Print this article

Samsung 2463UW LCD Monitor


Date
: 01/21/09 – 08:44:37 AM

Author
:

Category
: Monitors

Page 1 : Index

Manufacturer:
Samsung

Introduction

Today, Samsung is one of the world's leaders in the field of electronics. Founded in 1938, they have built quite a reputation and earned the trust of their followers, especially in the realms of mobile phones, displays, audio players and household appliances. We have taken a look at quite a number of Samsung products in the past, but today we get a firsthand experience with the new SyncMaster 2463UW.

The 2263UW, the 22 inch model, was reviewed only a few months ago, and the 2463UW is a bigger model, adding two extra inches of diagonal. In the display world, bigger always seems to be better, and a 24 inch monitor is one of the biggest you could get for a computer before diving into the TV realm. The 2263UW impressed the reviewer, but will the 2463UW be able to stand up to its little brother?

Page 2 : Specifications

Here are the full specifications listed on the Samsung website:

The monitor comes with some very appealing features, such as built-in speakers, microphone, 3.0 megapixel webcam, and HDMI input. The contrast ratio is listed as 20 000:1 dynamic. Dynamic contrast means that the backlight is adjusted lower in order to make displayed blacks even blacker, so this listed contrast ratio cannot always be trusted.

Now that we've looked at the full specifications, let's take a look at the real thing.

Page 3 : Package and Contents

The monitor comes shipped in a standard cardboard box.

The box clearly outlines the key features of the monitor.

The fragile product is protected by two large Styrofoam guards,

as well as a fine cloth/plastic bag.

When unwrapped, the monitor is fully intact. The monitor is finished with a very reflective glossy plastic.

The connections on the back include: VGA, DVI, HDMI, USB, and AC power.

As well as: Audio input, audio output, and two USB ports.

On the bottom are the built-in speakers, which are two 1.5W drivers.

Also included are: Power cord, VGA cable, USB cable, manual, installation disk, and the stand.

Now that the monitor has been fully examined, let's take a look at the installation process.

Page 4 : Installation

First, we will take a look at the assembly of the stand.

The assembly of the stand is very straight forward and requires no tools, just put the stem into the base, and slide the panel onto the stem.

Next is the installation of the included software. The Samsung website does not have the software for download, so hang onto the CD!

The auto play screen is opened with an internet browser, and includes MagicTune, Adobe Reader, and webcam software. MagicTune is Samsung's calibration and control program.

The installation of MagicTune is very straight-forward.

On the Picture tab, you can control the brightness and contrast.

On the Color tab, you can control the temperature, calibration, gamma, as well as other effects.

On the Image tab, you can adjust the sharpness as well as position.

And finally, the option tab allows you to customize the software to however you like.

Page 5 : Installation: Color Calibration

Since color representation is a very important aspect of properly adjusting an LCD panel, we will now go through a complete run-through of the calibration process.

The calibration tool is accessed through the Color tab.

The point of this test is to adjust the color and contrast so the panel can accurately represent colors. The color wheel is adjusted so that the screen always remains grey. The contrast slider is to be adjusted until the square in the middle blends in with the background when standing a few meters away.

After a five step process, calibration is complete.

Before

After

The difference is subtle, but for photographers, color accuracy is very important so every difference counts.

Now that the monitor is fully set-up, let us move on to some testing.

Page 6 : Testing: Technical

Monitor testing is usually subjective and differs from person to person, but there are a few technical tests that can prove a monitors worth. In these tests, the resolution is set at 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz, and photographed with an Olympus E-1 in a completely dark room.

This first test is just a screen of black, and shows the amount of backlight bleeding on the panel. Ideally, the whole panel would be completely black, but the bottom and top has a little backlight showing. The sides appear to be perfect.

This is just a screen of white. This would show any dead pixels, but there aren't any, so test
passed
!

Each shade of grey should be easily distinguishable from each other, which is true for this monitor. The picture does not do it justice because of the limited dynamic range of the camera sensor, but to the human eye, the contrast is perfect.

Samsung SyncMaster 226BW (2ms response time)

Samsung SyncMaster 2463UW (5ms response time)

To gamers especially, ghosting is a very important characteristic to LCD monitors. CRT monitors usually do not suffer from ghosting because each pixel refreshes very quickly, but in LCD monitors, the pixels turn on and off slower and if it is slow enough, ghosting appears. These images of a car moving from right to left were captured at 1/60th of a second. The monitor was outputting at 60 frames per second, so this is the equivalent of one frame. As you can see, the 226BW is better in terms of refresh rate as the ‘ghost’ appears to be less visible than on the 2463UW. The 226BW is rated at 2ms response time, while the 2463UW is at 5ms. Ghosting usually appears at around a response time of 12ms and above, but this is subjective and differs from person to person.

The viewing angle is listed as 160 degrees on both vertical and horizontal. This is an accurate measurement, I found that around 160-170 degrees the panel starts to darken.

Now that the panel is finally fully examined inside out, let's start having some fun!

Page 7 : Testing: Usage

Having a 24 inch monitor with 1920 x 1200 resolution just screams for hardcore gaming and movie watching.

With such a large resolution, text can get pretty small, but it is still legible even from a few feet. The current computer system I am using is not very up to date, so gaming on this monitor would not do much justice.

But luckily I have a Playstation 3 (HDMI!) that I can use to fully demonstrate the glory of a monitor this size.

Wipeout HD is one of the best examples of 1080p goodness. All textures were very detailed, and lines were sharp as a knife.

Over the past month, this monitor has brightened up my room and has made the most out of my new console. Playing games and watching movies in full 1080p resolution looked amazing and really impressed any guests I had over. There was no apparent ghosting that I could see. The built-in speakers are very convenient if you have limited desk space, but are not very good due to the small 1.5W drivers, but most gamers use headphones or dedicated speakers.

One gripe I had was the control panel. The touch activated controls sometimes feel unresponsive, although the monitor beeps when a button is pressed which helps a bit. Actual buttons would have been a better choice.

Page 8 : Conclusion

The 2463UW has been a blast due to its sheer size and list of great features. By including great features like speakers, microphone, and webcam, this monitor is great for web chatting and conferences. With HDMI input, a very large variety of video electronics can be used such as HD cable boxes, Blu-ray players, and current-gen consoles.

The panel looks great, with 20 000:1 dynamic contrast, and 5ms response time, gamers can be assured a great time. The price tag is something to scoff at, especially in these troubling economic times, but the quality panel you get is well worth the money. Anyone in the market for a 24 inch monitor or a small TV solution, the 2463UW deserves a good look.

Advantages

• Resistant to scratching, anodized body, factory installed screen protector

• Microphone and webcam
• Built-in speakers
• HDMI input
• Good overall panel image quality

Disadvantages

• Touch panel sometimes unresponsive

• Premium Price

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