Official BenQ FP241W Thread !!! Info, Pictures, Reviews

Thanks for taking the time, DangerIsGo.

My understanding is that, in those pictures, the monitor is never introducing any borders itself. Any borders that we can see are part of the actual DVD movie, and get scaled up accordingly.

..basically, the "worst" case scenario for those that are concerned about scaling issues. :eek:
 
happycat said:
..basically, the "worst" case scenario for those that are concerned about scaling issues. :eek:
Click to expand...
well how would a 360 react. Doesnt look that bad in worse case anyway
 
I'm so glad thats over. Now I hope everyone doesn't start whinning about how it should do this or it shouldn't do that.Benq did what they did and it does what it does and if you have problems with that then this monitor is not for you. Take the tiime you were going to spend whinning and go find somthing that fufills your needs. Mite I suggest the Westinghouse LVM-37W3 37" It's big, it has tons of inputs and it does nun of those things the naughty old benq does ;)
 
Thank you DangerIsGo for your time.
A huge disappointment !!! It's another monitor with useless analog inputs. What a shame for you BenQ. The biggest advertisment hype, Full HD 1080p support, what a joke :mad: The same 1080p support is with 244T and 2407FPW. I've been waiting so long for nothing.
I think, we customers should ban this monitor, otherwise they won't learn anything.
 
ToastyX said:
The black bars are in the DVD. Most movies are wider than 16:9.

All of the images look like 4:3 being stretched to 16:10 to me.
Click to expand...

Agreed. This is no surprise as he said his PS2 did the same. Unless you have an up converting DVD player it should put out a standard definition NTSC signal, just like the PS2.

Now, in some PS2 games you can go into the settings and set it to wide screen mode. That still puts out the exact same signal, except its scaled internally in the PS2, then when its stretched onto a wide screen monitor its back to its proper aspect.
 
IsaacS said:
Clearly you have NO idea what you are talking about. Benq is NOT using a Samsung panel, but an AU Optronics panel.
Click to expand...
On AUO product page 24" WUXGA panel doesn't exist.
BenQ USA is describing the monitor as 24.0" WUXGA
Samsung has two 24" WUXGA panels for sale, PVA and S-PVA
Originally I got my info at this site Prad.de
I did e-mail BenQ "Service & Support" and hope to get the answer soon.
No idea why it's not in the specs.
Daggah said:
I think you missed the point, basher. The Dell monitor is not defective. It is not perfect but not being perfect does not a defective product make.
Click to expand...
Yes I'm sorry I did miss the point, it would have help if you did mention the monitor isn't perfect.
Also every day my English is getting a little better, today I learned to call products that don't perform as promoted "not perfect". :)
 
paviko said:
Thank you DangerIsGo for your time.
A huge disappointment !!! It's another monitor with useless analog inputs. What a shame for you BenQ. The biggest advertisment hype, Full HD 1080p support, what a joke :mad: The same 1080p support is with 244T and 2407FPW. I've been waiting so long for nothing.
I think, we customers should ban this monitor, otherwise they won't learn anything.
Click to expand...

Um, what? ok.?

Anyways, Whoever said the black bars being too big was correct. They are almost double the size they should be. Theyre about 10% each side rather than 5% each side. Still, I am highly confident that a 1080p signal being inputted to this monitor will NOT stretch to the 16:10 AR but rather the correct 16:9. The only way it will stretch to the full 16:10 is if its full screen movie and no blu-ray or HDDVD movie is full, they are all wide. So as far as Full 1080p HD support, it is there and does accept it. I just wish I had an external 1080p source..but Im not gonna pay ANOTHER grande for one :p If someone wants to buy me one, id be open arms accepting one :p Any other questions?
 
DangerIsGo said:
1.78:1 (16:9) is the DVDs widescreen aspect ratio
Click to expand...
Can you check the tv settings in the DVD player set up menu? If its set to widescreen, and the DVD is 1.78:1 (16:9), then it should be either fullscreen on the BenQ (if its stretching 16:9 -> 16:10), or (ideally) small black bars at the top or the bottom (no more than about 5%).

Those screenshots look like the DVD was setup for a 4:3 TV, so it is showing 4:3 video as fullscreen, and 16:9 video as letterbox.
 
It wouldn't matter. If it was set to 16:9, it'd still be stretched to 16:10.
 
ToastyX said:
It wouldn't matter. If it was set to 16:9, it'd still be stretched to 16:10.
Click to expand...

That's really unfortunate, especially given how the BenQ has been advertised as *the* multimedia monitor, and now we find that it can't even handle 16:9 content properly.
 
Its what you call a $15 DVD player I got on sale at best buy....theres really not many options to it. I could not find anything releated in the menu to that. Sorry. Even if it was for a 4:3 TV and shrunk to 16:9, the measurements work as a 1080p signal would have been stretched to its correct 16:9 AR, rather then shrunk to approx 16:8.

I just cant wait till someone has a blu-ray player, hooks it up to this, and finds that it really *DOES* support the full 1080p as advertised.

I have a component out to my video card, if I display a TV rip of pure HD, would that help or no? Would you guys rather have an HDDVD/blu-ray player?
 
Oh, it would support 1080p alright, it would just be distorting the image by stretching it.

This lack of aspect ratio scaling functionality is really, really disappointing, and in my mind, unless it's fixed, it would totally rule out the FP241W.
 
ToastyX said:
It wouldn't matter. If it was set to 16:9, it'd still be stretched to 16:10.
Click to expand...
Thats exactly what we're trying to determine. We've not seen any proof yet that this is the case.

There was an asian review linked earlier in this thread, where the screenshots all showed the correct aspect ratio, which obviously included small black bars to accomodate the difference between 16:9 and 16:10.
 
DangerIsGo said:
Still, I am highly confident that a 1080p signal being inputted to this monitor will NOT stretch to the 16:10 AR but rather the correct 16:9.
Click to expand...
I doubt it. Surely it's clear from the way 4:3 gets mangled that they are not concerned with treating non-PC sources properly.
 
Thanks for your good info dangerisgo. I am disappointed in all the flaming and jumping to conclusions in this thread. Although I am a new member I have lurked on hardforums for years. This thread in particular helped me make the decision to buy the benq over the dell 2407. Back when the thread was 100ish responses it was a useful source of information. I realize that there are alot of anxious people waiting for a GOOD review of the product but all the flaming and whining going on aren't helping.

That said, my benq is waiting to be boxed by newegg and unless they take columbus day off, I should be getting mine tuesday afternoon according to past newegg delivery experiences. I would be happy to help fill in the gaps in dangerisgo's input testing. I'll be testing the inputs with the following gear and posting the pictures. Let me know if there is anything people would like to see (have an avia disk so i can get patterns up on the analog inputs).

native via x800xl over dvi and rgb

720p/1080i motorola cablebox -- HDCP dvi and hdmi (via dvi-hdmi converter), analog (not sure what it gets scaled down to) component, composite and svideo

540p over samsung dvd player -- not 100% on inputs but should have component, composite and svideo.

720p/1080i? xbox360 over component. have the analog cables too but unless there is an overwhelming desire to see those inputs I'm only doing component.

The idea is to be able to end all the flaming and misinformation. I will post with no stretching each time if the option is available on the OSD. I also have the following gear if there is any interest: xbox with component cables, gamecube with composite/svideo, etc. I have alot of gear just ask if you would like to see something else, I'll see if I can accomidate.
 
I have a component out to my video card, if I display a TV rip of pure HD, would that help or no?
Click to expand...
Yeah, that could be useful.

Do you know if you're able to set the component out to 1080i (or 1080p for that matter)? It would be useful to know what happens when you do this.
 
happycat said:
I doubt it. Surely it's clear from the way 4:3 gets mangled that they are not concerned with treating non-PC sources properly.
Click to expand...
I think thats because the DVD player he was using was configured for output to a 4:3 display, which explains why 4:3 was stretched to fullscreen, and also explains the larger than expected blackbars on 16:9 content.
 
But isn't a 4:3 DVD (the last test) being outputted at 4:3 a prime instance of where the monitor should intelligently scale? 4:3 to full screen is the situation where most damage would happen, and it does.
 
happycat said:
But isn't a 4:3 DVD (the last test) being outputted at 4:3 a prime instance of where the monitor should intelligently scale? 4:3 to full screen is the situation where most damage would happen, and it does.
Click to expand...
No, I dont think so - though I'm not really an expert in what goes on with these analog signals in a digital panel. As analog signals, I dont think Svideo/Composite carry any information about the shape and resolution picture - they're always either NTSC or PAL resolution, and contain no info about widescreen vs standard. Component can obviously carry some info about the resolution since its capable of multiple resolutions. HDMI/DVI carries full digital information about this stuff.

I just checked and I get the same behaviour with my Fujitsu 42" plasma when I use component cables, and have the DVD player setup for 4:3 - I get black bars added to the top and the bottom of a widescreen DVD. I cant tell you about 4:3 DVDs since I dont own any.
 
I'm not certain on that either. So, I dunno. :)

Actually, why can't the tests just be done with a PC?

4:3 compliance test - set PC to output 1024x768 over VGA or DVI, disable nvidia driver's centered output if applicable - what happens?
16:9 compliance test - set PC to output 1920x1080 over VGA or DVI, disable nvidia driver's centered output if applicable - what happens?
 
happycat said:
Actually, why can't the tests just be done with a PC?

4:3 compliance test - set PC to output 1024x768 over VGA or DVI, disable nvidia driver's centered output if applicable - what happens?
Click to expand...
No consumer device would typically produce this type of signal (specifically that resolution), so its probably not a great test.

Connecting the svideo out from PC video card to the TV, setting the videocard tv out settings for a widescreen TV, then playing in a decent DVD player live PowerDVD should be a decent test of 4:3 compliance - but its probably easy to just test it on a standalone DVD player with the tv type set to 16:9, rather than messing around with the PC.

16:9 compliance test - set PC to output 1920x1080 over VGA or DVI, disable nvidia driver's centered output if applicable - what happens?
Click to expand...
Yeah, testing 1920x1080 via PC for both DVI (digital) and component (analog 1080i) would be decent tests.
 
I cannot get 1920x1080 resolution added to the nvidia control panel..it says custom resolution cannot be added.
 
In my spare time, I develop a HTPC app called GB-PVR (see www.gbpvr.com), so my interest is really wanting to update to a great monitor for both software development, and for testing home theatre stuff, video, DVD playback etc. This monitor sounds so close, but this aspect ratio stuff is the kicker for me.
 
Anyone know how to get 1920x1080 to output? I tried ultramon and it doesnt give me that option for my monitor, and if i tried nvidias panel ti says cant add custom resolution.
 
Well, I was able to output 1920x1080 via PC...and nope..its stretched to fill...very odd.
 
Anyone know how to get 1920x1080 to output? I tried ultramon and it doesnt give me that option for my monitor, and if i tried nvidias panel ti says cant add custom resolution.
Click to expand...
I think that is a problem with newer nvidia drivers. I got that message when trying to add 1280x960 recently, but it could be added fine in the past.
 
That doesn't sound good. This monitor even on the PC cant be used at its native resolution. If you cant add the native resolution to the nvidia control panel. Doesn't an LCD work best at native resolution for games.

Why would benq make a monitor that a videocard cant support at its native resolution?
 
I have the BenQ FP241W currently on my shopping cart in Newegg, priced at $799 with $16 shipping, making it just $45 more expensive than the Sony SDM-P234 I was planning on getting.

That $45 is buying me a slimmer Bezel, HDMI inputs(HDCP compliant) and an inch thicker so I guess its a good purchase.

Should I pull the trigger?

One thing I have to ask though, why is everyone fretting over this TFT anyway?
 
By the way, i plan on doing image editing and web development, as well as video and 3d creationg mixed with some gaming and internet use.
 
Of course it can use its native resolution of 1920x1200.

1080p is a lower resolution (1920x1080).

Well, I was able to output 1920x1080 via PC...and nope..its stretched to fill...very odd.
Click to expand...
Disappointing.. does that confirm what has been said all along?
 
Maybe it only accepts full 1080p over HDMI? I dont have a DVI-> HDMI cable so I cant test that theory. No, just the desktop @ 1080p..1920x1080
 
Sorry to bother you DangerIsGo, but could you review the question I posted a few messages ago. Im about ready to order and would really appreciate your input on whether I should go ahead with the BenQ or stick with the Sony SDM-P234?
 
Ok, here are pictures of it vs a CRT. Theres approximately .04ms lag between the two which is pretty good:

http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input1.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input2.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input3.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input4.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input5.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input6.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input7.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input8.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input9.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input10.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input11.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input12.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input13.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input14.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input15.jpg
http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/input16.jpg

Some are hard to see, others are pretty easy.

As far as your question goes, I dont know anything about the sony. I dont know anything about the sony monitors..eg how good they are, input lag, banding etc. About this one? Once you customize the colors, everything looks really pretty.

The stock standard has RGB on the low side (3-4/10) so when you first turn it on your probably like ew, but leavning at user defined for me (5/10 for all) looks nice. They also have reddish and bluish which i find pointless. The Movie mode looks too glossy (its not a glossy panel but the way the colors are makes it look glossy and reddish..i dont like it. As does the dynamic mode, but with pre-set less brightness. The photo mode has some better settings than the other 2, but its not as good I find than with standard mode. With the 3 predefined modes, youcannot change the colors or the sharpness, just the brightness and contrast. On standard yiou can change all that.

BTW, you CANNOT change saturation, hue, or tint. I was mistaken as I stated before. I thought you could but as i looked through the OSD again, you cannot. I shall take pics of each mode:

My view (That I like): http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/myview.jpg
Movie (On the reddish side) http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/movie.jpg
Dynamics (also on the reddish side) http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/dynamics.jpg
Photo (less red but still not the best): http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/photo.jpg
Stock (the worst colors) http://web.njit.edu/~ddo3/monitor/standardstock.jpg
 
it.com.cn review also has screens of it playing the "Fifth Element" in 1080p, which is a Blu-Ray release. It could be either hooked up to a BR player via HDMI, or it could be an internal PC drive playing it through a media player as someone said.

http://it.flash920.com/f/diy/069/4/319982_13.htm

^ The 1080p example on that page.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top