Help me make a decision (IPS vs VG248QE with g-sync upgrade)

[lukeman3000]

I currently have a Dell U2311H (IPS), however, I don't like the noticeable anti-glare coating it has. It gives the screen somewhat of a "grainy" look.

I've had this monitor for a couple years and I'm looking to upgrade. Recently, I became aware of lightboost, g-sync, etc., but it's my understanding that there are currently no g-sync monitors on the market, much less IPS with g-sync. That said, I have a couple questions:

1. I'm aware that you can buy the VG248QE and g-sync upgrade kit. But, coming from a U2311H IPS panel, is it likely that I would notice a drastic decrease in image quality going to a TN panel? If so, and in your opinion, are the benefits from g-sync worth switching to a TN panel?

I'm someone who misses the old days of playing on CRTs. However, I also like my picture not to look washed out, and without actually having the VG248QE next to my U2311H, it's hard to make a decision based on image quality.

2. Any news on the BenQ XL2420G? I thought this thing was supposed to be out in Q1 2014 and I can't find any news about it. What happened?

3. How far behind the first batch of g-sync monitors do you think IPS g-sync monitors will be? A couple months? A year or more?

4. Does it make more sense just to upgrade to another IPS for now and wait for g-sync to come to IPS? If I went this route, what IPS monitor that's currently available would you recommend in the $200 - $300 range? Low input lag of course is very important to me.

[sheepdog16]

I currently have a Dell U2311H (IPS), however, I don't like the noticeable anti-glare coating it has. It gives the screen somewhat of a "grainy" look.

I've had this monitor for a couple years and I'm looking to upgrade. Recently, I became aware of lightboost, g-sync, etc., but it's my understanding that there are currently no g-sync monitors on the market, much less IPS with g-sync. That said, I have a couple questions:

1. I'm aware that you can buy the VG248QE and g-sync upgrade kit. But, coming from a U2311H IPS panel, is it likely that I would notice a drastic decrease in image quality going to a TN panel? If so, and in your opinion, are the benefits from g-sync worth switching to a TN panel?

I'm someone who misses the old days of playing on CRTs. However, I also like my picture not to look washed out, and without actually having the VG248QE next to my U2311H, it's hard to make a decision based on image quality.

2. Any news on the BenQ XL2420G? I thought this thing was supposed to be out in Q1 2014 and I can't find any news about it. What happened?

3. How far behind the first batch of g-sync monitors do you think IPS g-sync monitors will be? A couple months? A year or more?

4. Does it make more sense just to upgrade to another IPS for now and wait for g-sync to come to IPS? If I went this route, what IPS monitor that's currently available would you recommend in the $200 - $300 range? Low input lag of course is very important to me.

Hello there.

(1) I have owned multiple types of IPS, TN, and PLS panels. Including on the IPS/PLS front: Yamakasi Catleap 2B 120Hz, Overlord Tempest 120Hz, and QNIX QX2710 Evolution II 120Hz. While these are good gaming monitors and have good picture quality and colors thanks to the IPS/PLS panel, there are a few caveats. One is that to keep games at a high FPS in order to take advantage of the higher refresh rate at 1440P resolution takes alot of Graphics Horsepower.
I currently am rocking out with an ASUS VG248QE G-Sync Edition monitor, and I am loving it! While the picture quality is not the best due to the TN Panel, its input lag is nonexistant (I felt some lag on the IPS/PLS ones; despite the higher refresh rate), it has G-Sync Capabilities for ANY game to play with, and it has the phenominal ULMB feature (Ultra Low Motion Blur). And since that it is a 1080P Monitor, it is much easier to maintain a higher refresh rate and FPS on the VG248QE monitor than the 1440P IPS/PLS ones.

(2) Must have been delayed I guess.

(3) I think that they won't exist until at least mid-2015, and that is being generous. More like 2016.

(4) If you are more into color quality, then IPS/PLS is a much better route. However, if you are more into an overall better gaming experience, then I truly believe that G-Sync is the only way to go. G-Sync works phenomenally for me, especially in Crysis 3. It looks fantastic without any lag or Screen Tearing! And for the games that I can easily maintain 85+ FPS consistently, I use ULMB, and there is absolutely no Motion Blur, exactly like Lightboost, but without the color degredation and purple tint that Lightboost did. Also, what I love is that even with games that have capped FPS (Ex: AC4 @60FPS), or games that are very hard to maintain high FPS due to being CPU limited (Ex: Watch Dogs, AC3), G-Sync works great on these sort of games as well.


I actually have 2x VG248QE G-Sync Edition monitors, one of which that I am using for my personal rig. The other one, I've never opened. I'm selling it, so if you are interested, message me, or leave a post here.

[lukeman3000]

I actually have 2x VG248QE G-Sync Edition monitors, one of which that I am using for my personal rig. The other one, I've never opened. I'm selling it, so if you are interested, message me, or leave a post here.

I am potentially interested in buying that unopened one off you. I tried to PM you but as I am a new user, I guess I don't have that privilege yet.

A couple questions about the monitor -

1. When did you buy it?

2. Where'd you buy it from?

3. Why'd you never open it?

4. You said g-sync edition -- just to confirm this monitor already has the g-sync upgrade kit installed?

5. How much would you like for it?

One thing that makes me hesitate a bit on something like this is the fact that if I get the monitor and it has some dead pixels or something similar, it's not like I can just send it back to Amazon for a different one. I guess that alternatively, I could buy the monitor from Amazon or Newegg, make sure it's good first, and then install the upgrade kit after I've verified that I like the monitor. But doing it this way seems to be a bit of a gamble, unless I'm missing something here?

[sheepdog16]

I actually have 2x VG248QE G-Sync Edition monitors, one of which that I am using for my personal rig. The other one, I've never opened. I'm selling it, so if you are interested, message me, or leave a post here.

I am potentially interested in buying that unopened one off you. I tried to PM you but as I am a new user, I guess I don't have that privilege yet.

A couple questions about the monitor -

1. When did you buy it?

2. Where'd you buy it from?

3. Why'd you never open it?

4. You said g-sync edition -- just to confirm this monitor already has the g-sync upgrade kit installed?

5. How much would you like for it?

One thing that makes me hesitate a bit on something like this is the fact that if I get the monitor and it has some dead pixels or something similar, it's not like I can just send it back to Amazon for a different one. I guess that alternatively, I could buy the monitor from Amazon or Newegg, make sure it's good first, and then install the upgrade kit after I've verified that I like the monitor. But doing it this way seems to be a bit of a gamble, unless I'm missing something here?

(1) I bought it about 2 weeks ago.

(2) I bought it from a local Fry's retail store that had a limited special supply of them.

(3) A little bit of history: I actually bought 3 of them. Once I opened only one of them to briefly test out, I decided that one would be actually a much better choice than 3. So I already sold one G-Sync Edition one, I'm keeping the one that I'm using now, and the third one I never bothered to open.

(4) Yes, the G-Sync module is installed.

(5) I think that $420 (shipping included if you are within the US) is a perfectly fair asking price. Especially since that you wouldn't need to buy a New VG248QE for about $270 + a G-Sync kit for about $230, and then need to install it yourself on top of it all.

[Q83Ia7ta]

2. Any news on the BenQ XL2420G? I thought this thing was supposed to be out in Q1 2014 and I can't find any news about it. What happened?

https://www.facebook.com/BenQGamingUSA/ ... 4758052589

[flood]

I'm someone who misses the old days of playing on CRTs. However, I also like my picture not to look washed out, and without actually having the VG248QE next to my U2311H, it's hard to make a decision based on image quality.

as far as not looking "washed out" is concerned, my vg248qe's colors don't look much worse than my fw900's. the color gamut is reasonably large: see http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vg2 ... 609-7.html

imo it's completely fine for gaming and web browsing.

if you put it side by side with an ips monitor, I think you'd be surprised by how decent the tn panel is. erm... that is until you stand up and see the tn gamma shift.

[saprer]

I own a 248QE and the colors are fine for me.
i never had a good monitor ( i dunno what my other monitor panels are but they arent bad and got no gamma shift or how it is called. i mean if you stand up or look from the sides the colors wont get shifted as a TN so I think they arent TN panels but dunno which panel)
and this monitor is just good on web browsing and looking movies. and for gaming ofc this is verrrry good.
i got a F520 near and my VG looks better in colors maybe cause the F520 needs calibration.
Can you post a pic with your FW900 side by side? I ever wanted to see this.
So in terms of colors i think some guys around are overacting when they say this monitor looks shit.
I dont know what they have but my VG248QE looks good for me and sharp.

[flood]

I own a 248QE and the colors are fine for me.
i never had a good monitor ( i dunno what my other monitor panels are but they arent bad and got no gamma shift or how it is called. i mean if you stand up or look from the sides the colors wont get shifted as a TN so I think they arent TN panels but dunno which panel)
and this monitor is just good on web browsing and looking movies. and for gaming ofc this is verrrry good.
i got a F520 near and my VG looks better in colors maybe cause the F520 needs calibration.
Can you post a pic with your FW900 side by side? I ever wanted to see this.
So in terms of colors i think some guys around are overacting when they say this monitor looks shit.
I dont know what they have but my VG248QE looks good for me and sharp.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5jyMD ... sp=sharing

Here's a 60fps video of myself walking around in csgo. well the in-browser player is 30fps but the file is 60fps.

Vg248qe (gsync modded) on left, fw900 on right. Both monitors are at 1280x720@120hz.
I recorded this more as a check that there isn't significant input lag.

The camera level was slightly below the vg248qe's center so the tn panels appears more contrasty (higher gamma) than it should be. That's probably why the colors are a bit more saturated on the lcd.


My FW900 isn't calibrated either but I've tuned it to the best of my ability by eye (white point matched to iphone 5's white, black level as dark as possible without crushed shades in a dark room, gray colors not tinted, and gamma ~2.5)

[saprer]

HOLY SHIT....
i want this monitor badly :/
for me the FW900 looks much better ! My F520 dont look like this i think. i cant rum them side by side on 120hz cuz gut no Displayport cable :/. I did run them side by side on 60hz at full HD and yes the F520 looks a bit better but still it needs calibration cuz it laks on some colors and black + white level.
Which one for you looks better and is better in overall?

[flood]

eh.. not sure how my crt looks better in the video other than having the correct hue for the sky.

I think there's no reason your f520 wouldnt look great after calibration/tuning

text looks better on lcd of course. well my particular fw900 doesnt have great focus :/
overall colors are better on crt of course
for lower resolutions, the crt's native scaling looks much better.

disadvantages of fw900:
needs ~30min of warmup until black levels settle.
it's huge
it's HEAVY (92lb)
refresh rate doesnt go as high for high resolutions. 1920x1200 cant go above 95hz

overall vg248qe is better for me because I spend much more time with text than in gaming. honestly if I had to keep one, I'd keep the vg248qe.