BenQ EW2420

BenQ says its EW2420 ‘brings you big-time, cinema class enjoyment with deeper blacks and up to 11 multimedia connections'.

In terms of connectivity the BenQ is packed to the brim with input ports. For video input you get D-Sub, DVI and two HDMI input ports. The only other screen in this test with two HDMI ports is the Samsung SyncMaster FX2490HD, which can act as a computer screen and a TV.

The BenQ is also equipped with a USB hub, features integrated speakers and, like NEC's much more expensive EA231WMi, offers an integrated power adapter. There's also a useful cable organiser that you can use to keep your cables in check. Handy.

With 24-inches of screen space and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the BenQ is ideal for HD content and gaming. The screen's 16:9 aspect ratio, vibrant colours and strong contrast make content come alive and thanks to its brightness rating of 250cd/m2, the EW2420 offers enough brightness to overcome washout from ambient light sources. Studying the screen's colours more closely we were surprised to find that blacks, while fairly deep, have a slight tinge of gray.

With a response time of 8ms the BenQ is, on paper at least, one of the slower screens in this round-up. In reality however we noticed no blur when we threw our movies and games at it.