Print this article

Samsung 915N


Date
: 09/5/05 – 02:34:03 AM

Author
:

Category
: Monitors

Page 1 : Index

Manufacturer
: Samsung Canada

Price
: $355 (USD)

Samsung Canada is certainly not an unfamiliar name at Overclockers Online. We've taken a look at a majority of their computer electronics. In this latest review, we're going to devote our attention to the
Samsung 915N
.

If you take a look at any computer hardware store, you'll be hard pressed not to find a Samsung LCD in the bunch; Newegg has 17 different models, TigerDirect has 8, and even Best Buy has 8! As you can see, these monitors are popular and for good reason. Regardless of your budget, Samsung makes it possible for you to find a monitor that you will like. At $355 dollars, this isn't a bad deal. Come check out what this monitor has in store for
you!

Page 2 : Package

Just like all the other Samsung monitors I have received, this one arrived in its retail form. Apart from the odd prints of dirt and smudge, there's nothing wrong with the packaging. Not even a scratch or a significant dent to report.

The layout of the box is pretty basic. A picture of the model and screen are printed onto the cardboard box. The company logo is at the top right and a few features to the top left. Down at the bottom is the model.

To the side, we find a sticker with some technical features.

There's probably four useful pieces of information on that label: model number, color, warranty and TCO year. The entire label will probably be of good use if you've bought this monitor with a rebate; something I usually see at different stores.

Also off to the side are three features: resolution, MagicTune compatibility and VESA compatibility.

All in all, a rather bland package that makes it look like all the other Samsung LCD's I've looked at. Before we open her up, we'll get you the specifications.

Page 3 : Specifications

Taken directly from Samsung's webpage, we find this nice little list.

This is a pretty detailed list. It covers everything most readers would want to know about. There's really only a few things people
may
complain about, such as the native 1280*1024 and the lack of 1600*1200 support, the 0.294 dot pitch as opposed to the possible 0.264 and the fact that this is an analog monitor and not digital. While it's certainly possible to come up with those specifications in a monitor, you just can't find it all in one device. Or if you can, it'll cost you an arm and a leg! ;)

Here are the features that Samsung is trying to sell.

The original MSRP is stated to be 929.00 CDN, but we can see how fast that price has dropped as Newegg offers it to our American readers for roughly $355 or about 430 CDN!

Let's go back to our package and see what we have inside.

Page 4 : Package Contents

As I cut through the tape to get at the product, I'm greeted with a number of small packages.

What you see here are the documents and CDs, monitor stand, power cable and DSub connector.

Here is everything laid out. From left to right, we have the power cord, quick install guide with driver CD, and several pieces of paper about warranty and registration. There's no manual in this pile, it's once again loaded onto the CD.

The stand is protected in a foam cover, and included with the stand is a pamphlet on how to secure the panel to the stand. It's a pretty simple process that we'll go over a little later.

The last piece, other than the panel, is the DSub connector. For some bizarre reason, it was already attached to the monitor's IO panel.

This is a terrible thing to happen, as the cable could easily be caught when you're lifting the panel out, or someone may just yank it out thinking it wasn't attached. Serious damage could've resulted had I not noticed this.

After carefully removing the connector, I can pull out the LCD panel.

To prevent any scratches to the monitor, Samsung packages the screen inside a bag with one side padded. The panel is laid on top of the padded end.

On the back of the monitor is a sticker that gives you a few technical specifications. If you're curious as to when your monitor was made, the manufacturing date is printed on it.

Across from the sticker are four mounting holes for the VESA kit (sold separately).

Below that are four screws that secure half of the 915N's base.

In a compartment located just across from the top left and right corners is the power connector input and the DSub connector input.

Like all the other Samsung monitors, no power brink is required. Everything is done internally.

Also on the back of the panel is a place to add a lock.

If you're living in dorms, you can never be too safe. A thirty dollar lock is a good investment when someone could easily walk away with your unprotected monitor.

Flipping over the panel, we have a few things to point out. Up at the top left corner, we have the model number printed on the bezel.

You'll also notice how thin this bezel is. I really hate it when there's a fat one inch bezel going all the way around the monitor. It makes the screen look small!

On the other side of the screen, Samsung has included two of their features on a little sticker going
over
the LCD. It doesn't touch the screen at all. You'll notice the sweet 8ms response time and the Magic Speed 2 support. For those looking for less than 8ms, Samsung has recently released an updated version of the 730B and 930B (recently reviewed) to the 730BF and 930BF, both of these monitors boast a 4ms response time!

Back to the 915N, at the center of the bottom bezel, we have all our buttons.

Just to the right of all our buttons is a pin size hole for the LED.

Here's a quick picture of what the panel looks like:

Page 5 : Installation

The physical setup of the monitor is very easy. I first laid the monitor on the panel, cushioning it with the packaging material and picked up the separate base. Following the provided instructions, I slipped this stand over the hooks on the panels arm. A picture of the hooks is provided below.

Once the base is on, you need to lock it in place by turning a screw on the base. It'll lock into a bolt on the arm.

Once that is done, I plugged in the power cord and screwed in the DSub connector. With everything in place, I picked up the monitor and set it on its base. A pretty simple process if you ask me.

Bringing the monitor over to my machine, I screwed the DSub end to the DVI connector of my HIS X700 iCooler through a DVI to DSub converter provided by HIS. Booting into Windows, we're ready to install our software and see how this monitor performs.

While it's not necessary to install
any
software when using the 915N, it's recommended that you do so to get the best quality out of the monitor.

To do this, Samsung has provided us with a driver CD.

We pick our language and then pick our LCD model.

I first installed Natural Color.

Also on the CD is MagicTune, however it's an older version than what can be found on the internet. I opted to use version 3.7 from Samsung's web site.

With Magic Tune, you get the ability to change between different preset settings with Magic Bright, and customize things to your liking. Essentially, no matter what your preferences are, you will be able to set this monitor the way you like it.

With Natural Color, the application will run a series of tests to calibrate the color of your monitor and printer.

For your monitor:

For your printer:

Page 6 : Performance

In my mind, there's only one good way to find out if a monitor is right for you. That is to go out and see a display unit before buying one. What I can only offer is a subjective analysis and give you my opinions on the display.

The 915N was used for daily activities such as reading emails, writing reviews, browsing the net, playing video games and watching movies. With the aid of Magic Tunes, you can comfortably adjust the contrast and brightness till it suits you the best.

The text was easy to read and there was no strain on my eyes. With the 19" display and somewhat thin bezel, the screen does look very big. There's lots of space to spread out your work in different windows. If Samsung came up with a 19" LCD with 1600*1200 resolutions, we would be able to take that monitor up to the content creation level. Until then, monitors like the 915N are certainly situated better for those who use their machine for office work.

When it came to video and game play, the 8ms (gray to gray) response time provided me with a streak and ghost free display. Once again, the lack of 1600*1200 support is quite a shame. A lot of processing power, from something like the 7800GTX, would be wasted on the limited 1280*1024 screen until AA and AF are activated.

I watched Sahara using this monitor and there weren't any problems. Below is a capture of a scene early on in the movie. Notice there are no streaks or ghosts even as the particles of sand flew up to the camera.

When games were played, we were able to capture the fine details. The video card used was a stock X700 with
no
AA or AF enabled. In RTS games like Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour, the big 19" screen certainly helps in showing more of the battlefield.

When we switch over to the FPS genre, the 8ms ensures that whatever I aim and shoot at is really an object and not a ghost. Counter-Strike Source played very well and certainly helped in my 7-1 run with the M4A1.

Page 7 : Conclusion

After about eight weeks with this monitor, I'm happy to report that it's excelled in everything I used it for. During this entire period, there was not a single dead or stuck pixel to report. This has always been a concern, but after testing three or four Samsung LCDs, all have been flawless.

For the 355 USD this model generally sells for, there's not much more you can ask for without significant price increases. The 915N is ideal for those who want to find a balance between performance and price.

Advantages

Competitively priced
19" with 8ms for no streaks or ghosts

Disadvantages

No DVI
Will we ever see 1600*1200 on 19"?

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