BenQ X2200W 22" widescreen LCD monitor

Subjective Image Quality Testing

The X2200W sounds extremely impressive on paper, but disappointingly we have to report that things fall flat in the real-world. The biggest problem involves PerfectMotion, or more specifically the SPD black-frame-insertion technology. Once enabled, a very mild flicker is apparent across the entire screen.

It's possible the problem is related to the relatively low 60Hz refresh rate of a standard DVI link. HDTVs that utilise black frame insertion tend to be 120Hz models, thereby allowing more leeway to insert frames without causing flicker.

We tested the display with an Xbox 360 via the HDMI port, but that harboured the same problems because the refresh rate is limited to 50Hz. Unfortunately, we did not have a 120Hz HDMI source to test whether this solves the flicker issue or indeed if the monitor will accept such a signal. That said, DVI is very likely to be the connection most commonly used for this type of display.


Whatever the truth, sensitivity to this sort of visual artefact varies from person to person. But for us, it's a deal breaker that renders PerfectMotion pointless. Indeed, even if this was not the case, the fact that SPD also does fairly unspeakable things to the colour balance would render it pointless, in any case. It crushes colours, washes out black tones and generally borks the contrast. Not good.

It's a particular shame because, those issues aside, PerfectMotion makes this is undoubtedly one of the nippiest monitors we've ever seen. It comes awfully, awfully close to mimicking the clarity and crispness of an old school CRT monitor for motion video. It's quite a sight to see textures remaining almost perfectly sharp as you strafe past the scenery in the latest shooter. Indeed, it's actually a handy reminder that even the latest 2ms speed demons fall short in this regard.


But what of Senseye+game? Sadly, it's a similar story. Cycle through the various presets and inevitably you'll eventually find yourself heading back to the default. None of the presets convincingly improve the colour balance or overall appearance. All of this is made even more frustrating by the fact that the X2200W actually sports one of the best TN panels we've seen recently. Without the image-borking extras enabled, colours are fairly saturated and vivid, blacks are decent and whites are clean, bright and even – we therefore recommend you leave them disabled.