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FPSLabs Home: Samsung 931BF Review

By: Christian Koebel - Published February 24, 2007 at 5:55 PM EST - Writer Archive
In our third Samsung monitor review, we take a look at the new 931BF - a lightning fast 19" LCD that could mean great things for gamers.


Category: Displays
Manufacturer: Samsung
Product: 931BF
Price: $269.99

We’ve always held the position here at GotFrag Hardware that you should get a CRT under most circumstances. In the last few months we’ve attended several LANs, and we must admit that our way of thinking was harsh on the frail computer-nerd body. As such, we’ve been looking at several LCDs to find the “holy grail”; an LCD that came as close as possible to mimicking their CRT cousins, while at only a fraction of the weight and size. We previously reviewed Samsung’s LCD products with the 940BF and 204B, which made strong showings compared to the traditional CRT. Now their new big boy, the 931BF, is in the hot seat. Here’s a quick run down on the specs:


These specifications look impressive, but do they add up? The only way to find out is to read our review of this new product from Samsung.

The Samsung 931BF arrived at our doorstep in some very nice packaging, as we’ve come to expect from Samsung monitors. The screen was protected in a very form-fitting shell of styrofoam, whereas all the extra equipment, cables, adapters, manuals, etc. were all placed in easy to access “pockets” in the padding. The monitor comes with a VGA cable, a DVI cable, a power cable, a CD, and a manual. The monitor and stand must be assembled, but Samsung provides a very simple way of accomplishing this: You use a simple thumbscrew system to screw it in. No snapping it into place during assembly and no five minute struggle to unsnap it for disassembly. Its simplicity is downright clever. The back of the monitor has a pop-out panel that hides the cable and power connectors. Once everything is connected, you can pop that panel back on so that it maintains its smooth stylish design without having some ugly ports sticking out. It’s an interesting way of providing a smooth surface without the incredible annoyance of permanently attached cables.


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User Comments

1
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Nice review. Sounds like CRT's will slowly start to get pushed out in the not too distance future.
Steve Smith is Pro!
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We use all Samsung LCD's at the office, I like them a lot. It's hard to find CRT's anymore, and I wouldn't buy them even if I could - they're just too big, bulky, and yeah, on their way out. Still, LCD's aren't great for high-action FPS games.

It sounds like there will never be a "holy grail of LCD gaming" monitor, so... what's the next tech we can look for to save us?!
3
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Nice review, I'm looking to buy a new LCD monitor for gaming in the future, as I don't have enough room for a CRT :[
:)
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might have to check this out.
(¯`·. we trade liquor for blood .·´¯)
5
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Looks nice
#rt #remnant
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Only Users Lose Drugs
7
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great review. the monitor looks pretty much similar to the 931c.

This comment was edited at 02/25/2007 8:42 PM
Practice makes perfect.
8
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nice review
csp failed - Official Vacan1g fanclub member
9
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Pretty impressive but not quite perfect yet. I'll keep my good ol' 955DF for a while longer. I just wish it had an "auto-adjust" button.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind. -Einstein
10
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#6 Yeah, I was about to post the link to wikipedia about this technology. Difintely waiting for SED, no point in wasting money on an expensive LCD screen that cant even keep up with a cheap CRT.
11
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FPSLabs - Managing Editor - http://www.fpslabs.com - #fpslabs @ gamesurge
12
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Something incredibly amazing will have to come out for me to switch from a CRT, and I haven't seen one yet and don't foresee it anytime soon. My 997DF will last me awhile longer and I'll go for used ones after this one is gone.
13
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nice review. I've had this monitor for several months now and it's been nothing but fantastic. The transition from CRT to this LCD was easy and the cheap price and great specs were a no brainer.

However, when i first bought it, all the sites i checked (samsung.com bestbuy, futureshop, etc) said that the contrast ratio was 2000:1, you guys have it at 700:1. Im just curious as to which one it really is now...

This comment was edited at 02/27/2007 8:13 PM
r1ceman -- #ReaL
14
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honestly how the f can you see the ghosting?

i couldn't see any ghosting on a DV175 17" LCD, which has 12ms.
No man of the flesh could ever stop me
15
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#11 didn't know you wrote a piece on it but hey.
oh and by the way, have a look at the monitor reviews on behardware some time. gf hw's monitor reviews are pretty good (well above average) but behardware's are some of the best i've ever read.
Only Users Lose Drugs
16
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This was the LCD I was contemplating getting until I decided I wouldn't want to be restricted to a low resolution of 1280x1024. I also do a decent amount of graphic/video editing, so having a more true color palette compared to any 19" LCD or below was a must. Those were the only reasons I went with the Samsung 204B as a 20.1" 1600x1200. If you are looking to get one of the best LCDs for gaming, this is one to look at.
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I currently have this monitor, and I am so glad I purchased it. The only issue I have with LCDs is that they have native resolutions and it seems to blow anything up that is running at a lower resolution. Besides this monitor is simply awesome. I have to admit though that the contrast is practically over kill. Your eyes will have to get use to it to.
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