Viewsonic VP201B 20.1" 16ms LCD Review

[sandman78]

Viewsonic VP201B "Mini-Review" by S@nDmAn

SPECIFICATIONS SUMMARY:

Specifications:

Panel Type: TFT active matrix UXGA LCD

Native Resolution: UXGA (1600 x 1200)

Pixel Pitch: 0.255 mm

Brightness: 250 cd/m2

Contrast Ratio: 400 : 1

Response Time: 16ms (typ)

View Angle: 176? / 176? (Horizontal / Vertical)

Input Connectors: 15-pin mini D-sub , DVI-I

Features: Ultra-slim 0.67" bezel; HDTV 720p ready; Pivot, height and wall-mount versatility

Dimensions & Weight: 17.6" x 18.9" x 10.5" (WxHxD) / 18.7 lbs

Manufacturer's Warranty / Phone No.: 3 years parts, labor and backlight / 800-688-6688[VP201B LINKS:u>[/b]b>

GamePC.Com Review<--Really good review of the VP201B

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=vp201b&page=1

Viewsonic VP201B Product Page

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/desktopd...oseries/vp201b/

Various VP201B Multi-Panel setups shown at Viewsonic's website:

http://www.viewsonic.com/multipanelsetup/

NewEgg

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc....-116-285&depa=0

ZipZoomFly.Com

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetai...ductCode=231772

(Free 2 Day Shipping)

Mwave.com

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA19579 [***There are actually two different models of the VP201. They are the exact same monitor, except the VP2Bu> has a black bezel and the VP2Su> has a silver bezel.***i>[/b]b>[QUICK POINTS:u>[/b]b>

Sorry for the delay in getting this review posted, but the main reason I waited was because I wanted a descent video card running the LCD. I just got my BFG 6800GT OC installed, and it along with the VP201B is simply AMAZING. One thing I want to get out of the way is that I DO NOT notice ?the screen door? effect. That?s not to say it?s not there, I just don?t see it. I also want to tell you that I am the most ?picky? person in the world. One hold up on the system I just built was that I went thru THREE different atx cases until I had the one I wanted. I actually went so far as to build the system in 2 of them. I first started with an Antec case (that I was going to use to get by until the new Silverstone came out, but ended up returning it), a Cooler Master Black Praetorian (still have it), a Silverstone ??too deepJ03-B (WAY to big, too deep actually, returned it for refund), and finally ended up using a black Cooler Master Wavemaster. So I hope that gives you an idea as to how ?picky? I am. If the VP201B was not up to ?par?, I would tell you in a second, and I would also already have 2 new monitors here trying them out to see which one I was going to go with.

When you open the box, you find that Viewsonic packaged the monitor very well and they have a screen protector covering the LCD. After you get all the packaging off, the first thing you notice is how good looking the monitor is. Even better than in the pictures. I have looked at MANY other LCD?s and I personally think that some of the manufacturers who try to have a ?ultra thin bezel? end up with monitors that are semi-cheap looking. The monitor comes out of the box with the monitor sitting about as high on the stand as possible. I was very happy to see that it would go down, because the screen was extended too high for me. You can adjust the monitor easily, and in all sorts of directions. The LCD comes with a DVI cable, Analog VGA cable, and a USB 2.0 Cable for the built in USB 2.0 hub.

The VP201B has a native resolution of 1600x1200, but it handles lower resolutions amazingly well. When I first powered on the PC and got the correct input, the monitor auto detected the resolution of the BIOS Screen, and optimized itself for that resolution. When it does this, you see a little ?wave? go thru the:Dcreen and then ?blink? it?s done. Pretty nifty :D. It also has a message that will pop up in the middle of the screen anytime you are not using a 1600x1200 resolution that tells you ?For best quality use a 1600x1200 Resolution.? It gives you the opportunity to disable that message, which I did. As far as settings go, I didn?t have to change one thing. Any setting you normally would change, it changes for you automatically!

The monitor?s quality is amazing. The desktop is so clear and the colors are very ?rich.? The colors on the screen almost look wet. One of the first things I did was pull up the [H] Forums, and the black and maroon color blew me away. It?s just something you have to see for yourself. I know some people are weary of using 1600x1200 because the last time they saw that res. it looked ?too small?, etc.. Well with the VP201B, you can see text, icons, half way across the room at 1600x1200. If you can?t, you don?t need to have your driver?s license. LOL

It takes about 5 seconds to install the driver off the CD, and I was impressed with all the features that were added in Display Properties. All the options to rotate the monitor are right there and easy to use. I don?t see myself ever using that feature, but at least it?s there if I ever want to.

The first FPS thing I ran on the monitor was 3DMARK 2001SE. I ran it first because I have seen it so many times on CRT monitors and I thought it would be something good to judge the quality, etc.. As soon as 3DMARK started, I was stunned. I couldn?t believe I was looking at an LCD. You almost want to take your hand and stick it behind the LCD to confirm that it is an LCD. I never saw any ghosting or any ?shadowing.? I installed Call of Duty and Far Cry next, and was anxious to have control of the movement, so I could TRY to make the thing ghost. No luck. I couldn?t get it to ghost at all. I ran all games at 1600x1200 with all settings at max. My new 6800GT was excellent. I would HIGHLY recommend this video card. It compliments the VP201B extremely well. I also ran Far Cry, Call of Duty, & Battle Field Vietnam at 1024 X 768 so I could see how "non-native" resolutions looked. The VP201B did an excellent job scaling to these resolutions. The qualityHere are a few PICS that I took with a 3 mega pixel camera. So the quality isn?t that great. There are links to 1600x1200 HIGH resolution versions under each picture. Beware of the links 56K users. links to 1600x1200 HIGH resolution versions under each picture. Beware of the links 56K users.

The following Pictures are of "Call of Duty", "Far Cry," and Unreal Tournament 2004. The UT2004 PICS were taken at "NON-NATIVE" resolutions.

CALL OF DUTY @ 1600x1200

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/vp1.jpg

CALL OF DUTY @ 1600x1200

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/vp2.jpg

FAR CRY @ 1600x1200

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/vp4.jpg

FAR CRY @ 1600x1200

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/vp5.jpg

FAR CRY @ 1600x1200

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/vp6.jpg

FAR CRY @ 1600x1200

HIGH RES--> This next section is PICs of UT2004 running at "Non-Native" Resolutions. I got a lot of requests to do this, because people wanted to know how well the VP201B scaled down to lower resolutions.[/u] this, because people wanted to know how well the VP201B scaled down to lower resolutions.

Because of all the requests and PMs requesting PICS at lower ?NON-NATIVE? resolutions, I installed UT2004 and took some. I took 3 pictures at every resolution. I did 3 resolutions total, consisting of: *800x600, *1024x768, & *1280x1024.

NON-NATIVE Resolution PICS:

UT2004 @ 800x600

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/800x6001.jpg

UT2004 @ 800x600

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/800x6002.jpg

UT2004 @ 800x600

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/800x6003.jpg

UT2004 @ 1024x768

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/1024x7681.jpg

UT2004 @ 1024x768

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/1024x7682.jpg

UT2004 @ 1024x768 ( Stupid BOT!! I'm trying to take some photos! :D)

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/1024x7683.jpg

UT2004 @ 1280x1024

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/1280x10241.jpg

UT2004 @ 1280x1024

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/1280x10242.jpg

UT2004 @ 1280x1024

HIGH RES--> http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/1280x10243.jpg

[/b]8.mystarband.net/vp201b/1280x10243.jpg"]http://sandman78.mystarband.net/vp201b/1280x10243.jpg

Like I mentioned above, all the photos were taken with a little 3 Megapixel camera. So it goes without saying that these photos don?t do the monitor justice. I resized the original pictures down to 1600x1200 for the ?High Res? links, and the small photos that you see here in the actual thread are only 400x300.

In conclusion, I couldn?t be happier with my purchase. I planned on going with a dual monitor setup, so I wanted to try this monitor out and see how I liked it before ordering the 2nd one. With that said, I will be placing my order for the 2nd one this week. Especially since I see the VP201B has dropped $100.00 in the past week, bringing the final price to $899.00 If you are looking for ?jaw dropping? quality and an overall AWESOME monitor, look no further than the VP201B. NOT?t go wrong with it.

I hope you found this "mini-review" helPlease understand that I am NOT<>NO this monitor is better than another monitor, etc...ht have made. Please understand that I am NOT saying this monitor is better than another monitor, etc... I just wanted to post this to help people who are interested in the VP201B and haven't seen much information for it. If I didS@nDmAnmething that you are interested in, please post what is and I will do what I can to help you out.

S@nDmAn

[SimplyPotatoes]

ill say the same i said there. good review.

[sandman78]

Wow, small world. (or small internet?):D Thanks.

[ANova]

Great monitor indeed. I just wish Viewsonic would make a widescreen version.

[ElaSTiC]

so how does this boy compare to the 2001FP? Do they use the same panel?

[uniacid]

so how does this boy compare to the 2001FP? Do they use the same panel?

it could be.... not totally sure

[+StevoFC MVC]

so how does this boy compare to the 2001FP? Do they use the same panel?

i don't think they do. i think the dell has a 600:1 contrast ratio, but i may be wrong.

[sandman78]

Here is a link to the thread over in the [H]ardOCP Forums---> http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=...04&page=1&pp=20 You all may want to check that out, because other people are buying this monitor and are posting in that thread.

so how does this boy compare to the 2001FP? Do they use the same panel?

I believe the Dell's made by BenQ and the Viewsonic's is made by LG. The QUOTE below is from when I did some digging and tried to answer the same question in the [H] Forums.

HERE IS A QUOTE FROM THE THREAD AT [H]

Yeah, that has been talked about here on the forums and on many other forums. Except the other day in a forum, someone posted that LG/Phillips makes the panel for the VP201 and that BenQ makes the 2001FP's panel. Your post reminded me of that, so I thought would do some digging and so far here is what I have come up with so far.

Anandtech reports in their review that the Dell 2001FP uses an lcd panel made by LG/Phillips model# LM201U04.

Here is a link to the Anandtech page that says the 2001FP uses an LG LM201U04 Panel.(a little below half way down page)--> http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=1918&p=2

HOWEVER, I went to Dell's site and searched forever and finally found some interesting information. DELL says that BenQ does in fact make the 2001FP. It even gives BenQ's address. Below is a link to the page that shows it.(the BenQ info. is under the "FCC Declaration of Conformity" section in the document) http://support.dell.com/support/edo...fp/en/tco99.htm

I also haven't found any information verifying who makes the panel in the VP201B, but everyone has believed the VP201B to have an LG lcd. I think I am going to email Anandtech and ask them how they came up with LG as the manufacturer of the 2001FP's lcd panel. It's just interesting that the user on the forum posted that "BenQ makes the lcd in the Dell", and then I find that BenQ info. at Dell's site. Does anyone know if BenQ and LG work together? I thought they were rivals, but I may be wrong. Anyway, I was bored and this got my interest. If I find any more info, I will post it.

BTW, this evening I will post some pics of games running at "non-native" resolutions. It will probably be sometime after 6:00.

***Here are links to both the VP201B and the DELL 2001FP's Specifications. You can open both in seperate windows and compare the specs. If they use the same lcd panel, the specs. should be the same. I think the viewing angles are different, but maybe you can find something I overlooked.

VP201B---> http://www.viewsonic.com/products/d...oseries/vp201b/

DELL 2001FP---> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...c=us&l=en&cs=19

note: I DID NOT post the 2001FP's SPECS to start a "VERSUS" thread.

[ANova]

i don't think they do. i think the dell has a 600:1 contrast ratio, but i may be wrong.

Negatory, they are both 400:1.

[+StevoFC MVC]

hmm yeah. i guess just my 19 is the 600:1

[sandman78]

This is off topic, but ANova where did you get that image in your sig? Is that something you made, or is it from a video game or something? That guy looks like he could cause some serious carnage.:D

[ANova]

This is off topic, but ANova where did you get that image in your sig? Is that something you made, or is it from a video game or something? That guy looks like he could cause some serious carnage.:D

That is Akuma from the Street Fighter series. And yes, yes he does.

[SonComet]

They both use the same lg panel. IBM also sells a monitor based on this panel. The dell is so attractive because of the price though.

[sandman78]

They both use the same lg panel. IBM also sells a monitor based on this panel. The dell is so attractive because of the price though.

Yeah, I found out that BenQ only assembles the Dell LCDs. So the Viewsonic and the Dell use the same panel. However, they said that every company can implement different "control technology" and display chips to control the panels. When I bought the Viewsonic, I paid $999 from NewEgg. NewEgg now has it listed at $869.00.

[ElaSTiC]

interesting. I just got my 2001FP last night and it's pretty fing sweet. If the panels are the same then generally they should be of the same quality no? The controls might have some effect, but I can't imagine it's much

[sandman78]

Congrats on the 2001FP!! Yeah, the quality on the two monitors should be same quality. But without seeing both, I can't say.

[ck2k01]

damn, im torn between these 2 monitors. the dell is about $100 cheaper, but the viewsonic looks so damn sleek. i just cant decide... but im sure ill be happy with either one i choose :woot:

[Kasteo]

I bought Viewsonic VP201B 20" at Monitorsdirect.com two weeks ago around $697. I just got it today. It's awesome, I love it. If you love a thin/slim look then this is a monitor for you.

[ck2k01]

howd u get it so cheap if you dont mind me asking?

[Kasteo]

howd u get it so cheap if you dont mind me asking?

It was onsale at Monitorsdirect.com for only $697 ($200 off code: cpvp201) from $897. That was 2 weeks ago.

[Steven]

so how does this boy compare to the 2001FP? Do they use the same panel?

They are both EXCELLENT Screens. You wouldn't go wrong with either. :)

[Oblivion]

Now i'm also tempted to go either for this screen or the one StainD has :argh:

[sandman78]

I bought Viewsonic VP201B 20" at Monitorsdirect.com two weeks ago around $697. I just got it today. It's awesome, I love it. If you love a thin/slim look then this is a monitor for you.

Monitorsdirect.com WOULD NOT honor the $697.00 price that showed up at techbargains.com because it was a "mis price." A bunch of users in the HardOCP Forums saw it listed at $697 and tried to buy one, but Monitorsdirect had already realized they made a mistake. If you got one at that price, you are lucky.

[Elmo]

awesome (Y)

[Chad]

Great review. Now I just have to decide between this, and that Dell dazzla reviewed awhile back