NEC Multisync 20WMGX2 Goodness

[systmdfect]

This is a review of the NEC 20WMGX2 monitor that I picked up while I moved into my new apertment last month. I have divided the review into different sections because this monitor has so much to offer, then given it a total score at the bottom.

 

1. Everyday Use (documents, internet, etc.) 4.0/5.0

This monitor is excellent for everyday school and business use, or just internet usage. Because it is a 20.1" widescreen you can have many different files open side by side. However the native resolution of this monitor is pretty high and for people who already have a hard time reading the text on their 17" or 19" monitor this may be a possible downfall. The resolution can be lowered to that of a 19" widescreen but their is a noticable difference in blurring since it was not meant to be used at this resolution. This monitor was not meant to be used solely for this purpose. But because it is an everyday part of our lives to use it for this I have deducted from the score accordingly.

 

2. Gaming 4.5/5.0

Gaming is where this monitor really shines. When hooked up through a DVI cable, which is included, the picture is incredibly crystal clear. The image is sharp and perfectly defined. I have played a few different types of games on it so far and I am nothing but amazed. The refresh rate of 6ms is great and I have noticed no trails on any fast moving objects in any games. There is some stretching in some games that weren't made for widescreen monitors I haven't noticed any kind of decrease in image quality. For example Doom 3 looks great and after less than a minute of playing you forget that it is being stretched and lose yourself in the game. If you know much about programming it is possible to actually change the game to run at the correct resolution, but the average person will not be able to take advantage of this. The glossy screen, which has been debated whether it is usefull or an annoyance, gives the screen a depth that is impossible to achieve with almost all other modern day TVs and monitors. Yes, it can cause some horrible glare, BUT only if you have it positioned right in front of a light source. In most cases room lights are not a problem, but if you have a window behind you this monitor will not be pleasant to use during the day. Since the glare can easily be done away with but the stretching will be a problem for some I have deducted points for that.

 

3. Watching TV and Movies 5.0/5.0

Out of the many built in features the coaxial connection and 1080i compatibility are two of the main reason I bought this monitor. It lets you watch HDTV on your monitor through a coaxial connection. This saved me much space since I'm in college and living in an apartment. Because of the high resolution of this monitor I would strongly recommend HD cable. If you have standard definition cable the image will be blurry, but this is not the fault of the monitor in any way. The screen size can also be changed so you can watch TV in 4:3 or 16:9. There are also features to zoom in. There are also many DV modes on the monitor that can be used specifically for gaming, movies, dark rooms, or even photographs. Plus you can customize one yourself.

 

4. Built in features (Menus, speakers, connections) 5.0/5.0

This monitor comes with a plethora of features that I haven't even used yet. There are A/V inputs, S-video inputs, Component video inputs, DVI, VGA, and built in speakers. I have hooked up everything from my old SNES to my XBOX with component cables and the image looks just the same as on a TV, and in some cases better. The monitor speakers are just that, monitor speakers. I'm not going to compare them to a real set of surround sound speakers because they are not related. Given the little room to work with on flat panel monitor the speakers are actually pretty good. In fact they are alot better then other brands with onboard speakers like HP, LG etc. The remote control is also nice. It hase the same controls you would find on most modern day TVs and a few extra. This monitor also has picture in picture (PIP) which is great so I can follow my Dallas Mavericks in the corner of the screen while playing Civilization at the same time.

 

5. Overall 4.625/5.000

Aparently, when NEC produced this monitor they really did have everybody in mind. All kinds of users will find something they like about this monitor. And for us gamers their really isn't any other choice in my opinion. The television is great and the built in speakers allow me to listen to my television, while i'm listening to my games or music on my computer's surround sound system.

 

If there is anything else you would like my to review or comment about send me an e-mail or a PM.

 

Happy Gaming :cool:

[Fenix-Dark]

I've had this monitor since October, and its been fantastic. fast response time, sharp colors, small footprint, good cable management.

 

This monitor isn't without faults. The remote is trash, Its flimsy, ugly, and has a short line of sight range. Also the monitor is very picky when using the DVI input. On more than one occasion, the screen wouldn't turn on until I rebooted my pc (which was plugged into the monitor via DVI), just a minor annoyance.

 

Also when viewing tv or anything in Picture in Picture, the smaller of the two has a blue box outlining it, which is a bit distracting.

 

It also made me realize how crappy (relatively speaking) my dell 1703FP monitor is

 

The monitor is full of useful features, and is worth every penny.

[systmdfect]

Thanks for your input! I appreciate your response because I think a review should have multiple user inputs to be complete. I have not had any of the problems you are talking about as far as the remote being trash. But yes the blue box is fairly annoying, which I forgot to mention in the review. So thank you again. I haven't had any problems with the DVI either however, a monitor is a massive electrical circuit, and I imagine time will tell. Thank you!

 

As far as price, it goes for about $600-$630 and here is a link to some pics of it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16824002320 . Sadly I have no camera so I can't take any pictures of it myself.