First Thoughts: Samsung SD590C Monitor

[Tweakin]

Just my initial thoughts after living with this display for 2 days.

Samsung SD590C key specs
•Screen size: 27-inches
•Aspect ratio: 16:9
•Panel type: VA (Curved 4000R)
•Resolution: 1920 x 1080
•Brightness: 350cd/m2 (typical)
•Contrast ratio: 3000:1
•Viewing angle: 178°/178°
•Response: 4ms (G2G)
•Refresh rate: 60Hz
•Mounting: curved stand supplied or VESA 100x100
•Display control: joystick
•Input: D-sub x1, HDMI x1, Display Port x1
•Audio: stereo speakers, audio in, headphone out


First off is the OSD. To use it you must reach around the back on the right side of the panel and engadge it via a small joystick. Push in to open and then scroll up and down to change menu, and right or left to change individial settings. I've already gotten used to this and the OSD is simple to navigate.

One con is the stand. If you tap the panel it will wobble slightly but it's not a deal breaker. It is functional and nice to look at, but they could have done a better job.

Internal speakers are on par with all the other internal speakers...but I do like that they are down facing and have a good sense of seperation.

I love the color saturation of this panel, expecially coming from an old Samsung TN panel. I had to play with the Gama settings as the screen is very bright while the blacks have wonderful detail, which is in-line for a VA panel.
As a 1080p panel @ 27", text is what you would think it is...clear but not as sharp as a 24" panel. I have no problem reading text from 24" back.

Gameplay is above what I've found for most IPS panels. I've had no tearing and once I dialed in the correct overdrive, I'm not seeing any ghosting while playing FarCry 3 and Borderlands 2. So far those are the only games I have installed. I have fallen in love with FarCry again as the new panel really makes the colors "POP" when you select the "game mode".

The biggest item is the curve. I have also become a big fan of the curve as it really makes a difference for me. When you initially look at the monitor it's curve is ever so slight, yet while playing games it seems to draw you in with a widened sense of vision. Everything seems easier on my eyes as I pan from the center. Overall, I doubt there is an inch of deflection total, but enough to make a difference. Even my better half noticed it immediately and thought it made everything easier on her eyes.

Just wanted to put something out there as no reviews exist yet.

 

[PPB]

I'm actually interested in this type of monitors s as the curved panel might solve an inherent drawback of VA technology: gamma shifting.

One you have correctedly placed the monitor according your view distance, have you noticed any gamma shifting when looking at the borders?

 

[Cerb]

What about banding, and crush? Seems like those being either not noticeable, or not changing as you look at different parts the screen, would make for a good reason to have curved panels.? That's the thing that would make me think a curved VA would be pretty good, as the variations of the sides when looking at the screen is what generally makes me dislike VAs.

 

[Tweakin]

I'm actually interested in this type of monitors s as the curved panel might solve an inherent drawback of VA technology: gamma shifting.

One you have correctedly placed the monitor according your view distance, have you noticed any gamma shifting when looking at the borders?

I have not.

 

[Tweakin]

What about banding, and crush? Seems like those being either not noticeable, or not changing as you look at different parts the screen, would make for a good reason to have curved panels.? That's the thing that would make me think a curved VA would be pretty good, as the variations of the sides when looking at the screen is what generally makes me dislike VAs.

I haven't noticed any banding and I have no idea what you mean by crush, so that will remain a question for now.

I do however wish the text was a little bit sharper, but I have a week to live with this before I make my final decision.

 

[Cerb]

Look at color or gamma charts. VA panels commonly make very dark colors appear black, at certain angles (usually dead on), often with the variations in the colors showing up at other angles. The darks seem to squish together, so it got called black crush.

Test chart:
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/black.php

trying that on an old NEC VA (PVA?), the first entire row is all black, and all but the last 3 of the 2nd row. If I look from the right, I can see differences in all of them. On my main PC's IPS monitor, the first 3 blocks look closer together than they should if evenly spaced, and the rest look evenly spaced out (my monitor's calibration report shows less than ideal response right near black, though, which about matches that), but all appear different shades.

 

[tweakboy]

That is a shit*y resolution , no real estate,,,,,,,,, gl

 

[Tweakin]

Look at color or gamma charts. VA panels commonly make very dark colors appear black, at certain angles (usually dead on), often with the variations in the colors showing up at other angles. The darks seem to squish together, so it got called black crush.

Test chart:
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/black.php

trying that on an old NEC VA (PVA?), the first entire row is all black, and all but the last 3 of the 2nd row. If I look from the right, I can see differences in all of them. On my main PC's IPS monitor, the first 3 blocks look closer together than they should if evenly spaced, and the rest look evenly spaced out (my monitor's calibration report shows less than ideal response right near black, though, which about matches that), but all appear different shades.

That page is now bookmarked...thanks. I'm supprised that I didn't notice any of that on the tests. Will play with this some more after my eyes adjust!