8.5

ASUS VG236H

Real 3D has finally come to the PC with the ASUS VG236H that supports 120Hz for flawless 3D and more particularly a refresh rate that is on par to CRT monitors. Yes my friends, a new breed of monitor is available for gamers and when it comes to gaming, this LCD is the one.

Of course, all this luxury comes at a cost that includes a hefty price tag, an NVIDIA compatible 3D card and due to the technology of home based 3D, powered 3D glasses. However all this aside, the ASUS VG236H is an amazing piece of technology that must be seen to be believed. Amazing image quality, actually 3D images that work. For inputs, the ASUS VG236H comes with HDMI, DVD-D and even component video which in turn allows you to connect this to an XBox or PS3.

Specifications
 

In terms of design, the ASUS VG236H is a good looking monitor that does remind me of the current Samsung TV’s with its glossy black. The most difficult aspect of installing was putting the base together that was a little fiddle some but through some patience and perseverance, it can be done by one person. The screen is also relatively quite heavy compared to standard LCD’s screens but once all setup your desk, it is quite a sight. All in all it’s quite a professional looking product.

The resolution of the screen supports 16:9 with a native resolution 1920x1080 that mimics all major TV’s. In laymen terms, this is FULL HD.  Another feature of the screen is that it can be tilted between -5 to 15 degrees and is height adjustable to ensure the perfect gaming experience. As the screen is VESA compliant, third party arms and wall mounts are compatible with ASUS VG236H. 

The front screen contains six buttons on the OSD, including the power button and all are easy to access and press. There are a variety of settings included in the monitor menu such as a games setting that makes the colours more vibrant and even a trace free function. The menu is relatively straight forward to access and has been designed with simplicity in mind.

In order to use the 3D capabilities of the monitor, the NVDIA 3D Vision glasses are required which are quite reminiscent of the polarised movie glasses. The 3D glasses kit which comes with the monitor also boasts with a cloth bag, USB cable, IR base station and a driver CD. As mentioned, a 3D NVDIA card is required to power the three dimensional effect and you need a relatively high powered system to enable these effects. For graphics cards, you need a GeForce Series 8 (8800GT or higher).

Some of the games we tested included Batman: Arkham Asylum, Civilization V, Metro 2033 and Need for Speed Pro Street. Batman and Need for Speed Pro Street were the highlight that boasts some great colours and realistic 3D effects. Batman really stood out, especially the characters and special effects that jumped at you. The 3D racing was very cool. However, compared to non 3D games, they are a little dull in contrast but the 3D effects looks amazing nonetheless. Thankfully I had no issues with my eyes and after a good gaming session, nor were my eyes tired at all.

As normal monitor for surfing the net, O/S use or office programs, images are exceptionally clear and sharp. Colours look amazing as do pictures and Blu-ray movies outperform our Plasma FULL HD in terms of quality.  One issue with the ASUS VG236H is that there is no audio out which does make things a little tricky when using HDMI. We tested Monsters versus Aliens 3D as well that is okay but I have yet to see a standout home 3D movie.

Okay, this is easily one of the best monitors I had the pleasure of viewing. The 3D is unparalleled and the monitor has some great pre-set features like a games view, night view and thankfully a standard view which is all done through hotkeys if necessary. With a good design, 120Hz refresh rates for the clearest picture quality, the only issue with the monitor is the rather steep price but if you can afford, go for it!