iZ3D 22″ LCD Monitor Review

We have reviewed the iZ3D LCD monitor in the past, but that was the 17″ version of yore. Fast forward in time and you get a larger screen real estate as the most notable of improvements. One thing you’ll notice about this monitor when you first take it out of the box is its thickness and weight. In order to fit in the necessary technology to support 3D viewing, that’s about as thin as it gets, but fret not – it won’t take up as much space as those chunky CRTs anyway, but it will take a while for you to get used to seeing something this chunky sitting on your desktop after having a slim LCD monitor all this while. Head on after the jump for the full review, but in the mean time do check out the system specifications.

• 22″ widescreen LCD display
• 1,680 x 1,050 resolution
• Viewing angle of 120/90
• 5ms response time
• 250 nit brightness level
• 600:1 contrast ratio
• Interface: 1 x DVI, 1 x DVI/VGA

The main reason why the iZ3D LCD monitor is so thick is due to the fact that it features a dual panel design so that it can merge two different images into a single one, offering the 3D experience while gaming that you have been hankering after for so long. This is a summary on how the technology works, but what we’re more interested would be how the monitor performs and not what goes on inside, right? After all, how many people who own a Ferrari actually know how the exotic beast functions, but instead prefer to just put the pedal to the metal and hear the roar of its V12 engine.

The box that the 22″ iZ3D comes in is rather hefty, but that is expected since the monitor itself being such a fragile device ought to be protected at all costs against any damage during shipping. Inside the interior are plastic bags securing the connector cables and a few pairs of polarized glasses that are required for your eyes to decipher the 3D effect. A quick start sheet is there to help you get going, but other than that you must be a pretty advanced computer user to be able to figure the whole thing out – if you’re extremely new to the world of computers, I’d strongly recommend getting someone familiar with monitor setups to join you in unwrapping your newest purchase.

This hefty beast would do well to come with a swivel display, so make sure you position it just right before using it as making small adjustments can be quite the pain. As with any other devices for your computer, make sure that all the relevant cables and connectors are hooked up properly before turning it on, since there is nothing quite like a wet blanket experience while trying to get your brand new purchase up and running.

As mentioned earlier, you will need to wear a pair of polarized glasses with the iZ3D LCD monitor if your eyes (and brains) are to decipher the dual images shown on the monitor itself. These glasses won’t win any fashion awards and chances are they will even increase the amount of geek points that you currently have with the opposite sex, but most importantly is the fact that they get the job done. They’re lightweight and comfortable, and iZ3D has even made provision for those wearing glasses by offering clip-on lenses. Be warned, however, that these clip-ons won’t come in varying sizes and shapes knowing that there are tons of different designs for glasses out there in the market these days. An additional pair of polarized glasses are also included so that the back-seat gamer can join in on the action without throwing up.

Oneo word of caution though – games that aren’t on the iZ3D compatibility list have a very high chance of not working with the monitor, and might even crash the entire game. Guess you had best refer to the list of compatible games from iZ3D before you make a $699 purchase lest you remain disappointed with the results (or non-results more like it). Do bear in mind that the iZ3D does not play nice with OpenGL games at all, so all you Counter-Strike 1.6 fans will have to sit this one out. Direct3D mode is supported, but how many people out there actually dwell in games that use that mode anyways? Do take note that having the most up-to-date motherboards and video cards won’t do much for this monitor, since it doesn’t support SLI nor Crossfire configurations, nor does it work with 64-bit operating systems. Now that we’ve got the nitty gritty out of the way, how does it actually function for games that work?

This gaming monitor offers varying 3D experiences, and I believe that most people will be awed by the “wow” factor only for the first few times, only to revert back to their original monitor after a while. Some might take longer than others, but the novelty factor will surely wear off with time. Gameplay tends to be blurry whenever the action heats up – especially in first person shooters, and we all know that that is not conducive for gaming at all. As a consolation for hardcore gamers who have already bought this, at least you can use it as an ordinary 2D monitor for work purposes, although it would be overkill if anyone found out about the iZ3D’s latent capability.

One major drawback would be the need to update the monitor’s driver throughout its lifetime so that newer gaming titles will be able to work with it. Hopefully iZ3D will be able to provide support far and long into the monitor’s lifetime, and even beyond that if possible. Kudos to the iZ3D staff for their efforts thus far – I just hope that they won’t run out of steam so soon.

This monitor has been around for quite a fair bit, and it was originally priced at $999 when first released. That is prohibitively high, but with time, the price has been slashed to $699 today which could be a pretty interesting bargain for folks who have been biding their time to pick one up.

See also our 17” iZ3D LCD monitor review.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Photo-Video, Reviews, Top Stories
Tags: Hands-On