Hardware NEC MultiSync 24WMGX3 24" widescreen LCD

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/10/23/nec-multisync-24wmgx3-24in-widescreen-lcd/1

We've looked at a lot of TN+Film 'gaming' monitors recently, but NEC has thrown that idea out of the window and put its own spin on the 24-inch widescreen gaming monitor. Today we look at the company's all-new MultiSync 24WMGX3 to see if its MVA panel can work wonders.

 

Apart from the remote, and the extra HDMI port -- this isn't all that impressive. The BenQ FP241W that Bit-Tech reviewed over a year ago had similar/better specs than this monitor and I bought it a year ago for $800 CDN. So what's so great about this monitor? Nothing really imo. It's just a "solid performer" -- but then again, there's quite a few of those out there already. This is one of those "Oh cool, that's a good quality LCD but meh" kinda deal.

The price tag is a kick in the bean-bag though. $1200? Ouch.

 

It's a good quality monitor and probably an equal to the BenQ in terms of image quality - it's a long time since we looked at that display though. We reviewed the BenQ almost 2 years ago now and I'd still recommend that above this to be honest - I'm seriously thinking of getting one for myself, frankly. Had we been scoring back in November 2006, the BenQ FP241W would have come very close to straight 10s because it was simply an amazing product at the time - well ahead of anything else out there.

The price is definitely a kicker, you're right, but I don't think it'd be as expensive as you're suggesting in North America, because the UK price quoted includes tax. I'd imagine it'd less than $900 before tax and, in Canada, it'll be around $1050 CAD.

 

kinda with jasio and bit tech on this one really. i like the addition of the remote though, that is a nice idea and as for looks, its the nicest lcd monitor i've seen but will not tempt me at that price. i'll wait a month, save a little extra and buy a 30" dell or something instead as for my screen estate buck the larger moniter is better money....especially seen as my cheap 2nd lcd is on the fritz, time for sell the 20.1" dell and move to something bigger, not this new nec though.

peace

fatman

 

WTF!!!!!......£600+ and you dont even get a Portrait mode.

If your into 2d vertical shooters with MAME like me, Portrait mode is a must....

 

Yeah seriously. What's up with the LCD market lately? I bought the BenQ FP241W (with 1x1 pixel mapping fix Rev 1.1) -- and then bought a second one a few months later ($800 for the first one, $700 for the second). The FP241W is dead -- discontinued and replaced with a cheap, crappy TN+Film 24" ... no more fancy pants AU Optronics panel anymore But what can I say? I am THRILLED with the BenQ even after over a year of ownership. I have my TV, PS3, 2 desktops and a laptop plugged in (via DVI-KVM switch).

If you can buy one Tim, then I wouldn't think twice: I'd pick up a third one if I could honestly (I'd find a use for it...). After using the 20.1" Dell's for 2 years I never expected the move to the 24" BenQ to be *that* dramatic. Even if the Viewsonic is around $1000 in Canada -- that's still more then I spent on the BenQ almost 2 years ago, that's what really sucks. Looking at 20"/22" panels, they are a lot cheaper the jump to 24" is still fairly drastic price wise.

I'm also a little skeptical of Viewsonic's quality at times -- I've had 2 Viewsonic LCD's in the past a 17" and a 19" and both died a long time ago (one just stopped working -- the backlight on the other one is toast). Both monitors were no more than 2.5 years old.

I've yet to be "Wow'ed" by ANY LCD after the BenQ (expect for that 30" PVA Panel NEC -- heh).

 

most likey be $800-900 due to beening UK as we are

nice monitor tho

 

Hmm, I wouldn't mind something bigger after my 20WGX2, and this looks pretty sweet, but I guess if you can afford to pay that kind of money for a 24", you might as well go the whole hog and get the 30" NEC that was reviewed here a while back. The price of this model doesnt really surprise me. I got my 20" NEC 20WGX2 from dabs for £385 in November 2006. Not exactly cheap, but compared to the Viewsonic VX2235, it smoked the latter.

 

Thanx for review

However I really missed a backlight bleed photo and some propper calibration results.

The two most concerning findings:

"Finally, we evaluated the display's viewing angles – this was where the first 24WMGX3 we received fell flat, because our first viewing angle test looked horrendous. It was more representative of a TN+Film panel than it was of something MVA-based – the red surface test shifted from pink to red with the monitor directly in front of us."

Never heard of of a panel fault like this before

"the 24WMGX3's darker ends of the eight colour scales weren't quite as dark as they were on the 2690WUXi, but they were pretty close."

Strange the MVA panel should easily be able to beat the 2690WUXi in deep blacks. The 2690WUXi is in no way especially good in this area

 

You haven't mentioned compatibility with the VESA standard mounting system.

 

Colours are 8bpc?

 

? I can still buy it in Germany? Or is this the same name with a different panel?

 

yep, it's an 8bpc panel

 

Benq have stopped making them. If you see them for sale they are stock that hasn't been sold. At least that's what the BenQ rep told me.

 

Good, I guess there's no dithering then. 6bpc dithering doesn't look good. Though it's not easily noticeable but somehow - colors doesn't look "allright".

 

Discontinued. Different model, and they use a TN+Film panel again (cheap). The FP241W had an AU Optronics PVA panel, which is why it was such an amazing performing monitor -- and a steal at the price. Unfortunately, AU Optronics doesn't offer this model of PVA panel anymore either. It didn't necessary have to be BenQ pulling the plug -- could have been AU.

 

Still sold as "FP241W" here...doesn't say what panel though... f
Found one shop that says TN, and one that says MVA...and 5 Shops that don't say anything ;-)

 

I think all of the remaining MVA-based FP241Ws are in the UK

 

Got this monitor today. So far, nothing special. Image quality doesn't wow me. Not so sure I'm happy with what I spent on this. HMDI ports are good, allows me to use a FreeView Digital Set Top Box, but even then, image quality just isn't so good. Not so sharp, not so anything. Oh, and 5 dead pixels and one of them is quite a large one too, so probably 4 to 6 dead pixels grouped into one meaning I'm probably knocking on the door of 8 plus dead pixels.

Before buying I was going by reviews, specs of what panel types to go for plus other specs to make sure I get the right one. I looked at all sorts, even in shops and all I saw was rubbish, blurry images, no crispness, nothing pure like a CRT. If you're used to LCD, you'll probably think they're good.

Took me a long time to find an LCD monitor that may have convinced me that LCD can do it over CRT. In short, they can't. I'm going to try and return this and go for an all out top notch CRT if they're still available to replace my aging 21" NEC Multisync 6FG which has been brilliant for years, just now the tube is aging leaving me with soft milky images. I have a pin sharp 19" NEC elsewhere, but need higher resolutions.