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BenQ FP71G+ Review
[Abstract]
IntroducitonBenQ's aggressive LCD marketing has seen them out with the first ever LCD monitor to bear an 8ms rating for pixel response time. Since the gaming industry is basically the one pushi...
[Content] PCDigitalMobileGame
Speed Is Not An Issue
Overall, the BenQ FP71G+ maintained true to the performance we last saw with the FP71E+. The major difference was that the reddish hue that permeated everything in the FP71E+ was thankfully missing. However, in a direct contrast, the monitor took on a cooler cast. While this can go unnoticed for general use, video playback will take on a slightly bluish tint, even at 'Normal' (6500K) temperature settings. We had to choose a much warmer setting of 'Reddish' (5800K) to bring up the red levels.
Once we had the monitor calibrated to our liking, we found that the display was excellent as an all round workhorse. The FP71G+ managed to perform well in most of the DisplayMate tests, and was able to render sharp images with very good clarity. The monitor was even able to maintain display quality at interpolated resolutions, something the FP71E+ was terrible at. Working with general desktop suites like office and Internet productivity was pleasant as the monitor did not exhibit overly sharp text and images that would otherwise look glaring to the eye. As an 8ms LCD panel, it also fits the bill for gaming and entertainment purposes. Considering most users will have discreet speakers, the streamlined design of the FP71G+ makes the monitor look and play better without the distracting 'frills' of the multimedia version (FP71E+).
However, the monitor was not designed to compete directly with their own FP71E+. The BenQ FP71G+ variant is stripped down in features that may make more demanding users reconsider. The biggest being the lack of DVI support. The problem with the FP71G+ is that the analog quality isn't the best we've seen. While the results were still commendable, it can't match the quality seen on the Samsung 710N, a similar analog-only LCD we've reviewed recently. Close scrutinization revealed that light beat patterns persisted even after auto-calibration. The BenQ FP71G+ is a great all rounder for general use, but moir?effects and unsteady beat patterns will become irritating if your screen is displaying dithered patterns. Moreover, this is also slightly perceptible in certain movie segments.
The BenQ FP71G+, a great mainstream monitor with fast response and decent image quality. |
Being the first manufacturer to release an 8ms LCD monitor, BenQ essentially had free reign with pricing of the FP71E+. However, as 8ms monitors started to emerge out of the woodwork, BenQ felt the squeeze and has promptly slashed their initial pricing to remain competitive. This is of course all well and good for the consumers as the FP71E+ is now being retailed for S$599, a far cry from their original S$799 price tag. With the new pricing model, the FP71G+ sibling is being retailed for a sweet deal at S$529.
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