Planar 27" QHD Monitor Review: Clarity Like We've Never Seen

Results: Pixel Response And Input Lag

To perform these tests, we use a high-speed camera that shoots at 1000 frames per second. Analyzing the video frame-by-frame allows us to observe the exact time it takes to go from a zero-percent signal to a 100% white field.

The pattern generator is placed at the base of the monitor so our camera can capture the precise moment its front-panel LED lights up, indicating that a video signal is being received by the monitor. With this camera placement, we can easily see how long it takes to fully display a pattern after pressing the button on the generator’s remote. This testing methodology allows for accurate and repeatable results when comparing panels. Here’s a shot of our test setup.

Click the photo to enlarge

The brighter section of the camera’s screen is what actually appears in the video. You can see the lights of the pattern generator in the bottom of the viewfinder. We flash the pattern on and off five times and average the results.

Here’s the screen draw result.

The Asus VG248QE, which has a max refresh rate of 144 Hz, is the only TN-based monitor we’ve tested this year. All of the others are IPS 60 Hz screens. The draw times are within a hair of each other, but Planar is at the lower end of the range. You won’t see any motion blur at video frame rates, but you might see some in fast-paced games. It all depends on how quickly you move your mouse and how speedy your graphics card is.

Here are the lag results.

The overall result puts Planar's PXL2790MW in the middle of the pack. As with most 60 Hz screens, a majority of gamers won’t have a problem. But those with faster reflexes will experience some lag. In this case, you’ll be waiting 4.8 frames from button press to on-screen response.

Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

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.