--- FIRST IMPRESSION ---
The size of the boxes has my anticipation heightened on the large monitor. As you unpack the first relief: There are at all necessary cables, in addition to a DVI Dual Link cable and a High Speed HDMI cable, there is an audio cable and a power supply with connection cables.
The monitor itself is a nice size, but this surprisingly packed thin and without assembled stand. The base is mounted very quickly and easily and the monitor fits luckily just on my desk. The surface is matt, the frame glossy - though that is sure to dust magnet, but looks elegant.
In a small box is still the 3D Vision glasses by nVidia. Located in a chic velvet bag included cleaning cloth - course in "nVidia green" - to a USB charging cable and different sizes of rubber pads for each "nose".
--- COMMISSIONING ---
When you first turn it is noticeable that the Acer needs a lot of start-up period until the signal appears from the computer. The POST screen during boot I do not see but climb only when "Starting Windows" Screen one that could go faster. On Desktop arrived you see a very clear contrast to Samsung. The picture is brighter, the contrast much stronger, the colors stronger and more evenly illuminated image. Big plus for the image quality.
The monitor will be immediately recognized by Windows 7, to install a special driver is not necessary.
In office and other normal operation, the available 120 Hz as opposed to the previously usual 60 Hz although look a little smoother, the difference is for me but not as extremely noticeable - but nice not mandatory!
--- --- 3D Games
The actual determination of the Acer is naturally the 3D operation. I wear the nVidia glasses over my optical visual aid and that works quite well, but my headset does not fit on the rigid bracket.
A recent nVidia driver was installed, therefore the desired driver for 3D Vision and after a short uncomplicated installation procedure for the 3D mode I could start the first test candidates.
The hardware:
Intel i5-750
4 GB RAM
GeForce GTX 470
Windows 7 - 64 Bit
Resident Evil 5, marked as 3D ready, should serve as a guinea pig. My expectations were quite high and the 3D effect of the game menus Readme already grinning broadly. The gameplay itself I found somehow sobering. The 3D effect is quite good, but the blackout by the glasses is unfamiliar and my character moves somehow "trembling" through the area, despite adequate FPS. These tarnishes strongly recognizable ghosting against bright backgrounds the overall picture. Nevertheless, the gaming experience is completely different, and also provides for many a "wow moment".
Crysis 2 and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings have impressed me visually. Both games offer great depth effects. The view through the binoculars in Crysis 2 (as an example) has given me to decide whether I am to play in 2D or 3D, made very easily even if every now and then slight, but hardly disturbing ghosting occurs. Minor points: In Crysis 2 3D mode works only with disabled DX11 effects and the Witcher 2 is the performance noticeably in the basement.
Unfortunately, not all games perfectly compatible with 3D Vision, and some how, unfortunately, Dead Space 2 is actually not in the 3D mode playable. Objects and textures that are displayed in the wrong levels ensure confusing images and unusable results - pity. Which game as is compatible and with what restrictions to be reckoned with, one can read in the nVidia graphics control or on the home page and the recommended changes to the graphics settings are displayed even when the game starts on an OSD.
Depending on the game performance and thus the FPS drops to varying degrees, the graphics card must also represent twice as many images, a powerful hardware should therefore be as available for a full gaming enjoyment.
--- 3D MOVIES ---
Some time ago I upgraded my computer foresight with a Blu-ray drive and so I was able to equal the 3D Blu-rays TRON Legacy, Resident Evil - Afterlife and Piranha 3D try.
The drive is a Samsung SH-B123L, as players used the trial version of PowerDVD 11 Ultra 3D.
In Real 3D twisted films as Resident Evil - Afterlife 3D effect is really good, although not as brilliant as in the cinema, but still impressive. The disadvantage of darkening by the shutter glasses is also present here, but does not interfere excessively.
Very rare slight ghosting against bright backgrounds is manageable.
When subsequently converted movie Piranha 3D, I was not quite as convinced that traces the conversion were clearly recognizable. Heavy focusable or lying in the wrong levels objects spoil the overall impression, even if true, of course, much of the 3D effects and looks good too. How much this blemish on the monitor or the 3D Vision technology from nVidia are, I can not judge, I have seen the film either in the cinema still using other 3D playback technology, unfortunately.
It is advantageous if the room is darkened as much as possible in 3D movies, the frame on the screen and objects adjacent then irritate the eyes less and make the perception of depth effect more relaxed.
Although not every scene works perfect, will certainly find in my collection even one or the other 3D Blu-ray the way. ;)
--- --- CONCLUSION
I am with the results given by the Acer, basically very satisfied, sometimes even really impressed. But the technology is not perfect, has its little foibles and the purchase price is not a bargain. Therefore I forgive very good 4 of 5 stars.