Monitors (cont’d)

NEC MultiSync 20WMGX2 - $800

($750 after mail-in rebate if purchased before 2/25/2006)

To say that I have very high expectations for the MultiSync 20WMGX2 would be the understatement of the year. Like most of you, NEC wasn’t on my short list of multimedia monitors to look at. I’d look at the published specifications, and then read some reviews which define image quality in terms of “Good,” or “Very Good.” Then I’d look at the price NEC was asking, an ended up choosing a Dell or some other lower-priced monitor.

That said, NEC LCD displays have taken first prize in both monitor round-ups at FiringSquad due to their superior colors and excellent pixel refresh performance. The first time NEC won was a surprise, the second time less so, and now NEC has a lot to live up to. NEC monitors have always started off at a disadvantage given higher prices, yet performance has always been measurably better than the competition. For those looking for a true high-end monitor, the price premium has always been justified. In the end, I guess this shouldn’t have been a surprise given that NEC and Mitsubishi’s heritage with display technology dates back into the 80’s. They are one of the few manufacturers who have a commercially available LED-backlit display, and have a full lineup of medical-grade monitors.

The GX2 line from NEC is designed for professional gamers. The 20WMGX2 is a 20” monitor but preserves the same high resolution 1680x1050 resolution that the HP and Gateway offer. This brings pixel pitch down from .270mm to.258mm meaning that images will be sharper, although the screen is smaller. Again, we see NEC coming to the competition with a price disadvantage, but NEC’s specs look superb. It has a 1600:1 advertised contrast ratio, 6 ms gray-to-gray pixel refresh, 400 cd/m2 brightness, and a 3-year warranty rather than the 1-year warranty offered by the Gateway or HP. The 178-degree viewing angle is measured at a tougher contrast ratio of 10:1. Like the Gateway, the NEC even features component, S-Video, and composite video input. This is the only monitor from NEC to feature HDCP support.

Samsung SyncMaster 244T - $1400

Moving up in price (and size) is the Samsung 244T. The Samsung SyncMaster 244T is a 24” 1920x1200 S-PVA display. This monitor resolution allows you to enjoy the full resolution of 1080p. Although big monitors tend to require sacrifices in performance, Samsung is advertising a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 178-degree viewing angles in both axes, and a 6 ms gray-to-gray pixel refresh. It’s as if you’re not giving anything up!

The Syncmaster 244T also features 2 USB 2.0 ports and the component, S-Video, and composite inputs. Video processing/deinterlacing is performed by a Samsung proprietary chip. This is one of Samsung’s five currently shipping monitors with HDCP support. The other models include the 214T, 930MP, 940MW, and 242MP. Although the Samsung website does not mention HDCP, this list of five monitors was provided to us by Samsung Electronics of America.