Philips 242G5 Review

[Halcyon.]

Although some commentators Scortoasa will snort, gaming had (and has) a very important role in the extraordinary growth of computing power, be the PC, tablet or smartphone, not any facet of IT industry is not in any way "touched" video games. And they make no exception monitors.
If the time count CRTs diagonal screen and how flat it was, it was with LCDs have become more complex things. Response time, brightness, contrast, viewing angles, panel type, all these elements have evolved in pace to try to satisfy (and) appetite players everywhere.
The first wave was most important with 120Hz refresh rates and 3D software for because now we round # 2, this time with a 144Hz refresh and G-Sync technology to the fore.
Philips is one of the producers who have decided to enter the ring, arms are represented by models 242G5 (which we will discuss below) and his older brother 272G5.
Casting an eye on the list of specifications we can see that Philips did not save when it comes to equipping of 242G5:
Picture / Display
LCD panel type: TFT-LCD (TN)
Backlight type: W-LED system
Panel Size: 24 inch / 61 cm
Aspect ratio: 16: 9
Maximum resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 144 Hz (Dual-link DVI)
Optimum resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 120 Hz (Dual-link DVI / DP)
Standard resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz (VGA, HDMI, Dual-link DVI, DP)
Response time (typical): 5 ms
SmartResponse: 1 ms (Grey to Grey)
Brightness: 350 cd / m²
Contrast ratio (typical): 1000: 1
SmartContrast: 80,000,000: 1
Pixel pitch: 0.277 x 0.277 mm
Viewing angle: 170º (H) / 160º (V) @ C / R> 10
Picture enhancement: SmartImage game
Display colors: 16.7 M
Effective viewing area: 531.36 (H) x 298.89 (V) mm
Scanning Frequency: 30-140 kHz (H) / 56-120 Hz (V)
MHL: 1080p @ 30Hz
sRGB: Yes
Connectivity
Signal Input: VGA (Analogue), DVI-Dual Link (digital, HDCP), HDMI (digital, HDCP), MHL-HDMI (digital, HDCP), DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0 x 4 with 1 x fast charger, Smart keypad x 1
Sync Input: Separate Sync, Sync on Green
Audio (In / Out) HDMI audio out
Convenience
User convenience: SmartImage game / Back, Power On / Off, SmartSize / Up Menu / OK Input
OSD Languages: Brazil Portuguese, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian
Other convenience: Kensington lock, VESA mount (100 x 100 mm)
Plug and Play Compatibility: DDC / CI, Mac OS X, sRGB, Windows 7, Windows 8
Stand
Height adjustment: 130 mm
Pivot: 90 Degree
Swivel: -65 / 65 degree
Tilt: -5 / + 20 degree
Therefore, resolution FullHD, Wallmount, remote hub USB 3.0 four-port (one with support Fast Charge for faster loading) connectivity galore - VGA, HDMI, MHL-HDMI, DVI Dual Link, DisplayPort, refresh The 144Hz, 1ms response time Gray to Gray. All the good stuff, as they say.
What jumps out but before placing the toy on the table is actually the size of the box comes packed undoubtedly the biggest I've ever seen before for a "simple" monitor.
The main reason is that the foot and the base are joined, so you need something more storage space in the box. Then come the accessories: Besides the usual CD with drivers and we Quick Start folding USB 3.0 cable, cable D-Sub (VGA), Dual Link DVI, power cord and remote control.
Assembly is extremely easy thanks to a system fitting "click on" rear panel, which will surely delight those who used to take your PC back and go to one LAN Party (although, just between us, a monitor 24 "is not even a leaf when it comes to carrying). As a bonus, the foot has a slit through which to pass the cables not to create chaos indescribable office.

 

Once on the table, I can not say 242G5 will astound design, its appearance is one ... functional. Let us understand, is not ugly, finishing is very good, the red line at the bottom that is passed manufacturer's name comes immediately obvious (the red fits very well into a set ASUS Republic of Gamers or MSI Gaming Series) but not much else.
True, the look is offset by good adjustment possibilities, as the board may be increased to a respectable height (13 cm) or rotated by 90 degrees if you need plus tilting horizontally. One thing to appreciate here is the feeling of "solid" which gives you a whole building to monitor, never had a feeling that if you give a flip that to make cuts or be moved at the slightest touch.

 

Initially, setup menu (OSD) can be accessed either via the buttons under the frame at the bottom right corner or using the remote. Remote but that seemed a little fragile, especially when using the arrows to navigate through the menu; I still had the feeling that if you push a little harder on the buttons to make a bang indeed. Fortunately, not the case.

Admin Panel contains about all the options that you'd expect to see such a monitor, the Overscan, Sharpness and Aspect Ratio size menu itself, its transparency, special profiles (five in number - FPS / Racing / RTS / Gamer 1 / Gamer 2) and color temperature.
And while we're at profiles only Gamer 1 and Gamer 2 I found them really useful comparison with the standard settings offered monitor, the other three require too many adjustments after activation to be useful, at least to me ( RTS profile was psychedelic experience in StarCraft 2).
The third option is the configuration of the monitor SmartControl application, which involves installing drivers and USB 3.0 interface connection. Its main advantage is the possibility of calibration and helpful pictures for the proper adjustment of the monitor until you get the image you want.

One option is to tell funny set a PIN that is required when the monitor is connected to another PC. Just as say those from Philips, this security measure will not actually prevent someone stealing your monitor, but is rather intended to discourage such attempts.
Also, for those who value current consumption (get it? Put price ... ok, I'll see myself out now) SmartControl has a special section dedicated to this aspect (EcoPower), where you can set the intensity backlight- site on the light in the room where the monitor.

Okay, okay, but the game is good? It ruthlessly. As expected, you need a powerful system to be able to lead the framerate necessary to justify the refresh rate of the 144Hz (where even possible to overcome 144 FPS), but once you get to work you you quickly realize that Philips engineers have done a exemplary. Dota 2, FIFA 14, Ultra Street Fighter 4, F1 2013 Warsow, Battlefield 4 display whatever game was excellent. Fluidity, contrast, color reproduction, no ghosting, it's all Ther.
The claim here is that it would be important, however, not advisable to rush straight into the game after the baby monitor fixed on the table, but spend a little time to adjust the settings properly all parameters. To me the difference was even noticeable, especially in contrast and brightness compared to the default settings, so you allocate 10 minutes before the beginning of hostilities. Plus you will not have to do this only once.
Okay, you've convinced me, how much and where toy can buy?
Eee, that's how we get to the big problem: availability. Despite the fact that is an excellent model that I can recommend to any gamer's performance through the prism that are looking for a more special monitor, Philips 242G5 has obviously taken a Dodo bird footsteps. Only Altex seems to borne in the catalog, at a price of 1400 lei (compared to 1600 normally).
Compared to other similar models, only missing important functionality such as 3-D (G-Sync's still not that widespread). But here I think that is entirely personal preference. It is as clear that if you really want 3D, you'll have to turn to other horizons. But if that is not an impediment, you can always buy a Philips 242G5 without remorse.