X-bit labs

24" LCD Monitors Roundup (page 12)

Category: Other

by Oleg Artamonov

[ 10/23/2007 | 08:48 AM ]

The gamma curves look acceptable at the default settings. The blue curve is close to the ideal one, but the red and green curves are higher than necessary.

The monitor has a standard color gamut, slightly smaller than sRGB in reds and larger than it in greens.

The color temperature modes are set up accurately. The only downside is that there are few preset modes. There are in fact only two of them since the sRGB mode is the same as 6500K in terms of real color temperature.

The response time diagram shows a typical picture for a MVA matrix with RTC. There are long transitions from black to dark grays and quick transitions between all other colors. The response average is 7.5 milliseconds, which is a good result for *VA matrixes, most of which have a response of 9-10 milliseconds and few are quicker than 7 milliseconds. By the way, the number I achieved in my tests is even lower than specified by the manufacturer – the difference of half a millisecond must be due to slight differences in the measurement methods.

The RTC error average is 7.2% with noticeable (up to 20%) errors on transitions from black to gray. They are going to be visible not only in games but also in Windows applications. So, although 7.2% is not a critical number, the L245WP is going to look worse than monitors with a higher average of errors, but with no errors on black-gray transitions.

Contrary to our traditional method, I performed the measurements not only at the standard combinations of settings (maximum, factory, 100nit brightness), but also at 60% brightness plus 0% contrast, which is the minimum the L245WP has no problems with color reproduction at. Alas, at the latter settings it cannot boast a low brightness (it is higher than necessary for office applications, especially under mild ambient lighting) or a good contrast ratio. The contrast ratio is only acceptable at the monitor’s factory settings, by the way.

So, the LG Flatron L245WP can’t be viewed as a good product. Having a neat exterior design and good functionality, it also has serious problems with color reproduction which are due to the sloppy regulation of brightness with the matrix. In fact, you can only change the brightness setting within 60-65% without worsening the image noticeably. It’s like not changing it at all.

As a result, the monitor calls for an additional adjustment of brightness in the graphics card driver and also has a low contrast ratio. When the brightness is regulated with the matrix, the minimum level of black is rather high. In other words, black looks really black on the L245WP only under bright daylight. In other situations it is gray rather than black.

Considering that there are alternatives with similar capabilities but without such defects, the Flatron L245WP is not a good choice among 24” monitors.