Samsung SyncMaster 172X LCD Display

13 DECEMBER 2004

Samsung Syncmaster 172X LCD Display

LCD displays for the computer have come to the point where they are more affordable and are starting to become more common. Computer manufacturers now provide consumers with the option of choosing a CRT monitor or upgrading to an LCD display. When comparing LCD displays with CRT monitors, each have their unique features that tend to a user's preference. LCD displays are much thinner, lighter, and definitely more portable than a CRT monitor. CRT monitors on the other hand are much heavier, but are much cheaper.

For the enthusiast gamer, the CRT has always been the choice because it simply performs better than LCD monitors. The reason that gamers have been hesitant in adopting an LCD display is because of the "ghosting" issue that occurs when playing extremely fast paced games that involve tons of fast moving images. The ghosting issue is related to the pixel response time of an LCD monitor. The typical pixel response time of an LCD monitor these days is around 25ms these days. Unfortunately, it is a bit disheartening how manufacturers place such an emphasis on the pixel response time of an LCD monitor. There are definitely other important features that a consumer should look for such as the contrast ratio and viewing angle of an LCD monitor.

Today, I will be reviewing the Samsung Syncmaster 172X LCD display. Although this is a 17" inch monitor, what is special about this monitor is that it sports a very low 12ms pixel response time which is pretty much the main selling point of this monitor. The low 12ms pixel response time is certainly believable, but we'll also have to see how well the display looks.

Packaging/Contents

The package came in an easy to carry cardboard package about the size of a suitcase. The package was fairly compact and everything was neatly tucked and wrapped. When opening the package, there were quite a few items included with the LCD monitor itself. Included in the package is the VGA cable, DVI cable, and the AC adapter. Rather than provide just the typical package of the LCD monitor and cables, Samsung took it a step further by providing a bracket mount if for some reason you would like to hang the display on a wall instead. By hanging the LCD monitor on the wall, you take advantage of the fundamental concepts of having an LCD monitor: to save desk space.

Lastly, there is a CD which contains the Natural Color and MagicTune software to help you get the most out of the monitor. I will examine the software later in this review. As one can expect, there is the typical quick installation guide and detailed manual if you need instructions in setting up the monitor or hanging the monitor on a wall.

The Monitor

The monitor came folded in the package. When unfolding the monitor, the base of the monitor was revealed and I placed the monitor on my desk. When looking at the monitor, you can tell that design of this monitor is of high quality. First of all, the monitor is extremely thin. What caught my eye the most was the fact that its slim profile is maintained with the slim bezel around the screen. This prevents the monitor from looking unusually large when comparing it to the actual screen. In fact, it does make the screen look larger than it actually is. In addition, the thin profile of the monitor matches well the with the slim design of the base. I did notice that the base does stick out slightly more than I would like it to be.

The base of the monitor works just like the hinge of a door. If you close the hinge, it will allow the monitor to be lowered or tilted and folded. When you open the hinge, it raises the height or angle of the monitor. In general, this type of design works well. It is both simple and unique. The only downside to this "hinge" technique is that the monitor can only be raised to a limited height. Nevertheless, when the hinge at the base is opened all the way, the height of the monitor is sufficient.

The back of the LCD monitor has all the ports conveniently lined behind the base. There is the AC adapter port, DVI port, and the RGB or VGA port. The only real downside is the ports right behind the base can get in the way if you are in the situation where you would like the monitor placed right in front of a wall. If you want to place your monitor against a wall, the adapters plugged into the ports may get in the way and prevent you from putting the monitor right against the wall.

In order to adjust settings such as the brightness and contrast, there are buttons located right underneath the front of the monitor. The buttons are convenient there, but the button labels are hard to see. There are buttons to enter and exit the menu of the monitor and there is a button to switch between brightness presets of the monitor which are intended to be used for specific applications. I expect that most people will just push buttons until they find the correct setting they want to change on the monitor. When the monitor is turned on, there is a small green LED which lights up.

Installation

Installing the monitor is a very simple process. The monitor came folded in its package. I unfolded the monitor to allow the monitor to sit on its base. Next, you plug in the AC adapter to a power outlet and plug it in at the port at the back of the monitor. Since the package came with both a DVI cable and a VGA cable, the next step depends on your current video card. If the video card in your computer contains a DVI port, then it is recommended to use the DVI cable so that there is a direct digital connection. If your video card does not have a DVI, then you will need to use the provided VGA cable instead to make the connection. You are now basically done setting up the monitor.

Included with the monitor was a CD which contained the NaturalColor and MagicTune software. Having this software isn't absolutely necessary to use the monitor, but it will definitely help you tune and optimize the monitor to get the most out of it. The NaturalColor software, as it sounds, helps you configure your monitor settings to provide the best color quality. The MagicTune is also another simple program which tunes your monitor further in terms of brightness and contrast. The software does not tune your monitor automatically. The user needs to manually adjust the settings of the monitor. The software provides simple on-screen directions and easy to see patterns which helps ensure you have tuned your monitor correctly.

Performance

For typical applications such as browsing the web, checking your email, etc, this monitor definitely provides all the features a consumer could want. The text on the screen is very clear and sharp and the pictures look exceptionally well. As gamer, I tend to play a lot of first person shooter games and strategy games. While this monitor does have a 12ms response time, I found that ghosting was hard to detect. This makes this monitor excellent for both fast paced games and movies. I found it hard to detect ghosting in games, but I did see just a little bit when playing extremely fast-paced games such as Unreal Tournament 2004. The CRT still is the choice if the hardcore gamer absolutely does not want any ghosting at all. This LCD monitor, however, does prove that it is getting awfully close to the performance of a CRT monitor. Users switching from a CRT monitor to a LCD monitor will find that this monitor will the transition easily. I was able to quickly adapt and get used to the monitor for a very short period of time.

The viewing angle of this monitor is quite good. On a cheaper LCD monitor, you might notice how a LCD screen may quickly appear darker just by viewing it at a different angle. Based on the monitor's specifications of 140 degrees of viewing angle, it was pretty much right on the mark. I'm not exactly sure why you would want to watch the screen at that angle, but it definitely does make a difference if happen to have a group of people watching a movie with the monitor. I remember using an older and cheaper LCD while watching a movie on the display with some friends. Because of the poor viewing angle, I would usually have to tilt the screen up or down just so the person at a different angle could see it better.

This monitor can get quite bright when adjusting the brightness and contrast settings. The preset brightness settings of the monitor make it very easy to switch between tasks. The presets are well defined and are very appropriate when doing tasks such as watching a movie or playing a game.

Conclusion

Samsung has once again created an excellent LCD monitor that has functionality, design, and performance all in a single product. This monitor is indeed a good choice for gamers who need a bit of portability and still would like the performance close to a CRT monitor. Other than the very minor issues mentioned in the review, I really couldn't find anything wrong with the monitor. In fact, since this product's high quality and functionality was simply superb, I simply had to force myself to find something negative about it. If I am feeling picky, I would say that the monitor's base extends in front just a little far or that the ports in the back may get in the way when placing the monitor close to a wall. Nevertheless, the Samsung SyncMaster 172x should be at the top of the list for one looking for a high quality LCD monitor. I did a quick search on the Internet and found that this monitor can be bought at places such as NewEgg for as low as $400. $400 is quite a bit of money to spend, but shouldn't probably become a factor if you are just looking for nothing less than a high quality LCD monitor.

Reviewed by ronald@digitalreviews.net

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