Now it’s time to get down to the interesting part of the review; the actual testing of this baby. Since I have developed a strong hatred for analog, I tested the 172X using the DVI connection first.

The first thing I did after hitting Windows is test out the OSD, or On Screen Display. The OSD is the usual OSD that Samsung uses for 99% of their displays, which is fine because it works well. Touching the Menu button brings up the main window for the OSD and allows for the adjustment of varying settings, some only available in analog mode. They include Brightness, Contrast, Image Lock, Screen Position, Reset, Color Controls, Language, Halftone, Menu Position, Menu Display Time, and Source. All the settings with the exception of the menu settings, brightness, and contrast are only available when using the analog input.

The 2D image quality on the 172X is quite good at its native resolution of 1280x1024, although the color is not as vivid as on the 173P I recently reviewed. You can definitely see the difference in contrast between the two, the 173P being 700:1 rather than the 500:1 of this display. As usual with the Samsung displays I have reviewed, I found no dead or stuck pixels. Dropping it down to say, 1024x768, for example, drops the image quality down as with any LCD. The text stays relatively sharp, but does get blocky. The display is easily read through all but the extreme ends of the viewing angle. The image darkens and text becomes unreadable as you approach the 160°(H)/140°(V) marks.

Analog mode drops the IQ down a hair. The image and text are not quite as sharp, although you can tweak the settings through the OSD, or just hit the “Auto” button to have the LCD calibrate itself. Over all image quality is good, but not as crisp as using DVI, which I much, much, much, much (you get the point) prefer. As I mentioned earlier, I found the control buttons to be infuriating to use, since the same color indented button labels are IMPOSSIBLE to read in the dark and ALMOST impossible in the light, and I found myself constantly hitting the wrong button until I finally learned the positions of them.

Now I have seen some reviews of this LCD already publish on the net and have read complaints of ‘extreme ghosting’, which is odd since it is listed as being 12ms. Well, there is only one way to find out, test it out for myself. I fired in my Pirates of the Caribbean (Savvy?)  DVD and watched it yet again (that makes about 50 times since I bought it) and it looked great on the 172X. I noticed no noticeable blur in fast moving scenes.

Next was one of my all time favorite movies, The Princess Bride. I watched it until Inigo Montoya finally got his revenge on Count Rugen. Man that movie is great (Inconceivable!!!).  Again, image quality was excellent, and I had no major complaints.

The major test of interest to users is gaming. That has to be the weak spot – other than the higher prices versus CRT’s – of the LCD. Up until recently, pixel response time was not good enough to be able to game without ghosting, streaking, and a blur effect. With the advent of 25ms displays, that effect was greatly reduced to a tolerable level, but was still not perfect. Then came the 16ms display, which in theory showed no ghosting or blurring effects whatsoever. Now I have learned over the years that paper specifications can be deceiving and companies can make misleading claims in regards to specs that we the common user cannot readily verify without special equipment. We can only use our low tech ocular testing devices (our eyes, heh) and they aren’t solid proof as everyone’s perception is different.

Anyways, back on track. After firing up Need for Speed: Underground which I quickly became thoroughly addicted to, I noticed no motion blur whatsoever. I am used to a slight blur that is apparent on 25ms LCD’s, but even that minimal amount was not present. Call of Duty played equally well on this display. Once again, no ghosting or blur was present.

All of the above game and DVD testing was done in DVI mode. Due to time and schedule constraints I did not test DVD playback and gaming in analog mode. If I get a few emails requesting it, I will test it in analog when I get the time, but due to DVI being the preferred input, I will leave it at that for now.

LCD display technology is becoming advanced enough to satisfy even the gaming crowd, with 16ms and now 12ms displays starting to appear on the market. Samsung is once again fighting for top spot in the market and the 172X is their entry into the gamers LCD arena. With a blazing fast 12ms pixel response time curing it of the common ghosting and blur that is associated with LCD’s and packing it in a slim, sexy package, this display is definitely worth a second look if you are on the hunt for a decent 17” LCD. Gaming and DVD playback were downright excellent in DVI mode as well as the 2D image quality.

The only things that I DIDN’T like about the 172X were the location and labeling of the interface buttons and the lack of height that the stand provides. The button labels are only etched into the trim and not colored differently which makes them very hard to read, and the stand only allows for a 45mm raise in height, putting the max height of the panel at approximately 7cm.

That aside, the 172X is a great display and I really enjoyed gaming on it. I will give it a solid 4 out of 5. Now, if only it were a 19” or 21”…….