Sub-10ms TFT panels are finally here, and CMV’s offers great value.
The days of LCDs being inadequate for gamers are well and truly over, with the current wave of 8ms panels negating any pixel response issues previously encountered. The first of these to hit theAPCLabs is the 17in CMVCT-720D.
At $459, the CT-720D represents awesome value yet still meets the needs of the prosumer, featuring both D-Sub and DVI connectors (including cabling), as well as a brightness specification of 450cm/m2, a contrast ratio of 500:1 and a pair of 2.5W speakers. Although these speakers are adequate for native Windows sounds, those planning on playing games, music or video should invest in a set of headphones or speakers, as both bass and clarity are lacklustre, particularly at high volume.
The 720D runs at a native resolution of 1,280 x 1,024 pixels — standard for a 17in TFT panel. The chassis sports a two-tone bezel inspired by Apple’s iPod, and the control panel offers staple brightness, contrast and colour adjustments.
The panel was tested under varied conditions including gaming (Half-Life 2 and EverQuest 2), DVD playback, and screen quality benchmarks including DisplayMate. Gaming and DVD playback tests showed the panel to be extremely competent at reproducing fast-paced action without blurring, while DisplayMate revealed superb brightness levels and rich, vibrant colour reproduction — the most important considerations when purchasing a TFT monitor.
However, the panel did have some difficulty at the extreme ends of the colour scale, with some tan-coloured shades appearing as white and some dark purple shades appearing as black. This will probably go undetected by most consumers, but graphic designers will be disappointed.
Physical adjustments are fairly limited; users can tilt the screen slightly but not adjust the height or switch between portrait and landscape modes.
Overall, CMV has produced a panel that’s a dream for fast-motion applications such as games and DVDs, but is let down slightly by minor flaws in terms of colour reproduction. At such a low price though, these flaws will be easily forgiven by all but the most demanding.

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