MSI GT627: Bringing Balance to the Force?
by Jarred Walton on April 29, 2009 4:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
Ugh... Another Low Contrast TN Panel
The last area we want to test is the display quality; prepare to be unimpressed (again). We test color accuracy using ColorEyes Display Pro, and we test with two different colorimeters, a DTP-94 and an i1 Display2. We test the laptops with both colorimeters using ColorEyes Display Pro, generating both LUT and Matrix color profiles. The reason we do this is that some displays respond better to LUT profiling while others work better with Matrix profiling (although in laptop testing, Matrix profiling has been better in every case so far). We select the best result out of the four tests for our color accuracy charts. Besides the color accuracy, the generated profiles allow us to determine color gamut, using GamutVision. We use the matrix color profiles for gamut, as they usually have ~10% higher gamut volume. We will also report the maximum LCD brightness and contrast ratio.
We've been beating on this drum quite a bit lately, in the hope that eventually manufacturers will catch on. As we mentioned earlier, the LCD in the GT627 is very disappointing. While we would like something with a higher resolution - 1440x900 would be great - the real killer is once again contrast ratio. In a word, it's lousy; it's the type of LCD most laptop owners use on a regular basis, probably because they just don't think there's anything better. All you have to do is look at any desktop LCD and it's clear that laptops aren't trying very hard in this area. 218:1 isn't the lowest contrast ratio we've seen, but it's pretty close. Color accuracy is better, but we would take lower color accuracy with a better contrast ratio in a heartbeat. The color gamut is also down with the large group of ~40% LCDs. The only saving grace is that this is an $1100 notebook that can handle most games at the native resolution. As we said before, we would happily pay $50-$100 for a better LCD, but at least we don't feel like we're paying more and getting less, which was the case with the Gateway P-7808u.
Is anyone out there making IPS, PVA, MVA, or - gasp! - OLED displays for notebooks? If so, please get in touch with us or send us a sample for testing. We would love to show just how good a laptop display can be. If you're like us and think it's time we saw some better laptop displays, let us know in the comments! Manufacturers do read those comments, and perhaps we can actually bring about some worthwhile changes.
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B3an - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
I'm not buying a new laptop until i can get one with a decent display. I agree with this review about the poor displays in most of them. I've been waiting 2 years so far to upgrade to something like a LED backlit laptop with a good screen res and image quality, or just one with a good IPS and normal backlighting even. But they're taking there time!!Hrel - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
The review laptop needs to be $900 or less, simply look at this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9050...">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...&typ...The MSI Model with the faster CPU and higher resolution screen should be about $1100.
Finally, crappy keyboard and cracking chassis' WHILE IN A BAG is just completely unacceptable. I think right now the Asus is still the way to go; though I really would like to see a higher resolution screen. 1520x855 or 1600x900 like Sony offers would be GREAT!!!
Hrel - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
That's amazing, the MSI is at the top of the list every single time; it even manages to beat out the Clevo at least once; then it's second the other times. Simply awesome! Can't believe that small overclock makes that big of a difference.Hrel - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
I'm referring to the gaming test in the above comment; just to be clear.Mikey - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
I think this is a great review for a great notebook. Never is there anything that is ever perfect when it comes to new tech in the market, but this MSI notebook can do it all. I don't know why these companies don't have the brains to use common sense and fix these little "issues" that people have with it. Don't they know that they could make a better product using better material? So what if it costs $100 more. I think that is worth the improvements that most people within this market segment is looking for.http://www.dumpsternationwide.com/">roll off dumpsters and containers>
crimson117 - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
How do you think the screen will be on this one? 17", 1680x1050, and claims to include "MSI vivid image enhancement technology"http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?c...">http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?c...
JarredWalton - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
Well, I can't say without testing in person, but take http://www.samsung.com/global/business/lcdpanel/pr...">Samsung's current laptop LCDs as a starting point. Their 17" option with WSXGA+ resolution lists a 45% color gamut (blech!), 300 nit brightness, and no contrast ration. There's a good chance that it will be a 500:1 contrast or higher, but no guarantee. If you walk down the aisles at Best Buy, Office Depot, or a similar store and look at the displays, you will likely notice that around 60-75% have poor contrast ratios, and all of them are TN panels.crimson117 - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
I guess what I really want is a Dell Studio XPS 16 with a better graphics card (such as a AMD Mobile 4850).IlllI - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
i'd be careful with dell. they've been known in the past to do 'panel lottery' so you might not get the same kind of lcd panel that they have in it nowJarredWalton - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link
I'm pretty sure if you get one of the Dell laptops with a high color gamut RGB LED backlit LCD, the panels will all come from the same source (i.e. no lottery). I only know of one manufacturer doing RGB LEDs right now, at least (Seiko Epson).