Flyer with verschenktem potential

The HP z24i is a monitor that stands out from the crowd many seemingly equivalent opponent. He can do that, what others can only dream about, and this at a truly affordable price. Long story short - there are two points that stand out when z24i:

1. Backlight
The LED lighting of monitors can work in two ways: either it is lit continuously, or the brightness is adjusted by short pauses between pulses of light (on, off, on, off). The latter method is used by the majority of monitors, and when the switching frequency is too slight, the monitor flickers not always visible, but it can lead to fatigue or even headaches. It is called PWM control.
The HP contrast z24i used continuous illumination, the brightness is then regulated by the voltage applied. Thus a long, fatigue-free operation is possible. What should be state of affairs, unfortunately, is a rarity, even more gratifying is that it works here.

2. Operating noise
When buying a new monitor with me not about poor image quality was crucial, it was an unbearable, radio frequency Spulenfiepen in the installed power supply. A first change did not go as desired, the Eizo growled low frequencies, which was just as disturbing.
The z24i other hand, is extremely quiet. I can perceive no operating noise from 10cm distance, and here I am very sensitive. It is a pleasure to work relaxed and without distraction, this alone would have been worth the purchase.

I do not want to continue to list what the Monitor else can, because there are about z24i a quite outstanding report on Prad.de which should answer all questions.

So what I want to discuss in further detail, are two issues that are, I noticed only after the purchase:

1. refresh rates, scaling, Video
This point may strike some irrelevant to me it is important, however: The monitor supports the native resolution of 1920x1200 (16:10) only 60Hz playback. That is to say, Full HD movies and DVDs or PAL TV can be played only with micro stuttering. The 50Hz, of which I had gone through inaccurate reading of Prad reviews that refer only to the resolution of 1920x1080 (16: 9 aspect ratio). I place them in a monitor, the image runs fluently but occurs another problem: The lower resolution (16: 9) is to the entire image (16:10) upscaled so drawn into the air. The monitor does not allow, therefore undistorted look at these films with black borders and at 50Hz. With the 60Hz in native resolution without any problems (the playback software scaled correctly) works, but only with micro stuttering.

Edit: It is possible * to force the graphics card driver supports the display of 1920 1200 at 50Hz. The monitor thus runs flawlessly, videos with 25 fps are played smoothly. BluRays with 24fps can ReClock and as the MPC-HC 32-bit (!) Accelerated to 25 fps and play just as smoothly. Also, the resulting increase in sound can be adjusted.

2. IPS Glow
IPS panels show, unlike cheaper NT panels, a special effect, a kind of shining the display surface. I could not imagine anything under here and was thrilled when I found a wonderfully clear and sharp images in the first test me. What it means to shine on, I only found out at night and watch a movie. It is so that in low light and in dark areas Schwarz no longer is black, but as appears gray and light through a milky film. Contrast is lost and the eye detects fewer details. The effect is the z24i unfortunately quite pronounced, so I at night scenes in movies - but only there - nothing can correctly identify all acts outshines and the eye has problems with sharp pointed properly. I would imagine that this effect also occurs in computer games, and always when the picture content is dark. It shows again that the HP was designed primarily as an office monitor, because in normal operation it shows the IPS Glow absolutely nothing. As a complement, I would add that other monitors with IPS panel, of course, have the same problem - and much more expensive. So this is not a weak point of this single device.

Conclusion:
The z24i is a very excellent monitor with outstanding features such as silent electronics and continuous backlight. Everyone is happy with it, who uses it for what it was designed: Office and Internet, and image processing is not a problem. As a TV replacement and perhaps as games monitor it is due to the limitation to 60Hz and the strong IPS shining only conditionally, here could be a NT-panel (with its own disadvantages) may be advantageous.