Iiyama ProLite E2200WS

Testing

We ran the monitor through a series of real-world and synthetic tests to see whether or not the Iiyama ProLite E2200WS can stand up to hardcore geek use.

DisplayMate: This is the only synthetic test we use because it can reveal some things that other real-world tests don't show up quite so well. The Iiyama ProLite E2200WS actually didn't perform too well in these tests, with the monitor struggling to deal with the variances in colour, with some significant compression at both ends. This is due to the monitor using a 6-bit panel, rather than the more colourful 8-bit. The 6-bit panel allows for fast response times but that comes at the expense of reduced colour depth. We found that black differentiation was quite poor in this test, resulting in a muddy mix of colours rather than the grey scale definition we would expect. However, we found that this was less of an issue in real-world scenarios.

High Resolution Photos: The monitor performed excellently when we ran through our set of high resolution images. Contrast was excellent, colours were vibrant and blacks were well represented. The monitor was able to approach the kind of colour representation that we saw in the Benq FP241W, which is brilliant considering the gulf in the price, and a testament to the differences in real-world average usage and synthetic tests.

Video Performance: Seeing as the new Bond is due out tomorrow, I decided to test the monitor by watching the trailer. Daniel Craig's blue eyes glistened, the colours were vibrant and I enjoyed the experience. This monitor can play 720p HD files but it can't play 1080p HD content at native resolution. I don't really see this as a huge problem, however, because the monitor doesn't have the connectivity to hook up protected high definition inputs, seeing as it lacks HDCP. If you're spending cash on next-gen optical kit, this relatively budget monitor won't be for you.

Gaming: We played Medieval II: Total War, a game which has a wide variety of very striking colours, from deep black areas all the way through to dazzling white snow filled battlefields. The monitor performed admirably, providing a visually stunning war experience. The game looked smooth, yet striking, and I had no reason to complain whilst playing it! There were no issues with ghosting.

In FPS gaming, we found the blacks a little more lacking - our F.E.A.R. Extraction Point test got a little bit murky in some places, reflecting the findings in our DisplayMate testing. However, it was still perfectly playable. The one thing to add about gaming on this monitor is that you get extra screen size compared to a 20" monitor without having to have the graphical hardware to drive a higher resolution - this is good if you're running some budget kit but are looking for a more immersive experience.