Iiyama ProLite E2200WS

Final Thoughts

Don't be put off by the monitor's poor performance in DisplayMate. The Iiyama ProLite E2200WS is designed for the stereotypical budget gamer, who'll be using it for a bit of movie watching, daily desktop and internet fiddling and, of course, gaming. On all those fronts this monitor performs above expectations.

The icing on the cake is the price. Despite using Photoshop, having multiple programs running along with dozens of web pages I find I can operate quite adequately within the confines of the 22 inches and 1680 x 1050 resolution that this monitor affords. Compare it to the 24in Benq that we looked at recently - that monitor can run 1920x1200 giving you about 30% more space on your screen (and obviously an extra two inches). However, for that 30% extra space you end up paying almost 100% more money. You have to weigh up that equation in your own head.

The monitor that is closest in price is probably the Samsung SyncMaster 205BW. This monitor is smaller, coming in at 20", but the height can be adjusted. If height adjustment is important then the Iiyama will need to be avoided, as the range of movement the stand offers is fairly limited. I personally didn't have a problem with the height of the monitor and would rather have the larger size as it looks a little more impressive and, obviously, gives you a bigger picture.

Another comparison could be made with the Viewsonic VX2025. When we did our 20" group test back in March, this monitor received our Excellence award. Since then, the monitor has come down in price to around £280 which still makes it slightly more expensive than Iiyama's effort. Technically, the Viewsonic is better, but it will cost you £30 more and is 2in smaller.

These comparisons can only really be weighed up by the person who wants to buy them. What I can say is that this monitor represents decent value for money and will offer an opportunity to lots of gamers to join the widescreen revolution. If you're thinking about making the step up, but are limited by a budget, then I strongly advise giving this monitor a look - a strong performer in real world testing for a very reasonable price.