BenQ XL2420T (monitor): overview, specs, reviews

A new trend in the monitor market has not gone unnoticed for many buyers. Liquid crystal monitors have appeared on sale, which can operate at a frequency of 120 Hz and 144 Hz. Many sellers, not penetrating into the technology, placed them in the game class. In order to understand what is happening on the market, we need surveys appropriate for each device that will reveal the secret of high frequencies in conventional, at first glance, devices.

In the focus of the article, the gaming monitor from the renowned manufacturer BenQ - XL2420T. In its name there is no marking of "Games", as with similar devices of this class, because quality is usually determined by technical characteristics, and not marketing moves of manufacturing plants. Overview, features and reviews about the new product will allow the buyer to get acquainted with this product more closely.

Press Room

Not every day a well-known manufacturer of video game adapters Nvidia presents to its fans game monitors capable of supporting all the functionality that the company's video cards possess. Monitor BenQ XL2420T, apparently, was an exception to the manufacturer's rules, when it became clear that the device was created for owners of Nvidia products. Stylish design, a lot of modern technology, beautiful color rendition and a large number of user-configurable features will allow any player to completely immerse themselves in the plot of your favorite dynamic toy.

First impression

BenQ reacted very seriously to packaging and bundling of its product. A large black box with a purple tint is made of very dense cardboard that is able to prevent any damage when transporting the goods. A colorful photo on the display and a full description of the specifications at one of the ends of the packaging look pretty stylish.

Complectation, in comparison with similar devices, at the monitor rich: the device, a support, a remote control, a power cable, interface wires, disks with drivers and the operation manual. It should be noted that the BenQ monitor's instruction is complete, that is, all available functional of the device with examples of configuration is described - recently it is a big rarity in the computer market. The kit also provides a protective cover for the monitor, but, as practice shows, very few people put it on the screen.

Design and ergonomics

The monitor is assembled easily, no latching, all on screws, which is quite convenient for dismantling. The future owner will like a massive stand with a large sole - 100% stability is guaranteed (monitor 24 inches after all, almost LCD TV). The plastic stand inside is hollow, it is made for convenient routing of cables, which do not spoil the appearance of the device from the side, and also a hinge mechanism is built in the place where the monitor is mounted, allowing to set the screen in portrait position.

The design of the case is made in a strict style, and the non-rough rough plastic protects the device from contamination and fingerprints. From the side of the monitor is more like a secure terminal, installed in financial institutions, than frightens off some potential buyers. Before connecting the monitor, the user is recommended to read the instruction, since the abundance of connectors on the panels of the device can mislead even professionals.

Decent interfaces

On the left side of the monitor BenQ XL2420T there is a USB HUB on two ports, next to them there is an output to the stereo headphones. The manufacturer will satisfy the present interfaces with even the most demanding customer. Two HDMI ports, one connector of the popular DisplayPort, standard digital DVI interface for many video cards, the popular D-Sub, mini-USB video input for connecting the control panel and USB type B for the built- in USB HUB. There is also Kensington Castle, but its use, judging by the feedback of the owners, raises great doubts.

The console for adjusting the monitor looks very unusual and looks more like an old mouse from IBM. However, it is quite easy to control it, and after complete mastering, thoughts arise: as before it was uncomfortable to drag on to the screen to select the desired mode by pressing the microscopic buttons.

Screen Quality

Low cost BenQ XL2420T monitor, whose price is within 25,000 rubles, provides a matrix TN + Film. Yes, this is the last century, and all serious manufacturers have long switched to IPS technology, but do not forget about the frame rate of 120 Hertz, which only Twisted Nematic can. The aspect ratio of the monitor is 16: 9, the maximum resolution is 1920x1080 (FullHD), and the response time of the matrix is 5 milliseconds (with pixel attenuation, if the GTG standard, then the response is 2 ms).

For high-quality color reproduction, high brightness and contrast are responsible, and it is possible to achieve the ideal black color on the monitor screen by means of LED backlighting. The horizontal viewing angle is 170 degrees, which is quite good for the TN matrix. For fans of virtual reality, there is support for 3D images on the hardware level, though, you will have to buy stereo glasses (the connector should be DisplayPort or DVI).

About technologies

The proprietary Black eQualizer technology in the BenQ XL2420T monitor is designed at the hardware level to independently adjust the brightness and contrast in the dark areas of the screen so that the user can distinguish the gradation of gray shades, including an ideally black color. It's impossible to say that this technology works perfectly. It eliminates only gray divorces, making the picture clearer, but in RGB tests color deviations are still present (obviously not the IPS matrix).

Technology LightBoost is designed to improve the quality of images in 3D. It works in conjunction with LED backlighting and with the help of increasing brightness makes the image more saturated. In order for this functionality to work correctly, you need to purchase stereo glasses with NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 support, only they are able to synchronize correctly with devices that have LightBoost.

Display Modes

The presence of the remote control in the set is due to the large number of built-in modes in which the monitor can operate. Setting up the BenQ XL2420T is simple and requires the owner only to press a few keys. First, you can select the preset brightness and contrast settings for specific tasks (games, graphics, movies and many other necessary parameters of the LCD screen operation). Also, you can assign a specific mode to the hotkey of the remote (three buttons are programmable).

Secondly, you can use the settings to achieve a clear image under the eyes of the user (in graphics and video it is very convenient). There is an "intelligent focus" function, but its purpose is rather vague, except that in games it is possible to recreate the effect of presence from the first person. Not bad realized the function of scaling the screen, instead of the usual change of the permission the user is offered to choose presets for 17-24 inch screens, as it is realized in many games.

To get to the truth

It's time to dispel the myths surrounding BenQ monitors. Overview of the characteristics of the device in the media often affects the relationship between the screen frequency (120 Hz) and the number of frames per second (FPS) that can produce a video card during the game. For some reason, many think that conventional monitors working at 60 Hz are not capable of demonstrating high quality and speed of the picture over the set limit (60 frames per second). In fact, these are two completely incompatible parameters, and when it comes to FPS, only the response time of the matrix influences it (for 5 ms, the limitation is 200 frames per second).

The frequency of the monitor is needed for working in 3D, where the frequency of the screen update, which synchronously works with the stereo image on the screen of glasses, is very important. Naturally, if the user does not plan to watch movies or play the corresponding 3D games, he obviously does not need such a monitor.

Testing performance, reviews

Many users believe that reviews about the monitor BenQ XL2420T leave the people who rated the device for convenience. Naturally, it is required to conduct a full review using a test bench and specialized software. Ordinary home testing can be done using the HCFR Colormeter utility and a working colorimeter, for example, X-Rite Eye-One Display 2. In reviews, it is noted that with the color reproduction of the monitor in the basic settings, there are obvious problems. And it's not even a specific device, the whole problem in TN matrix, which you need to configure yourself. But with a gradation of the shades of gray and black color, the monitor has full order. Perhaps the function Black eQualizer still copes with the task. And if we are talking about recommendations, then this device will not be useful for designers and people whose work is connected with graphics, as accurate transmission of color on this monitor is impossible.

Advantages and disadvantages of the monitor

Any user should understand before buying that this is not a normal 24-inch monitor, but a full-fledged 3D home theater, whose task is to plunge the owner into the virtual reality world. All other properties of the device are a pleasant addition to the potential buyer.

To the merits - in the responses of consumers this is often said - low power consumption of the monitor, respectively, no heating of the screen body is out of the question. It is very rare that the levels of contrast and brightness correspond to those declared by the producer-manufacturer, a special thanks from the happy owners. Useful proprietary technologies and convenient management also liked all users.

The drawbacks in user feedback include an incorrect factory setting, which caused a negative to the device when testing color rendering. The built-in power supply in the case of the monitor BenQ XL2420T, the price of which is 25 thousand rubles, looks rather strange, because most manufacturers have long switched to external devices.

Finally

As expected, most BenQ XL2420T monitor owners purchased the device by ignorance of the fact that the screen clock frequency of 120 Hz is not related to performance in normal games. It is clear that the device is quite interesting, functional, has a number of interesting features that competitors do not have, but it's positioned in the market quite differently. The monitor is primarily positioned as a device for 3D games and viewing relevant video content. In this market, in terms of the "price-quality" ratio, he does not have a single competitor.