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Samsung SyncMaster 2232GW


Date
: 12/15/07 – 04:29:09 AM

Author
:

Category
: Monitors

Page 1 : Introduction

Manufacturer
: Samsung Canada

Price
: $359.99 at Shopzilla

Samsung, has yet again returned to the Overclockers Online stage, and this time with a shiny new monitor, the SyncMaster 2232GW, a 22" wide screen monitor.

Samsung is truly a unique company in the sense that they are a major player in almost ever sector of the consumer electronics industry. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to test out quite a number of Samsung products including media players, printers, optical drives, and of course, quite a number of monitors.

Page 2 : Package

The 2232GW arrived in a fairly large brown box. Minimal, but it is typical for Samsung to use plain packages.

Although the package is plain, all the information one would expect to find on a package is present. On the front, outlined is a list of key features along with awards and a picture of the monitor.

The side outlines some more features such as maximum resolution, contrast ratio, and response time.

Page 3 : Features & Specifications

The Samsung SyncMaster 2232GW is an 22" wide screen monitor boasting a contrast ratio of 3000:1, a maximum resolution of 1680 pixels by 1050 pixels, 300Ccd/m2 brightness, a maximum viewing angle of 170/170 degrees and a blistering fast response time of 2 ms.

The screen is also coated with a cover which Samsung calls MagicClear which enhances clarity and enriches colors.

Taking a look at the specifications:

Page 4 : Content

Opening up the package, Samsung has included a VGA cable, DVI cable, power cord, driver disk, a few pieces of documentation and finally, the SyncMaster 2232GW monitor.

Now, the accessories are not all too interesting, so let's just skip right to the monitor!

The first thing one notice's is the smooth lines accompanied by the glossy finish. The overall sleek appearance is accented by an adjustable blue lit power LED ring.

Appearances alone, the monitor is truly captivating and bound to add a touch of sophistication to any work or play environment.

One thing I did notice is the mounting capabilities effectively making the SyncMasster 2232GW unable to be attached to any LCD arm or to any wall.

Page 5 : Installation

Installation of any monitor is quite simple, we will first begin by taking a look at assembly.

The monitor ships in three pieces, the base, hinge and lastly the monitor. The hinge attaches to the base using a screw. The monitor then snaps onto the base. Assembling the monitor is really as simple as it sounds, and all the better so we can get to actually playing with the monitor quicker!

The base unfortunately allows little movement, and allows little tilt.

Supplied with the monitor is a DVI cable and a VGA cable, for the duration of the review, the monitor will using the DVI connection.

Now, with the monitor setup and connected to the computer, let's fire it up!

Page 6 : Testing

With the monitor hooked up and running, the first thing I did was load up the driver CD.

Now, with the drivers installed, its time to take the monitor out for a spin!

The very first thing that hits you is the incredibly crisp image the monitor produces. Text and lines are incredibly sharp and thanks to the super glossy screen, the colors are vibrant and life-like.

Samsung's MagicBright feature allows one touch adjustment of monitor settings to enhance viewing experience for games, text, movies and sports.

Next, I put the monitor through hours of intense gaming, my game of choice: Battlefield 2142. This fast paced game was sure to put the SyncMaster 2232GW to the test!

The SyncMaster 2232GW's ability to produce sharp, vibrant images with the contrast to match really made the difference between life and death in dark, poorly lit areas.

When things in game got crazy, the monitor kept up and showed no signs of ghosting or smearing.

Before we wrap up the review in conclusion, Samsung did say that the SyncMaster 2232GW was capable of a viewing angle of 170 degrees, while it is unlikely one would ever put themselves through such an ordeal when using the monitor, we did put this to the test.

We really could have gone even further, but it would have just been incredibly hard to photograph!

Page 7 : Conclusion

Again, we come to the end of another review, and sadly, this monitor will soon be on its way back to Samsung. During the last few months of using this monitor, it has truly been a luxury – 22 inches of viewing area, brilliantly vibrant color and ultra crisp images, what is there not to love?

Answer, not much besides the limited tilt capabilities, the SyncMaster 2232GW is a solid monitor. Overall, the SyncMaster 2232GW is a beautifully designed monitor which is capable of delivering top notch graphics and all at a reasonable price.

Advantages

• Beautiful color, contrast and brightness

• Sleek design
• Digital and analog interface
• 2ms response time

Disadvantages

• Limited tilt adjustment

• Not wall mountable

Overclockers Online would like to thank Samsung Canada for making this review possible.