Post by Energizer Bunny 211 on Jun 17, 2020 20:54:38 GMT
Hi, all. Well on the 15th, I turned off G-Sync and didn't get any loss of signal/picture (which is good) but G-Sync was a selling point for me and why have it if I can't use it? As well, even if I used the monitor without G-Sync-- there is still the issue of the light bleeding in the corners and just general haze on the screen that is very unpleasant, distracting and annoying considering the 1500 dollar CAD price tag. A third issue I have noticed (though this might not be anything) is that I didn't have much success with the internal OverDrive feature. Apparently it had three settings: OFF which would maintain the default of 60hz, NORMAL (offer a slight bump to 75hz) and Extreme (all the way to 120 hz). I tried it once, but with everything else going on I wasn't sure if it was working, or if it just caused more problems. So I reset it to OFF, reset the whole monitor to factory defaults and never touched any more buttons.
But I still had the problems of losing picture and ugly light-bleeding. And while the loss of picture was so random it almost never happened, the more I looked at the monitor the more the light bleeding really became apparent. I actually could take notice of just how bad it was. So there are more than a few issues with this particular monitor. I could live with one or the other and suck it up-- but when issues mount up as they have with this model/monitor/particular unit....It's too much. I won't accept this level of defect considering the money I paid. So, last night I made the decision to initiate a full return/refund, and today I'm going to box this POS and hopefully be able to take it back to a UPS Store if I can find one locally.
My predicament then becomes what to purchase in its place? Do I get another of the same monitor (because for all the looking I did, this monitor really did check all my boxes: 32 inches, 4K, G-Sync....And the bonus feature was the OC that could take it beyond 60 hz.....so yay for me). What are the odds that if I get another of the same, that it won't have the same issues, or worse? What do I do then? And what are the odds that if I return it for the same thing, that the replacement I get will be perfect and do everything and have everything I want in perfect order?
What is my recourse if things aren't good with a replacement? How many times can I return a monitor of any particular brand before I get fed up and look for something else?
What else is there that is the same or similar specifications but a different brand?
32 inches 4K (G-Sync would be a nice to have, but if I were biting bullets I'd say it wasn't absolutely necessary).
So I did even more digging around on reported issues with the 321HK, and found that some users have also reported defective/faulty G-Sync Modules causing the same problem I am having with random loss of signal....And all of them (these are youtubers who have done reviews/unboxings of this ACER XB321HK) all of them have reported "moderate to severe light bleeding in some, most or all corners", so it has become evident that not only is this an inherent fault of the LED back-lit LCD Displays (as per Linus, from LinusTech Tips who also states this about LED/LCD technologies), but it is a manufacturing defect with most of the 321HKs, or at least all of those who purchased this model and then bothered to complain about it. It stands to reason that some buyers may have just decided to live with it and keep quiet.
Not since 2008-10 have I had good luck with ASUS products, and not since 2010 have I purchased an ACER monitor. In 2010, the first ACER monitor I purchased was a silver square framed 19" monitor. It had a resolution of 1024x768. It was littered with dead and/or stuck pixels that were blue and black dots no matter if the image was dark or brightly coloured.
The motherboard I had in 2008 was the ASUS P5E Deluxe Gaming motherboard and my dad also bought its successor, the P6T Deluxe. Both were excellent, and as ASUS' slogan from the 1990s used to go "rock solid, heart touching". They were truly excellent boards. Then in 2013, I bought what was coveted to be one of the top of the line boards from one of the very best brands: ASUS' Republic Of Gamers line-up. I bought the Maximus VI Hero and an Intel 4770. Great CPU.....Dumpster fire of a motherboard. I've had motherboards, tablets and GPUs from ASUS (the last product being the MAXIMUS VI Hero 1150 socket released in 2013 as I said) that I had for two years and had nothing but problems: Warping PCB, warped GPU socket, defective RAM slots (x2) and a slew of BIOS issues. And none of the GPUs from the ATI/AMD 2600 to the Nvidia-based 650 (all made by ASUS) lasted more than four months before crapping out. I sent my board down to Mexico and what should have taken two weeks, took three whole months because they lost it. Then claimed they never got it even though it was signed for and I had insurance on it. Three months later, I get it back and it's still not entirely fixed properly. Their Customer Service was anything but.
So I vowed never to by another ASUS product (GPU, Motherboard etc) or ACER monitor. Yet I heard excellent things about the ACER XB321HK, I did a lot of research from Amazon reviews to Tom's Hardware, to PC Mag and at least a dozen Youtube Reviews-- all of them loved the XB 321HK. Then once these problems began and as they became more prevelent and serious, I did more digging and found even more people who have reported problems with this same monitor. The same problems I experienced, and others. So clearly the monitor was not as great as I first was lead to believe.
And ASUS, I have to say their monitors both in terms of features and quality, and at least for checking all my "nice to have" boxes....ASUS is one company that seems to check them all. I have a good friend who has used ASUS monitor for Video Editiong/Content Creation, and he speaks quite highly of them.
My dad raves about BENQ, and I have always had excellent success with Samsung (my previous 1440po monitor is the S27D850T- and excellent monitor, very good quality, very good build)....If it were 32 inches and 4K I'd keep it. I've heard good things about LG monitors, but every LG monitor I have looked at has AMD Certification for FREE Sync.......
So yesterday I borrowed my dad's BENQ PD3200U 4K monitor, and I know I know- it's designed specifically for Photo Editing and other Content Creation such as Animation and CAD (but it shines in high-res Photo Editing)...But I have to say, I am very impressed with how it handles gaming as well. I've played ANTHEM, Fallen Order, Mass Efffect ANDROMEDA and Inqusition, and the colour reproduction, brightness, contrast, sharpness, response time (4 ms) are all excellent. At least as good as the HK321 (when it worked to its peak, as it always should have but rarely did), and I would say in some cases those areas are better with the BENQ even if it does not have fancy features like G-Sync and is limited to a standard refresh rate of 60hz. For my liking and usage, the BENQ PD3200U is equally as good of a gaming monitor in spite of not being specifically designed for such purposes.....And the best part is it is now half the price of the 321HK, and approximately 18 months newer. The XB321HK was released in March 2016, the PD3200U was released in October 2017.
All that being said...I know I rambled....But I have returned the 321HK to Amazon this morning and ordered the PD3200U from Staples for a fraction of the cost. I feel much better.
A HUGE thank you to every one for your time in reading all my posts, for responding, for your advice, support, suggestions and assistance in this matter of my monitor problems. I appreciate your time, efforts and assistance.
Regards
"The Bunny Chaser"
But I still had the problems of losing picture and ugly light-bleeding. And while the loss of picture was so random it almost never happened, the more I looked at the monitor the more the light bleeding really became apparent. I actually could take notice of just how bad it was. So there are more than a few issues with this particular monitor. I could live with one or the other and suck it up-- but when issues mount up as they have with this model/monitor/particular unit....It's too much. I won't accept this level of defect considering the money I paid. So, last night I made the decision to initiate a full return/refund, and today I'm going to box this POS and hopefully be able to take it back to a UPS Store if I can find one locally.
My predicament then becomes what to purchase in its place? Do I get another of the same monitor (because for all the looking I did, this monitor really did check all my boxes: 32 inches, 4K, G-Sync....And the bonus feature was the OC that could take it beyond 60 hz.....so yay for me). What are the odds that if I get another of the same, that it won't have the same issues, or worse? What do I do then? And what are the odds that if I return it for the same thing, that the replacement I get will be perfect and do everything and have everything I want in perfect order?
What is my recourse if things aren't good with a replacement? How many times can I return a monitor of any particular brand before I get fed up and look for something else?
What else is there that is the same or similar specifications but a different brand?
32 inches 4K (G-Sync would be a nice to have, but if I were biting bullets I'd say it wasn't absolutely necessary).
So I did even more digging around on reported issues with the 321HK, and found that some users have also reported defective/faulty G-Sync Modules causing the same problem I am having with random loss of signal....And all of them (these are youtubers who have done reviews/unboxings of this ACER XB321HK) all of them have reported "moderate to severe light bleeding in some, most or all corners", so it has become evident that not only is this an inherent fault of the LED back-lit LCD Displays (as per Linus, from LinusTech Tips who also states this about LED/LCD technologies), but it is a manufacturing defect with most of the 321HKs, or at least all of those who purchased this model and then bothered to complain about it. It stands to reason that some buyers may have just decided to live with it and keep quiet.
Not since 2008-10 have I had good luck with ASUS products, and not since 2010 have I purchased an ACER monitor. In 2010, the first ACER monitor I purchased was a silver square framed 19" monitor. It had a resolution of 1024x768. It was littered with dead and/or stuck pixels that were blue and black dots no matter if the image was dark or brightly coloured.
The motherboard I had in 2008 was the ASUS P5E Deluxe Gaming motherboard and my dad also bought its successor, the P6T Deluxe. Both were excellent, and as ASUS' slogan from the 1990s used to go "rock solid, heart touching". They were truly excellent boards. Then in 2013, I bought what was coveted to be one of the top of the line boards from one of the very best brands: ASUS' Republic Of Gamers line-up. I bought the Maximus VI Hero and an Intel 4770. Great CPU.....Dumpster fire of a motherboard. I've had motherboards, tablets and GPUs from ASUS (the last product being the MAXIMUS VI Hero 1150 socket released in 2013 as I said) that I had for two years and had nothing but problems: Warping PCB, warped GPU socket, defective RAM slots (x2) and a slew of BIOS issues. And none of the GPUs from the ATI/AMD 2600 to the Nvidia-based 650 (all made by ASUS) lasted more than four months before crapping out. I sent my board down to Mexico and what should have taken two weeks, took three whole months because they lost it. Then claimed they never got it even though it was signed for and I had insurance on it. Three months later, I get it back and it's still not entirely fixed properly. Their Customer Service was anything but.
So I vowed never to by another ASUS product (GPU, Motherboard etc) or ACER monitor. Yet I heard excellent things about the ACER XB321HK, I did a lot of research from Amazon reviews to Tom's Hardware, to PC Mag and at least a dozen Youtube Reviews-- all of them loved the XB 321HK. Then once these problems began and as they became more prevelent and serious, I did more digging and found even more people who have reported problems with this same monitor. The same problems I experienced, and others. So clearly the monitor was not as great as I first was lead to believe.
And ASUS, I have to say their monitors both in terms of features and quality, and at least for checking all my "nice to have" boxes....ASUS is one company that seems to check them all. I have a good friend who has used ASUS monitor for Video Editiong/Content Creation, and he speaks quite highly of them.
My dad raves about BENQ, and I have always had excellent success with Samsung (my previous 1440po monitor is the S27D850T- and excellent monitor, very good quality, very good build)....If it were 32 inches and 4K I'd keep it. I've heard good things about LG monitors, but every LG monitor I have looked at has AMD Certification for FREE Sync.......
So yesterday I borrowed my dad's BENQ PD3200U 4K monitor, and I know I know- it's designed specifically for Photo Editing and other Content Creation such as Animation and CAD (but it shines in high-res Photo Editing)...But I have to say, I am very impressed with how it handles gaming as well. I've played ANTHEM, Fallen Order, Mass Efffect ANDROMEDA and Inqusition, and the colour reproduction, brightness, contrast, sharpness, response time (4 ms) are all excellent. At least as good as the HK321 (when it worked to its peak, as it always should have but rarely did), and I would say in some cases those areas are better with the BENQ even if it does not have fancy features like G-Sync and is limited to a standard refresh rate of 60hz. For my liking and usage, the BENQ PD3200U is equally as good of a gaming monitor in spite of not being specifically designed for such purposes.....And the best part is it is now half the price of the 321HK, and approximately 18 months newer. The XB321HK was released in March 2016, the PD3200U was released in October 2017.
All that being said...I know I rambled....But I have returned the 321HK to Amazon this morning and ordered the PD3200U from Staples for a fraction of the cost. I feel much better.
A HUGE thank you to every one for your time in reading all my posts, for responding, for your advice, support, suggestions and assistance in this matter of my monitor problems. I appreciate your time, efforts and assistance.
Regards
"The Bunny Chaser"