Hardware NEC MultiSync EA231WMi Review

...the step up from a standart 4:3 19" 1280x1024 to a 16:9 1920x1080 is actually a step down in real screen size (vertically).
The step to 16:10 1920x1200 is visible, and the 176 more pixels stows a taskbar easily.

16:9 is just the industry selling you TV-panels as a monitor, when working it's vertical size that counts as well.

I've drawn it up for the popular formats, if someone tells me how to put an image (60kb) here as I don't have webspace to link from.

Anyone checked the Samsung 2443BW or the LG W2452TX?

 

You can upload pictures to BT using your User CP > Pictures & Albums.

 

Thanks! I hope linking to a picture in "pictures and Album" works

So here's the picture:

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=655&pictureid=7563

Comparison of:

• 19" 5:4 1280x1024
• 22" 16:10 1680x1050
• 24" 16:9 1920x1080
• 24" 16:10 1920x1200

and just for the heck of it (rebranded TV's mostly, Samsung likes this size)

• 26" 16:9 1920x1080
• 26" 16:10 1920x1080

Xir

 

Looks like I'll have to go for a 26" then. Or maybe just get 24" and get used to it.

 

interesting picture xir thanks.

all we've established here is that there are two different schools of thought i reckon! as long as there are both types about to buy we'll be ok but in a years time it'll be tough to get hold of a 16:10 monitor, which is a shame as less to the consumer doesnt really count as progress to me

 

I think im gonna buy 3... been waiting for a indepth review. Then I saw this my favorite review site does one on the one monitor pulling me away from TN's and its ready for 3 way Eyefinity with displayport! sold maybe start with 2 well see

 

Edit: Should have read the whole thread before posting. I think personally id spend the extra for a 24" although this monitor now comes into my list of possibles for my new dual monitor setup.

 

DisplayPort isn't a big deal to me because it's not on par with HDMI 1.4 until version 1.2 is used in products. Althought DisplayPort 1.2 got finalised in December 2009, products that use it probably won't be released until the later half of 2010.

 

Not going to dispute the figures attached, but check your aspect ratios... 5:4 what's that? Standard definition content uses a 4:3 aspect ratio.

By my reckoning, and bear with me it has been a few years since my maths A level, an old school 19 inch monitor has the same equivalent physical height ( 11.4 inches) as a (theoretical and afaik non-existent) 23.25 inch 16:9 screen or a 21.5 16:10 screen.

Obviously this has nothing to do with desktop real estate, that's purely down to resolution.

Frankly if the difference between 16:9 and 16:10 is that terrible, I'll happily accept charitable donations to replace my 4:3 19 incher, I mean, come-on, that's so 2005!

For the rest of us it means cheaper and more available panels, that can only be a good thing, the EA231WMi is a direct consequence of it.

 

I'd kill for a pair of good 4:3 21-23 inchers (1600x1200), but it seems that they've gone up in smoke over the past few years.

 

well...standart 19" is 1280x1024 right?
1280/1024=1.25
5/4=1.25
4/3=1.333...

But you're right, due to pixel sizes (or dot pitch) not beeing the same horizontally and vertically the 5/4 resolution gets used for 4/3 displays...
Just didn't want to bug people with the maths behind all this.
(why the hell doesn't excell do a proper inversed tangens? )

I noticed when getting a 19" 1280x1024 replaced with a 22" 1680x1050 (16:10) at work.
Also with a 15,4" 4:3 with a 15.6" widescreen notebook.

Vertical size of the new displays were in both cases lower. At a higher resolution of course.
Put them next to eachother, then work wit something like excell or powerpoint were all the bars are on top.

Sure if you're watching movies 1920x1080 will suffice, for working every pixel counts.

But I can see where the wind is blowing, 16:10 is the future.

 

Hi,


Yes this monitor comes in a black model aswell.

http://www.pcbuyit.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=870

Many thanks Annika

 

Another good review on this monitor listed on TFT Central

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/nec_ea231wmi.htm

 

I rechecked, 1280x1024 is actually defined as 5:4, or 1.25:1
I think it's the only common screen to be in this aspectratio though.


http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/SXGA

 

Referring to computer monitors that are 1920x1080 res as 1080P is wrong and does the monitor a dis-service. In an ideal world it would just mean 1080 vertical pixels, implying 1920 horizontal ones, but its just a BS marketing term. I'll quote Wikipedia (groan) as whoever wrote that puts it better than I can...Mores the point its a broadcast term. I mean who refers to a 1600x1200 monitor as 1200p ? Huh ?

"The meaning of 1080p as a display resolution is not correct because in fact 1920x1200/1920x1080 displays may or may not be able to display 1080p video. Use of 1080p and the closely related 1080i labels in consumer products may refer to a range of capabilities. For example, video equipment that upscales to 1080p takes lower resolution material and reformats it for a higher resolution display. The image that results is different from the display of original 1080p source material on a native 1080p capable-display. Similarly, equipment capable of displaying both 720p and 1080i may in fact not have the capability to display 1080p or 1080i material at full resolution. It is common for this material to be downscaled to the native capability of the equipment. The term "native 1080p-capable" is sometimes used to refer to equipment capable of rendering 1080p fully."

 

Indeed considering the response time of 14ms where nowadays TN have 2ms it cleary should have been something that is noticeable in the video tests.

 

Does anybody know if an xbox 360 can be connected to the NEC Multisync EA231WMi either by an hdmi to dvi cable or hdmi to displayport cable? I have read that hdmi to displayport cables only work if the source is displayport and the monitor is hdmi - so I assume that displayport will not work with xbox 360/ NEC monitor. Note: I would prefer not to use the xbox 360 vga cable, to keep all connections digital.

If the xbox 360 was connected by hdmi to dvi cable (assuming this works). I would then connect the pc with a displayport to displayport cable. Would audio be transferred to the monitor speakers from the pc, over the displayport cable? PC graphics card is ATI HD5450.

Any help much appreciated, as the answers to these questions will decide whether I go for the NEC monitor or Samsung XL2370. So far I am preferring the NEC for the adjustable stand, viewing angles/ panel quality - but the Samsung has hdmi, making xbox connection easy.

 

Seems great, but what about backlight bleed, image retention, and dead/stuck pixels? I had terrible luck with NEC screens in the past.