I had this model months ago but used it and I kept tinkering around with it to see any visual or performance differences between HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4a in HDR and 240hz. I was able to see differences - which I thought was ODD since HDMI 2.1 had greater bandwidth and was newer.
To put it short, DP was quicker, had whiter whites at similar adjustment and it allowed me to get into the BIOS, which HDMI does not even display the BIOS screen! DP with DSC is the only version that allows you to get 1440P/HDR/10-bit color/240hz. HDMI 2.1 allows those with room to spare. I then tried those settings with DP 1.4 with no DSC, and it will not allow anything above 144hz. I found that odd since DP specs say that it is doable.
From gaming, I found that DP 1.4 @144hz AND @240hz DSC, reacted quicker than HDMI 2.1 (both with the latest, high quality official cables) and gaming textures appeared more realistic and more detailed. Of course, I am wondering how this was possible - but that is what I got! I also noticed that when I gamed with 2.1 and DP DSC @240hz, performance took a hit - which I again thought was ODD! Colors even looked washed out @240hz - gaming and Windows. I was starting to think that LG was using 240hz as a marketing gimmick and it was really a 144hz monitor pushed to 240hz by monitor software. Then I thought - the overdrive in the monitor pushes it to 265hz, so something else was up.
Anyway, I just kept checking this out online, mainly for pricing - just out of curiosity. I like to see if I got the best deal. So, I look on Amazon and I see that it is going for about $150 LESS than I paid not long ago. For some reason, Amazon did not want to give me the price difference and save a return. I am glad that they did not!!!
Today, I get the replacement model and although the box was damaged - this replacement was manufactured on 07/2022 and the previous was 05/2022. I decided to look at the dates once I hooked the new one up and immediately noticed TWO things - NOT LAG @240hz, and more luscious and distinct colors! This was at 240hz, so I decided to run more tests! THIS TIME, I immediately noticed MORE color, MORE detail and more freedom in HD/4K movies, gaming and internet! I viewed the same scenes from Book of Boba Fett, and on the other model, it looked great, but nothing special. On this replacement - it looked liked something special! This time, I could see the stitching in the clothing and difference textures on Fett's helmet, along with totally distinct colors and extreme detail! The difference as clear.
In gaming, I started up GTA V Online and more details were clear and the city looked more realistic as colors were more localized for whatever section of the city had whatever color scheme. There were more minute details in effects and textures. Most importantly - @240hz - it was SMOOTH, CLEAN, QUICK, with no lag! This was on DP 1.4a and HDMI 2.1! Textures were more realistic and brought greater effect!
This time, it also seemed as if the greater bandwidth in HDMI 2.1 was showing. However, both performed greatly. Maybe the replacement had a newer firmware, allowing the full bandwidth of both inputs, or the old one just had some issue holding them back. Either way, I am happy that I switched out, as I save money AND get better performance!
Lastly, I don't want a 4K monitor, as I don't want my PC having as good or better quality as my TV - even though watching live shows on this monitor @240hz DOES bring in better quality than the TV. Sometimes I imagine if seeing 4K @240hz would look even better...
UPDATE ONE: I noticed some edge bleeding along the bottom and it turns black into a cranberry or faded look. As much as I love the performance of THIS one, I may have to exchange it. I just hope that the next one has the uniformity of the first one but with the quality and performance of the second one. They SHOULD have better quality control at this price point. Part of me wonder if I got a 4K panel reduced to 1440P. We will see....
UPDATE TWO (12/19/22): I did receive the new one and I did get the best of both worlds! I now have the black and more uniform display of the first one, along with the performance and detail of the second one - despite it having been manufactured on 6/22.
I feared for the worse, but now I can safely say that this is it and I am satisfied. I went over all materials that I had gone over with the 2nd model and blacks in the corners are black and not emitting a cranberry color light and watching movies or anything is now more even with a much better presentation. Blacks are blacks (as far as LCD's go) and colors are backed by black and actual white, without the cranberry coloring infringing on the picture.
The only small detail is that it is not quite as detailed as the 2nd, but it is close. Maybe the extra light did something to the picture, but the added blacks on the 3rd reinforce the picture. I knew that constantly seeing that cranberry coloring in the corners would always be on my mind, and I am glad that I made the switch.
Hopefully this will be the last monitor that I buy for years. There is STILL the issue of colors looking richer from Displayport than on HDMI 2.1 @240hz, despite HDMI having more bandwidth. I still find that odd. I thought that both had the same color capabilities. I also tried 260hz and I have not noticed any oddities and it made the picture a little sharper and more detailed.
This seems like the best overall deal for a monitor with HDMI 2.1 and the other features. If you do get a different brand, make sure it has DP 1.4a if it does not have HDMI 2.1.
Lastly, the 240hz picture - be it watching videos or playing games, looks very clean and clear and dare I say better than a 4K TV. It reminds me of 1080i vs 1080P.
UPDATE THREE (7/1/2023):
LOL. Yes, another update. I thought that I should add, that I originally used a separately purchased HDMI 2.1 cable and all of the above applied to that. I JUST got around to switching to an unlicensed Pacroban white cable that I bought about 3 years ago - and that, for some reason, gave an instantaneous improvement in bandwidth! I don't know if it was what it was made of or what, but when I was playing GTA V online, everything was rendered with all setting maxed out! Even MORE details came out with small particle effects such as glass being shot out, explosions, smoke, debris in the air, cars that look even more like painted metal, rocks that look more realistic and with more depth! Best of all - ZERO latency and when I moved the mouse around, the 48gbps HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, finally felt as if it had the bandwidth to spare!
However - it get's even better!!! I put the licensed cable on my 4K TV - and THAT one greatly improved the picture quality similar to what I just described for my 4k Sony player! So... I decided to use the licensed cable from another brand and hook it up to my PC - and what I just described was the same - but better!!!! There must be some internal differences between cable quality, as I used to keep trying to decide if the DP was better and why the HDMI 2.1 seemed no better than DP. NOW, it is a no contest! I ditched the DP cable and now the HDMI 2.1 is a the CLEAR-CUT winner!
Add to that an NVIDIA update that now allows the BIOS to be accessed through HDMI, and now HDMI 2.1 is where it is at all the way. The improvement is so great, that I now give this monitor the full five stars instead of four! NOW - I have the experience that I expected from this! it is crazy how after a year, my mind is blown even more so!
| Standing screen display size | 32 Inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 2560x1440 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 2560 x 1440 Pixels |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 3 |
