Hi all, old member here who mostly lurked, then lost his account, glad to be back
So I take it there's two different monitors, the "Achieva QH270" and the "Catleap Q270", and the Catleap has a better stand and a higher refresh rate?
I really like my large HannsG, but was really looking for a IPS monitor...
The Achieva Shimian QH270
- Has a slightly more stable stand.
- The refresh only goes up to 65hz or 70hz depending. No one has figured out why some people can only hit 65hz, while others can hit 70hz, there may be an inconsistency with the monitors' firmware, or with people's videocards.
- Input lag is less than a 1/2 frame, around 2-3-or-4ms because it doesn't have a scaler with multiple inputs.
- Has a good
pixel refresh speed, especially compared to other IPS panels, despite having no overdrive.
- All are Glossy.
The Catleap Q270
- (
Edit: suddenly there's a
videoboard lottery that decides which units get higher refresh rates, so far the model without speakers and no antiglare glass is the safest choice, Caveat Emptor) Many Catleap owners are hitting 85hz refresh rates with ATI cards (an artificial firmware limitation that ATI created for it's ramdac, 333mhz). Whereas Nvidia cards will give you 100hz refresh rates (Nvidia uses the full 400mhz ramdac).
- Also has low input lag like the Achieva Shimian, no scaler etc etc.
- Good
pixel refresh speed, just like the Achieva Shimian.
- A
good default factory calibration compared to other monitors. Right out of the box it has decent color accuracy, 2.2 gamma, and the full advertised contrast (ToastyX measured it as 1050 native contrast,
good for IPS). Most of us will have no need to goof around with settings.
- All are glossy.
- Needless to say this model has garnered the most attention, especially after people discovered the high refresh rates, and ToastyX discovering the good factory calibration.
A New clone:
The CROSSOVER 27Q
- Early reports say it is capable of 75hz, but i haven't seen an actual confirmation backed up by actual tests. It may have been tested, i just haven't stumbled upon it yet.
- The stand may be a tad more stable.
- More information and testers are needed.
Both the Catleap and Shimian come in a standard and tempered glass model. People have begun to stay away from the tempered glass model for two reasons: 1) many have had visible dust specks stuck behind the tempered glass 2) they add a second layer, which some people claim that it can cause dual reflections(?).
There is a model with multiple inputs known as the "Catleap
Multi". But since it has a scaler it'll have between 1 to 1-1/2 frames of input lag (16-24ms etc). In the grand scheme of things that amount of input lag isn't so bad, it's still better than any so called "gaming TV" (LCD or plasma which the best models have around 20-32ms input lag).
Here's another large discussion thread:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1675393