vibrant and accurate color in both productivity and entertainment apps. We still aren’t seeing a problem with TN here. Many feel that its color quality is below that of IPS. Our test results, and our eyes, say otherwise.
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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.
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JWoody T&N+Film? Yuk, ill pass... been using an IPS variant since 2005 and ill never go back. "Ultra-HD" or not. Ill take accuarcy and viewing angle over speed anyday, as long as its fast enough....Reply -
yumri I welcome the advance in technology just i am waiting for an IPS 4k monitor myself is allReply -
ralanahm the more then one input makes for interesting possiblities on an older work setup where you can get all work screens on one screenReply -
redgarl After going 4k, you are not coming back. A pair of 970 GTX are enough for good performances.Reply
Also, you don't need AA at 4k. -
jasonelmore The next gen games are not running well on 4K. Assassin's Creed: unity gets 24 FPS with SLI GTX 980's. FC4 gets around 28 FPS.Reply
We still have a long way to go. Probably 2 more generations of graphics cards, before it becomes affordable and with good performance. SLI needs to not be a requirement. -
makaveli316 You can't play any game that is coming right now on a 4k monitor. Sure, if you don't mind playing with 30-40 fps.... Sorry, but i'm not spending that money for 4k monitor, just to say "hey look, i have a 4k monitor". I want performance as well and that isn't coming any time soon. It costs 500$, but you're forced to go SLI and i see people are struggling even on 1080p with SLI. So in the end, you spend like 1000$ and you still can't max out a game and have decent fps.Reply -
bob hays 14645293 said:You can't play any game that is coming right now on a 4k monitor. Sure, if you don't mind playing with 30-40 fps.... Sorry, but i'm not spending that money for 4k monitor, just to say "hey look, i have a 4k monitor". I want performance as well and that isn't coming any time soon. It costs 500$, but you're forced to go SLI and i see people are struggling even on 1080p with SLI. So in the end, you spend like 1000$ and you still can't max out a game and have decent fps.
Unless its an older generation or very cheap setup, no one struggles at 1080p with SLI.