Features and Specifications
As always, we'll start with a disclaimer: Those who are unfamiliar with display technology may wish to consult our short glossary of terms that we use in our display reviews before continuing. Specifications are prone for abuse, though, so just because one display rates higher in terms of contrast ratio or brightness doesn't mean it's actually a better display. (You'll get a prime example of this in a moment.) As usual, we will do our best to separate the reality from the hype in our reviews.
| Samsung 245T Specifications | |
| Video Inputs | Analog (VGA) DVI with HDCP support HDMI Component S-Video Composite |
| Panel Type | S-PVA (Samsung SAM02F5) |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.270mm |
| Colors | 16.7 million (8-bit) |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 Static 1500:1 Dynamic |
| Response Time | 6ms GTG |
| Viewable Size | 24" diagonal |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 |
| Viewing Angle | 178 vertical/horizontal |
| Power Consumption | <130W max stated 92W max measured |
| Power Savings | <2W |
| Power Supply | Built-in |
| Screen Treatment | Matte (non-glossy) |
| Height-Adjustable | Yes - 3.75 inches |
| Tilt | Yes - 25 degrees back/5 degrees forward |
| Pivot | Yes |
| Swivel | Yes |
| VESA Wall Mounting | 200mmx100mm |
| Dimensions w/ Base (WxHxD) | 22.1"x17.1"x9.8"
(lowered) 22.1"x20.8"x9.8" (raised) |
| Weight w/ Stand | 19.4 lbs. |
| Additional Features | (4) USB 2.0 - left (USB connection to PC required) |
| Audio | Audio out connection (for HDMI) |
| Limited Warranty | 3 year parts and labor (original owner only) |
| Price | MSRP $799 Online starting at ~$635 |
Like many of the latest high-end LCDs, the 245T comes with a backlight that offers an improved color gamut. Whether your eye can actually see the difference is a bit more difficult to say; even with an older 24" LCD sitting next to the 245T, it would be difficult for us to say that one of them looks clearly better/worse than the other. The backlight is also not quite as bright as other models on the market that are capable of 400 or even 500 nits, but we almost never run our LCDs at that brightness level; 200-250 nits is where we prefer to set are LCDs.
In the features department, the Samsung 245T compares favorably with the best 24" LCDs on the market. You get the typical four USB ports as well as a variety of video input options. How useful stuff like S-Video and composite input are varies by individual; we generally don't use either connection anymore. The VGA, DVI, HDMI, and component connections are more important, and you get one port for each. Whether or not the second digital port needed to be HDMI is another topic for debate; it's unlikely you would actually use the audio pass-through capabilities, in which case a second DVI port would have sufficed -- especially since the audio output jack only provides stereo audio. Since you can still use a DVI to HDMI cable, however, this isn't a major concern, and we're happy to have two digital connections.
Samsung provides a three-year manufacturer warranty on the 245T (in the US), which is much better than you get with most other brands. Technical support is available online or through the telephone, though telephone operating hours are not 24/7. You need to call during regular business hours, which is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. M-F (Pacific Time). We were unable to get any specific answer as to pixel defect policies, though it sounds like if we made enough noise they would repair/replace the monitor even if there was only a single dead pixel. Since we did not experience any actual problems with our LCD (dead pixels or otherwise), we'll leave it at that. Note that the warranty only applies for the original purchaser; it is nontransferable.
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daarrid - Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - link
First, I'd like to thank Jarred Walton for his excellent review. A great deal of work goes into such a review. So, first and foremost, thank you sir! I'm also impressed by your timely follow-ups to the comments that have been posted.I just purchased the Samsung 245T (August, 2008). The firmware evidently has changed because there are new scaling options.
I'm only using two inputs - the VGA for various computers connected to it via a KVM and a Sony Playstation via the HDMI.
The VGA input now shows three options for size: wide, 16:9 (this is new), and 4:3. Wide is the only useful option (it appears to be 1:1 pixel mapping). The other two options distort the display. Why 16:9 was added as a choice is hard to say because it adds no useful function I can think of.
However on the HDMI input (and perhaps the DVI - I didn't test the DVI input) we have the old choices - Wide, 16:9, 4:3 and a new one! The new one is called "Just Scan" which seems to be 1:1 pixel mapping. Samsung evidently is listening.
bobo51 - Thursday, June 26, 2008 - link
I find it interesting that 4 months after Jarred was reassured by his contact at Samsung that this panel was a PVA, it is still speced as a TN panel on the Samsung website. And the mail order websites that report this characteristic seem to just parrot what is on the Samsung website.It would seem that it being a PVA unit would be a marketing point that Samsung would want to be front-and-center in their specs and advertising. So why isn't it out there?
Does anyone have any written documentation or labeling on the back of a unit (or anything other than someone's statement) that this is a PVA panel?
maxdog - Friday, August 22, 2008 - link
All of the 24" panels on the Samsung website state the same type. I'd like to know for sure.TrinityJayOne - Saturday, June 7, 2008 - link
Just thought I'd point out that there's an error in this review regarding display modes. It's true that there's no 1:1 pixel-mapping, but there IS a 16:9 option, it just isn't available when using a DVI source (I'm guessing because Samsung figure DVI = PC only and video cards support 16:10 resolutions). For HDMI, component, S-video etc, the 16:9 option will keep your 1080p signal un-squished and 720p will be upscaled. Check it out for yourself in the user guide, about 2/3 of the way down the page- http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/EM/20070...">http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/conte.../200707/...XrayDoc - Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - link
The new Dell 2408WFP has been available for perhaps a month. When are we going to see a killer review on AnandTech?machspeed5 - Saturday, February 16, 2008 - link
Conflicting Information!!!Page 4 of this trustedreview of the 245T states "genuine 1:1 pixel mapping"
http://www.trustedreviews.com/displays/review/2007...">http://www.trustedreviews.com/displays/.../2007/11...
".....A tonne of connectivity only adds to the appeal, as does the genuine 1:1 pixel mapping from 1080p sources."
This Anadtech review clearly states the opposite!
Who is correct here? Clarification appreciated, as you've thrown a monkey wrench in my purchasing decision! :P
Thanks
machspeed5 - Saturday, February 16, 2008 - link
found this:source: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=10319083...">http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=10319083...
According to the User's Manual:
- if the video source is connected through PC/ DVI, you will be able to switch the size between "Wide" and "4:3";
- if the video source is connected through Composite/ S-Video, you will be able to set the size to "Wide", "16:9", "Zoom1", "Zoom2" or "4:3";
- if the video source is connected trough Component/ HDMI, you will then be able to choose the size between "Wide", "16:9" or "4:3".
Supposedly, by "Wide", they mean "Full screen" (1920x1200).
I don't really know what they mean by "Zoom1" and "Zoom2", but I guess this is some scale of "expansion" (by keeping the aspect ratio). But I insist, this is just me guessing; I do not own the screen.
As matter of fact, this leads also to the conclusion that there is no pure "1:1 pixel mapping" for all resolutions, even if you can get such pixel map for a HD 1080 lines source if you choose the "16:9" size.
can you confirm please, & perhaps update the review? many thanks.
JarredWalton - Saturday, February 16, 2008 - link
I checked the VGA and DVI connections... I didn't consider that they would add options on other inputs (most OSD controls gray out disabled options rather than removing them completely). I'm trying to come up with some meaningful "input lag" testing -- internal image processing lag would be more appropriate as a description -- so I'll see about testing the Component/HDMI/S-Video as well.Not surprisingly, I've got other things to review as well, so it might be a couple weeks before I get around to testing this.
machspeed5 - Sunday, February 17, 2008 - link
thanks.looking forward to seeing the input lag & HDMI pixel mapping options on the 245T. :)
word on the street is that the input lag is pretty bad, ~50ms, (2.5 frame lag.)
from my readings, 50ms (while on the upper end of laggy displays) may still be usable for all but the most time-sensitive games. (fps specifically) a lot of people complain and overrate the input lag problems on forums, though it's evident few understand what it is. (even confuse it with response time)
i'd appreciate hearing your opinion on the matter. I plan to use a PS3 with the 245T, and FPS will certainly be in the machine from time to time.
Genuine 1:1 pixel mapping is also important to me, and if you could clarify the issue here i'd be much appreciated.
cheers
Thetruepit - Monday, February 11, 2008 - link
It does suffer from inverse ghosting.Most noticeable in gaming mode so I don't use that.
Surprised it wasn't picked up. Also if you move your mouse cursor over a grey background you see noticeable ghosting.