EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/gbiaQ.jpg)
This review is long overdue but it'll be worth it! I promise... or not, I'm undecided anyway…
To start off with I had to Rambo my desk to put this sweet piece of hardware on it. And let me just tell you - once you go BenQ you never go back.
The RL2450H took me no longer than 10 minutes to put together - and if you know me and how clumsy I am - that is a record for me. The bottom of the unit is split into two pieces: a stand and a base. These two connect with an audible click, then all you need to do is lock the panel onto the base, and when you hear another click you’re good to go. Full marks for ease of setup. Off to a great start.
Furthermore, it presents a remarkably unique design with its matte black bezel and matte screen finish. It has a nice vibrant red trim along the base and the LED lights are a perfect soft dim colour which is a great if you don’t like blindingly bright lights during your stay in the basement (I’m looking at you basement dwellers). What I really noticed is that the BenQ RL2450H has a stronger and sturdier build compared to my old monitor. The stand is also uniquely shaped, with a great looking curved base that ensures the monitor stays upright at all times. BenQ also kept its branding to a minimum with no overt logos and unwanted markings, unlike my old Samsung monitor which felt the need to let me know what the meaning of life was.
The screen itself is exceedingly responsive, almost flawlessly so. The 24" panel provides 2ms response time and the supports Full HD 1080p resolution. The HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub connectivity options are hidden behind the monitor which is a great idea because some people like to wall mount their monitors (as I understand most console players do). It also has the Black eQualizer, which is a feature that makes the darker spots on the monitor brighter whilst keeping the lighter spots from becoming brighter, personally I found it great for dealing with shadow-ninjas in CS:GO!
The Display mode and Smart Scaling features also allow you to streamline your in-game experience, interchanging instantly between different screen sizes, using the Display mode. This is really useful for anyone that is used to a 4:3, 16:10 or 16
aspect ratio and want to keep their settings consistent. The Smart Scaling feature also allows you to customize the image without restraint, by scaling the screen content to any custom size as set by you! It also has a newly designed OSD that enables you to suitably change your settings in a responsive, horizontal slide out menu display. I found it was exceedingly comfortable to comfortable to navigate between options and settings for aspect ratio, sizing, color and the Black eQualizer feature.I understand that BenQ collaborated with the knowledge of players from the famous StarTale StarCraft 2 team to create this gaming monitor. It performed superbly with sharp detail and no lag which shows it doesn't stop it from being a versatile, all-genre gaming monitor. However, to sate my curiosity, I did have to test it out on StarCraft 2. I may not be a pro (that’s something only a pro would say) but from what I can tell, the game requires the player to have the reaction time of 0.01 and a faultless focus. The monitor helps this by offering a specific 'RTS mode' which is directed at providing this focus to the professional gamer. The graphics were sharper and everything dark was made to seem brighter and more vibrant. I could easily identify details and units on both my mini-map and in-game. Even though I am a total StarCraft 2 noob, this really made grouping units and throwing attacks at my opponent easy.
After using this monitor for a couple of weeks I can definitely say I have picked up so many chicks at the club because they just know a BenQ monitor user when they see one.
PROS:
2ms
Black eQualizer is OP!
Quality build with GAMING aesthetic
User Friendly UI for easy tweaking
Doesn't cost an arm and a leg
Light and easily transportable
CONS:
No height adjustability for this model
Doesn’t let me download food
Won't tell me it loves me
You can find the BenQ product here: http://www.benq.com.au/product/monitor/rl2450h
Also want to thank, BenQ Australia, Josh "deathdoG" Edwards and Team Immunity!
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