Upgrading from a HDTV to BL3200PT

hctlan

Honorable
May 11, 2013
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10,510
Currently I use a Toshiba 32" HDTV as a monitor which native resolution is 1366 x 768 but I run it at 1680x1050, since 1080p on this looks absolutely terrible. I game on this TV and don't really notice any lag at all.

All I'm wondering is when I go to the BenQ BL3200PT, how would it be an improvement from the TV, more/less lag, sharper text/picture etc.

Never bought a monitor before so I'm making sure I get the right one.

Thanks guys.
 
Solution
Oh man, monitors are pricey in Australia!

Well, if you don't need the fastest response times or the best viewing angles the BL3200PT is a solid choice. If you are not phased by motion blur or lag then the VA panel will be more than sufficient for your needs. The VA panel also offers a higher contrast ratio compared to IPS/TN LCD panels, somewhere very close to 3000:1.

2560x1440 is a demanding resolution, make sure your graphics card is able to provide you with enough performance.

If you aren't deadset on a 1440p monitor, perhaps consider an ultrawide? The 34" LG 34UM67 2560x1080 75Hz IPS monitor offers a 21:9 aspect ratio and Freesync to boot. If you have an AMD card the monitor's refresh rate will sync to your FPS, providing...
You bought the BenQ already? If not, what is your budget and what do you value most in a display (image quality, resolution, color accuracy, response time, etc.)?

Here is a link to TFTCentral's review of the BL3200PT:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/benq_bl3200pt.htm

Some highlights:
lag.png

The BenQ BL3200PT was a really impressive screen we felt, for many reasons. BenQ have pulled out all the stops to deliver just about every feature and extra you could hope for. The stand was versatile and provided an excellent range of adjustments, there was a full range of connectivity options, USB 3.0 ports, touch sensitive control buttons, an SD card reader, speakers, ambient light sensor, motion sensor and the cool new OSD controller switch. An excellent job providing a massive range of options from a feature point of view we felt. User comfort is also a priority and the flicker free backlight was very welcome, as was the light AG coating and Low Blue Light mode.

Performance wise there were a few areas which were a bit disappointing. The default setup was very poor, although to be fair a simple change of one OSD option fixed a lot of that problem, if not completely. Response times were still a bit of an issue for this panel technology, although it was about as good as you can hope for from a modern AMVA panel. The panel excelled when it came to black depth and contrast ratio as you might expect, and the improved AMVA viewing angles were a pleasant surprise certainly. The large screen size was very nice for a whole range of uses, especially gaming and video. The 2560 x 1440 resolution provided a comfortable pixel pitch and font size we felt which might well be preferred by a lot of users compared with the small fonts on 27" models carrying the same resolution. The screen is available for ~£500 GBP (inc VAT) which makes it a very reasonable price indeed.

If you appreciate the review and enjoy reading and like our work, we would welcome a donation to the site to help us continue to make quality and detailed reviews for you.


Pros

Cons

Huge range of extras and features

Poor default setup, although easy to improve with 1 OSD change

Excellent black depth and contrast ratio

Variable response times, not as fast as other panel techs

Improved AMVA viewing angles

Moderate input lag so maybe not suitable for fast gaming
 
No I haven't bought it yet, I was just curious if I did buy it, what would I notice that is different going from a crappy HDTV to a proper monitor.

Honestly I'm not really sure what I want in a monitor. I guess image quality is important. Resolution, I'm fine with 1080p but on a 32" 1080p apparently looks pretty crappy. Thing is I'm trying to go to a 32" as I feel going down from a 32" would be really jarring after using one for so long and becoming comfortable with it.

My budget is under $1000, AUD that is.
 
Oh man, monitors are pricey in Australia!

Well, if you don't need the fastest response times or the best viewing angles the BL3200PT is a solid choice. If you are not phased by motion blur or lag then the VA panel will be more than sufficient for your needs. The VA panel also offers a higher contrast ratio compared to IPS/TN LCD panels, somewhere very close to 3000:1.

2560x1440 is a demanding resolution, make sure your graphics card is able to provide you with enough performance.

If you aren't deadset on a 1440p monitor, perhaps consider an ultrawide? The 34" LG 34UM67 2560x1080 75Hz IPS monitor offers a 21:9 aspect ratio and Freesync to boot. If you have an AMD card the monitor's refresh rate will sync to your FPS, providing stutter-free fluid gameplay. The 34" wide panel really increases in-game immersion. Perhaps this would really sell you on the idea of a new a monitor, a change of pace from your 32" 16:9 Toshiba.

$669 on this AU e-tailer:
http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/Monitors/25%2B_inch/59481-34UM67

Review:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9118/lg-34um67-ultrawide-freesync-review
 
Solution