BenQ FP791 review

Playing games and watching films used to be the exclusive realm of CRT monitors. TFTs with their slow response times, lack of brightness and poor colour reproduction didn't perform well enough to be considered a viable option. Not any more. BenQ's 17in SXGA FP791 brings a super-fast 16ms response time to the UK.

The 16ms figure refers to the time it takes for a screen to turn from a uniform white to black and back again. Previously, such speeds were only achieved using lower colour depths, but BenQ has managed to keep 16 million colours on display. The end result is that the bane of lag has been all but banished from TFTs, as we saw when we put this monitor to the test. Where games have previously shown a slight lag, the 16ms response time meant this screen's performance in our 3D games tests could match a CRT. However, we had to tweak the contrast levels on the graphics card to ensure the image was bright enough.

The fast response times, a brightness rating of 400cd/m2 and a claimed contrast ratio of 450:1 all contributed to a superb DVD-viewing experience, with virtually no ghosting. This TV-like performance should be no surprise, as BenQ is clearly targeting the leisure user with this monitor. Not only is there an integral set of speakers, which sound surprisingly good, but for an extra £75 (£88 inc VAT) you can buy BenQ's optional, external TV module from www.dabs.com

BenQ even makes an effort to build a monitor that will match your living room, although we're unconvinced that the 'curved design radiates the tone of today's modern lifestyle'. The multilayered black-and-silver bezel does possess a certain amount of panache, but the bezel is too thick for our tastes and ergonomically the stand could be better, with just a 20-degree vertical swivel range. Still, this wasn't a problem in practice.

An analog D-SUB cable is included in the package, but you'll have to fork out extra should you want to make use of the separate DVI-D port. This superior digital connection is well worth using, as it enabled the FP791 to sail through most of the DisplayMate tests. It scored good passes at almost every level, only struggling to reproduce the darker shades of some colours and failing the colour blending test due to banding. In analog mode, it scored a basic pass on every test.

BenQ adds some unique features to this display, albeit at the expense of some stalwarts. While there's no USB hub, there is an upstream USB port. This seems mysterious until you see the media card slots sitting snugly at the top of the display. These provide an easy way to transfer files to and from CompactFlash, SD/MMC and SmartMedia cards.

But that's not all. You can use this monitor independently of your PC as a digital picture frame. Using the media card reader and the OSD, it's possible to view digital photographs and run slide shows away from your PC. You can even take the screen from its stand and hang it on the wall - a feature that benefits greatly from this enhanced TN+Film display's wide viewing angles.

We're also highly impressed by Simply's price of £395 plus VAT. This is £40 cheaper than the Eizo L565 (see issue 93, p118), which offers better colour performance but little more. If you want the most versatile screen on the market, choose the FP791.

Author: Nick Ross