When we played DVD or Blu-ray movies on the 2233RZ and VX2265wm at a 120Hz refresh rate, we didn't notice a difference between playing them at a 60Hz refresh rate. There's no advantage to playing movies at 120Hz with these monitors when connected to a computer. We didn't test either with a standalone DVD or Blu-ray player. With games, we did notice some difference. In Unreal Tournament 3, when we panned our viewpoint back and forth very quickly in 60Hz mode, we noticed that the wall textures were blurry. If we did the same in 120Hz mode, the textures remained clear.
The optimal viewing angle for a monitor is usually directly in front, about a quarter of the screen's distance down from the top. At this angle, you're viewing the colours and gamma correction as they were intended. Most monitors are not made to be viewed at any other angle. Depending on the panel type, picture quality at non-optimal angles varies. Most monitors use TN panels, which get overly bright or overly dark in parts of the screen when viewed from non-optimal angles. The 2233RZ uses a TN panel and, when it's viewed from the sides or bottom, the screen appears to darken when you're only a couple of inches from the optimal angle. Of course, when we viewed the 2233RZ from the optimal angle, we had no problems.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Conclusion
The Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ offers excellent picture quality when watching movies, and is the best choice for 120Hz 3D stereoscopic gaming on the PC. For all other demands, there are cheaper alternatives, but the 2233RZ also offers a good on-screen menu and an attractive design.
Additional editing by Charles Kloet
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