Looking for feedback on the AUO B173QTN01.0 3K 120hz G-Sync screen

Hello folks.

I'm looking for any feedback and overall impressions of the QHD 120hz G-Sync panel, AUO B173QTN01.0

I know this isn't specific to Sager/Clevo, as Aorus and AW are both using this panel as well, but i'm about to pull the trigger on an EVOC (Clevo) P870KM1 from HIDevolution and this is my final sticking point.

There seems to be fewer complaints about this panel on the Clevo than the same panel used by other companies.

I'm specifically looking for a few things:

1: How's the color? I understand it's a TN and not IPS, and I plan to have them color calibrate for me, but how is your image quality?

2: Any issues with banding/striping? I know this issue has been beaten to death, but I can't find a unified thread dealing with it. This thing is far too expensive to have that issue. If i'm going to have banding making images blurry, then I might as well get a different model with a 1080p IPS screen (why get 1440p at it's increased performance cost, if the image quality is no better or even worse than 1080p?)

3: Any regrets? Do you wish you had waited for the technology to mature on laptops more, or wish you had gone 1080p IPS?

I'm being obnoxiously obsessive and OCD about this, so feel free to leave as much info and detail as you'd like. The few videos I can find featuring this display are either lowish quality or don't focus their attention on the display itself.

Thanks in advance!

 

Color is good for an TN, still can't beat a decent IPS.

Banding is there but not really visible from normal viewing distance.

@Phoenix

 

That is a TN panel AFAIK.
When looking at the panel and clearly see a lot of TN color shift.


Also even without thinking about it, I can clearly see the pixels a lot of times. Which is rather poor for a 1440p panel.
I'm going to swap it out for the 4k AUO I have in my DM1.

 

While the banding doesn't appear unless you stick your face close to the screen, and in fact, if noone told me about it I probably wouldn't have noticed it.

The FHD 120hz / 5 ms TN screen on the MSI GT73VR Titan PRO IMHO is far superior in terms of color reproduction and overall cleanliness of the screen.

See this:

EVOC P870DM3 Review by Phoenix

Then this:

MSI GT73VR 7RF Titan Pro-425 Review By Phoenix

Watch the videos in both.

The Clevo has a better CPU, easier access to components such as the RAM under the keyboard, and it has a desktop class CPU so upgrading is better but overall, I like the MSI more as a complete package. The screen and keyboard on the MSI to me beat the Clevo despite it being a BGA laptop. It's all about the overall experience not just the benchmarks that the Clevo will wait due its desktop CPU.

Ask yourself, what do you value more, being able to squeeze the max performance and win benchmarks or do you want to enjoy a great overall laptop like the MSI with a better keyboard and better screen?

 

When I had my P870DM3, I had no issues with the 120hz 1440p panel. There is some banding but I would still choose it again. I have lots of experience with the MSI GT73VR 6RF 120hz FHD panel and it is a nice panel too. I can't go back to 60hz anymore. I recently changed out the FHD 60hz panel to a 120hz panel in my Tornado F5 and I'm loving it.

 

Overall, I don't think we've had very much negative feedback on it. I know I've had a couple people not like the banding, but overall it is a personal preference and most aren't bothered by it.

 

Thanks for the responses everyone! Keep em coming in. Lotsa thinking to do on my part.

This is extremely helpful. Thanks a lot for the reply and videos. You've really got me thinking now....it's tempting. It would break my heart to go from the 1080 SLI setup in the Evoc Clevo down to a single 1080 setup with the MSI, but it might be worth it.

I noticed there's also a similar set up with a similar panel (IPS rather than TN, but still 120hz and G-Sync) in the ASUS ROG G701VI-XS72K from HIDevolution. Any thoughts on that? When built the same, comes out to roughly the same price as the MSI you mentioned but with an IPS screen rather than TN. Hmmm.

 

The IPS screens don't get the same pixel response times so it's not as good for fast paced games but the colour and viewing angles are a lot better.

 

It's a tough choice really, I've seen an ASUS laptop screen with an IPS screen, man it is so clear you feel you're looking at a real paper in your hand when you look at text. would I choose it over a less crisp TN panel? heck no! higher refresh rate and lower response time FTW

What do you do more? Game or use Photoshop or video edit? If you game a lot, then you won't like the ghosting in faced paced action on the IPS panels

 

I actually had it changed from the 120Hz WQHD to the 60Hz UHD screen because the banding bothered me a little too much.
Also seeing it next to the UHD IPS screen didn't help much.

I might get an extra WQHD panel so I can swap when I feel like it, but apparently the cable is different too and I can't find one for the WQHD...

 

Whoever did the swap should be able to source cables for you.

 

Got my unit back today and it turned out to be the same cable, so just a panel swap.

But now I'm getting the idea it might be nice to be able to swap at will and I might be looking for a AUO B173QTN01.0 panel...
But to be sure, are ALL those panels G-sync capable? I think I read somewhere there are non G-sync versions too, I'd want it WITH G-sync. Thy don't have the exact same model number do they?

 

Two days ago I received my P775DM3-G from HIDevolution. I love everything about it except this panel. Pretty sure I'm seeing the same striping issue mentioned here and elsewhere ( http://forum.aorus.com/forum/gaming-laptops/39220-striping-in-screen-please-advise, for example). Some people can apparently tolerate it but I can't stand the stripes; they're very obvious to me from a normal viewing distance and appear on pretty much every color but pure black and white.

A macro photo clearly shows the alternating rows of dark and light pixels causing the issue.



Compare to the macro photo of the same image viewed on an old 1080p screen which shows solid colors and clean gradients.



The thread I linked to above indicates there hasn't been any resolution to this issue.

I'll contact HIDevolution on Monday when they open, but does anyone familiar with HID think they would be able to just swap in the 4K screen for me (for the difference in price, of course, plus any applicable fees)?

 

I can't say what HID would do. I do know it's a very easy swap. Same cable, just loosen 2 screws and pry off the panel.
You could check eBay perhaps for that panel if HID asks too much for it.

I had the same thing, couldn't get used to the stripes and had it swapped for the UHD panel. Such a pretty screen... but, 120Hz does lure...
So I'm getting one off of eBay as well, only 89$ for the WQHD. And when I feel like high FPS games, swapparoo!

 

@Donald@HIDevolution
Is it possible to buy another panel with the 4k screen which was included in the laptop itself?

 

3k
Pros
-High refresh rate & fast response time (good for gaming)
-Better scaling on windows 10
-More future proof since newer games will perform better on lower resolution
Cons
-If you are a gamer since 1080sli is overkill for current games for now, you are not taking full advantage of your gpu by playing on lower resolution
-Banding effect according to some of the forum members.

4K
Pros
-Better color reproduction! (Good if you are into graphic design or photo editing)
-Better visuals/viewing angle (movies, games, etc)
-8th best notebook display according to this http://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Best-Notebook-Displays-As-Reviewed-By-Notebookcheck.120541.0.html and a review http://www.notebookcheck.net/Schenker-XMG-U727-Clevo-P870DM3-G-Notebook-Review.173957.0.html
-More room for work since everything is scaled small. Good for multitasking if you don't have a secondary display.
Cons
-Content created in 4k is limited.
-Windows 10 scale bad in 4k (not all application by the way)
-It will drain the battery more quickly.

I was planning on getting that 4k display also but when I saw that there will be a 4k 100hz HDR monitor that will come out from ACER and ASUS, I decided to save the money and just purchase a secondary display.

 

1080 SLI is not too overkill for 120hz 1440p in modern games.

 

Thank you for those pics. I was considering swapping the QFHD for the 120Hz QHD but will not now, since I do use it for some graphics work, that unevenness is completely unacceptable. Plus 980Ms aren't anywhere near enough to drive QHD 120Hz anyway on anything <2yrs old

 

?? Don't really understand what you are asking. For inquiries like this please email me at [email protected] and include your name and contact information.

 

I sent you a mail

 

I get that banding on my 4K Samsung (LTN156FL02-101) after the screen tries to enter power saving. The banding fades after several hours of leaving the laptop off.

I may just be getting it because my screen install is a complete hack and my screen is missing the backlight disable line from the GPU, but setting power saving to never turn off the display is a workaround for me.