The Samsung SyncMaster 730B proves itself to be an excellent low-cost 17" LCD display for workstation or single user use, but the 160 degree viewing angle is a bit lower than the industry standard of 170 degrees these days. The image was extremely sharp and legible and the contrast of the monitor was very good overall. We did notice a slight yellow tint on the horizontal axis when we viewed from an angle of over 45 degrees.

Vertically when viewing the display at a 35 degree downward angle, the SyncMaster 730B starts to lose colour while from the top looking down at over 45 degrees creates a blue hue to the screen. This might be due to the colour mask being offset, but given the price tag of the SyncMaster 730B we're apt to be a little lenient. From head on to about 35-45 degrees on any side the picture is perfect.

The 600:1 contrast ratio is slightly above average for 17" LCD, resulting in strong colours that are vibrant while the whites and blacks contrast nicely. Brightness is pegged at 300cd/m2, about average for this size display.

Probably the strongest suit of the SyncMaster 730B is its 8ms pixel refresh time. When running 3D benchmarks or games we did not notice any haziness or ghosting whatsoever despite having some quick action on screen. Even when gaming at resolutions not native to the monitor, the 8ms pixel refresh time help keep up excellent image quality and virtually no degradation of the picture. If you're a gamer looking for an affordable LCD monitor, the Samsung 730B is definitely an model worth considering.

PCStats LCD Display Evaluation Criteria PCstats evaluates the screen characteristics of LCD monitors with the help of a program called Monitor Test. This software application displays a range of primary colours and special monitor test patterns which enable an observer to diagnose just about any visual problem, or defect an LCD display may be hiding. The software consists of about eleven tests which can be run in steps, as adjustments are made through the OSD to optimize the monitor. Though some tests are primarily intended for CRT monitors, Monitor Test is still a good tool for evaluating common visual problems which can indicate of the quality of LCD panel used, and its limitations. Two critical items not covered by Monitor Test are broken LCD pixels, and pixel response times, which if too slow, can cause blurring or ghosting of fast moving objects on the screen. Broken Pixels: What we class as a 'broken pixel' can fall under any one of the following circumstances: pixels that are always on (any colour), pixels that are always off, pixels which are unable to display a primary colour or shade (red, green, blue), or pixels which only display white or black. While many manufacturers may consider a few broken pixels acceptable, we believe the high cost of LCD displays should translate into a clear and unblemished image that does not include a single conspicuous broken pixel. Pixel Response Time: Pixel Response Times are measured in milliseconds, and account for the rise and fall state, or the total time it takes for a pixel to respond, and return back to its original state. We look for any streaking associated with moving a full page of text up and down very quickly. Displays with slow pixel response times tend to show some degree of image streaking, or text discoloration in this simple but effective test. Response times can also cause ghosting in games where there are many fast moving objects. A response time of 25ms or less is generally considered desirable. All of our test parameters are user reproducible, so you can try them yourself when evaluating displays. :) Test Specs: Videocard: Radeon X800 XT Operating System: Windows XP Display Settings: Interface: Analog Resolution: 1280x1024 Frequency: 60Hz Colour: 32 bit