TFT Technology Breakdown and Model/Panel Index

LCD Panel Technology Type and Characteristics

TN film (Twisted Nematic)
- low manufacturing/retail costs
- restrictive viewing angles
- fast pixel response times
- dead pixels display white. Stuck pixels display RGB colors
- lower contrast levels means blacks are not as dark as VA based panels
- lower color reproduction

IPS (In Plane Switching)
- improved viewing angles over TN
- very good color reproduction
- slower pixel response times than TN
- dead pixels display black
- lower contrast levels means blacks are not as dark as VA based panels

Super-IPS (S-IPS)
- same as IPS except ...
- likely best color reproduction of all TFT
- less expensive to produce than IPS
- improved pixel response

VA (Vertical Alignment) Technologies

MVA (Multidomain Vertical Alignment)
- compromise between TN and IPS technologies
- superior color reproduction over TN but not as good as IPS
- very good viewing angles but less than IPS
- higher contrast than TN or S-IPS means very good blacks
- dead pixels are black
- slower pixel response than TN or IPS
- details can be lost when directly viewing dark areas

Premium-MVA (P-MVA)
- same as MVA except ...
- "overdrive" technology increases pixel response but still slower than TN
- may have slightly degraded color reproduction due to "overdrive" process

PVA (Patterned VA)
- same as MVA except ...
- larger viewing angles
- higher contrast levels means darkest blacks

Super-PVA (S-PVA)
- same as PVA except ...
- “Magic Speed” (the Samsung equivalent to Overdrive) improves pixel response
- slightly improved color reproduction
- slightly improved viewing angles

Purchasing Considerations

TN Gamers
Considered a "gamers" panel due to it's fast pixel response times which reduces trailing images know as "ghosting". However, this advantage has been reduced by new technologies to accelerate pixel response times in other panel types. Colors and contrast tend to be weak and blacks are not truly dark. Viewing angles are significantly limited. However, monitors based on this technology tend to be inexpensive.

IPS / S-IPS Graphics Work or Web Browsing
Considered to have the best color reproduction of all panel types, these panels are well suited for graphics work or web browsing. Pixel response time is also good but slower than the TN "gamers" panel. Contast and blacks are also less dark than VA panels but viewing angles are excellent.

MVA / P-MVA / PVA / S-PVA Compromise for All-Around Use
These panels are a compromise between the fast pixel response times of the TN panel and the excellent color reproduction of the IPS panels. Contrast and blacks are best of all the panel types. Viewing angles are similar but slightly inferior to IPS.


Model/Panel Index


Acer
Acer AL1951Cs - 19" TN Film
Acer AL1916ws - 19" WS TN Film
Acer AL2016ws - 20" WS Chunghwa Picture Tubes TN Film
Acer AL2032wa - 20" WS AU Optronics P-MVA (M201EW01 V0) OR LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201W01)

BenQ
BenQ FP202W - 20" WS Chunghwa Picture Tubes TN Film

Dell
Dell 1905FP - 19" Samsung PVA (LTM190E4-L02) or AU Optronics P-MVA (M190EN03 V0)
Dell 1907FP - 19" TN Film
Dell 2001FP - 20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U04)
Dell 2005FPW - 20" WS LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201W01)
Dell 2007WFP - 20" WS LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201W01)
Dell 2007FP - 20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U04)
Dell 2405FPW - 24" WS Samsung PVA (LTM240M1-L01)
Dell 2407WFP - 24" WS Samsung S-PVA (LM201W01)
Dell 3007WFP - 30" WS LG.Philips S-IPS (LM300W01)

Gateway
Gateway FPD2185W - 21" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM210M2)

HP
HP F2105 - 21" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM210M2)

Hyundai
Hyundai L90D+ - 19" Samsung TN (LTM190EX-L01)

NEC
NEC LCD20WGX2 - 20" LG.Philips AS-IPS (LM201W01)

Sceptre X20G Naga II 16ms 20" P-MVA
Sceptre X20G Naga II - 20" WS P-MVA

Samsung
Samsung 930B - 19" Samsung TN Film
Samsung 940B - 19" Samsung TN Film
Samsung 940T - 19" Samsung PVA (LTM190E4)
Samsung 940MW - 19"WS Samsung TN Film (LTM190M2)
Samsung 204B - 20" Samsung TN Film (LTM201UX)
Samsung 215TW - 21" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM210M2)
Samsung 244T - 24" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM240M2)

ViewSonic
ViewSonic VA1912W - 19" WS Chi Mei Optoelectronics TN Film (M190A1)
ViewSonic VP912B - 19" AU Optronics TN Film (M190EN04 V1)
Viewsonic VX922 - 19" AU Optronics TN Film (M190EN04)
Viewsonic VX924 - 19" AU Optronics TN Film (M190EN04 V5)
ViewSonic VP920 - 19" TN Film
ViewSonic VP930 - 19" AU Optronics P-MVA (M190EG01 V0)
ViewSonic VA1912W - 19" WS Chi Mei Optoelectronics TN Film (M190A1)
ViewSonic VA2012WB - 20" WS Chunghwa Picture Tubes TN Film
ViewSonic VX2025WM - 20" WS AU Optronics P-MVA (M201EW01 V0)


Much information gathered from TFT Central. Please visit their excellent site for detailed information on TFT technology and manufacturer models.

great sticky!

oh cool

thanks for the info

Great information! This definitely deserves the sticky.

Are you sure about the Samsung 930b and 940b? The viewing angles and contrast ratio seem to high to be a TN...

Originally Posted by Unknown-One

Are you sure about the Samsung 930b and 940b? The viewing angles and contrast ratio seem to high to be a TN...

yeah, both are listed as 700:1 contrast ratio and 160/160 viewing angles, but this is Samsung's 8ms LTM190EX-L01 TN Film panel as used in a large numer of their range and in other models too (Samsung 913N, 920N, Hyundai L90D+ etc)

NEC
NEC LCD20WGX2 - 20" LG.Philips AS-IPS (LM201W01)

whats the difference between AS-IPS and S-IPS

AS-IPS is "Advanced Super In Plane Switching", but S-IPS is "Super In Plane Switching". It's just an extension of the same technology but a new generation with a new name.

Hate to burst the bubble, but it seems the site you linked has very little hands on and relies on other sites reviews to make its desicions. I would recommend anyone wanting to buy an LCD look around oin the [H] forums, plenty of users have posted their experience over time with hands on.
I know my reliance on the reviews I read led me to a certtain choice and after some hands on I changed it...
I can also say that there is no substitue to actually seeing the LCD in use before you buy it(if possible). Good luck to anyone looking for a new LCD!!
And as I said, read forums and Newegg User reviews and even PM users here if you want the most info possible b4 you spend your cash.

Originally Posted by Badd

AS-IPS is "Advanced Super In Plane Switching", but S-IPS is "Super In Plane Switching". It's just an extension of the same technology but a new generation with a new name.

I'm not sure about this, but I think AS-IPS is a buzzword for a S-IPS display that has extra electronic gimmickry to boost contrast ratios based on colors present in the scene, and perhaps use pixel overcharging as well to achieve slightly better response times.

Originally Posted by placebo

I'm not sure about this, but I think AS-IPS is a buzzword for a S-IPS display that has extra electronic gimmickry to boost contrast ratios based on colors present in the scene, and perhaps use pixel overcharging as well to achieve slightly better response times.

oh, it's very much a marketing word certainly. The panels are still based around S-IPS panel technology, and the AS-IPS terminology seems to be so far exclusively used by NEC. It might be their way of identifying their "boosted" range. LG.Philips have developed their next gen of S-IPS as well, called Enhanced S-IPS. At the end of the day, there's a lot of different names floating about. fundamentally the panels are IPS underneath

what about adding the Acer AL2416W and AL2423W to the monitor list?

Nice work a good guide for the many newbs on this forum.

Time to update sticky with new info.

Originally Posted by LostStorm

Time to update sticky with new info.

I agree, this is great info I had no idea it was here but I would like to see additonal monitors listed as well as the LG l204wt

full panel database can be found here: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/, but might be worth updating the sticky itself at some point too

According to the Egg Samsung has a new 22" widescreen LCD the SAMSUNG 225BW. It also lists it as a TN LCD. Also it seems a bunch of new 1680x1050 panels are around the corner from Acer, Sceptre (which has HDMI and a claimed 1200:1 contrast ratio!!) and all seem to be TN, but I am not sure about the Sceptre.

kool

damn it, i bought a 1907FP without reading this. The TN blows compared to my 2001FP.