Product test
A titan aglow: testing the Philips Momentum 55
by Martin Jud
LG OLED48CX tested: The best gaming monitor that doesn't yet have a graphics card
24.8.2020
Translation: machine translated
The LG OLED48CX is not only a great TV, it is also the perfect companion for PC gamers. And yes, it even fits on the console. Only the graphics card for it has yet to come onto the market. And Windows also slows down the fun.
In my test, I am focussing on the use as a gaming monitor. If you want to use the device as a TV, I recommend reading my colleague Luca's review of the 65-inch version.
Design and specifications
- 48-inch UHD
- HDR10, Dolby Vision
- G-Sync, Freesync Premium
- 4x HDMI 2.1 connections (eARC, VRR and ALLM via HDMI 2.1)
- 1x output for Toslink
- 3x USB 2.0 ports
- 1x LAN port
- Supports AirPlay 2, Google Assistant
Like most televisions or monitors, the OLED48CX is quite inconspicuous from the front. Narrow black edges and the on/off button protrudes a few millimetres at the bottom. The device measures just 4.7 cm at its thickest point. With the stand, however, it is an impressive 25.1 cm. This means that the TV protrudes significantly on a desk. What's more, the stand doesn't offer any adjustment options like you're used to with PC monitors.
Because I initially found the 43-inch Asus too large when I tested it, I was convinced that 48 inches was definitely beyond the scope of an office monitor. But I was wrong. The OLED48CX is undeniably huge, but on my 80 cm deep desk, the size feels just right. Decadent, yes, but simply awesome.
Input lag test
Although OLEDs are rarely used as monitors, as mentioned above, they are ideal for this purpose. This is because the organic diodes deliver extremely fast response speeds, which is crucial in hectic shooters where precise and reactive control is essential.
To measure the input lag, I filmed the TV with a 240 FPS smartphone camera and then counted the frames between the mouse click and the reaction on the screen. I left the picture mode set to "Game" for the entire review. I also activated "Instant Game Response" for the minimum image delay. I leave AMD Freesync inactive as the TV also supports G-Sync and I'm using an Nvidia card. I set the resolution to 3840 x 2160 pixels.
A pleasure to play - especially with HDR
Now that I know that the TV definitely has what it takes to be a real gaming monitor, it's time to game on it. I leave the picture settings as they are. I only deactivate AI Brightness and Energy Saver mode because they often produce a picture that is too dark.
My current highlight, however, is leaning back with the controller and taking a spin with the "Microsoft Flight Simulator". It just looks amazing on the OLED with 3840 x 2160 pixels.
Too big for the office?
The reflective display didn't bother me at any point, even though I'm sitting right next to the window. I also have nothing to criticise about the sharpness of the screen. Something that always causes headaches with Windows in conjunction with UHD and large displays.
Sound quality
All great? Not quite...
There is no real solution for the cropped image. Pixel Shift is another function designed to protect against burn-in. This causes the image to shift slightly from time to time. In Windows, this causes the image to be cut off by a few pixels at the edges. You can only solve the problem by deactivating Pixel Shift, which I do not recommend. Alternatively, you could set a custom resolution that is a few pixels less wide and high.
Then there is the problem with HDR in conjunction with 120 Hz. This requires the HDMI standard 2.1. Unfortunately, there is still no graphics card that can do this. They are expected to arrive with the Nvidia Ampere series in September. This means that you can either game in UHD resolution at 120 Hz without HDR or at a maximum of 60 Hz with HDR enabled. This wouldn't be a problem via DisplayPort, but televisions usually only have HDMI ports, including LG's OLED.
An adapter should fix it
A workaround is an HDMI to DP adapter. I have found exactly one model.
This means that HDR actually works with UHD and 120 Hz. But new problems arise. Firstly, you regularly have to unplug the cable and plug it in again as soon as you change the picture settings. It can also happen that the TV loses the signal when starting and stopping some games. I also initially experienced the old HDR Windows phenomenon with the adapter, where all non-HDR content looks pale when HDR is activated.
You can avoid some problems by using a high-quality HDMI cable. With my previous cable, I had picture artefacts, significantly more dropouts and not all picture settings were possible. But even with the new 8K HDMI 2.1 cable, I have to unplug and plug it back in every now and then.
After several restarts of PC and TV, lots of plugging and unplugging and a lot of experimenting in the Nvidia Control Panel, I finally managed to get HDR to look normal again in Windows.
The input lag has hardly changed with the adapter. In "Call of Duty Modern Warfare" the lag even decreased by 1 ms, but in "Valorant" it increased to 7 ms. In both cases, the lag is so low that it is not noticeable when playing.
Unfortunately, the adapter also brings another problem with it. G-Sync and Freesync no longer work with it. According to the manufacturer Club3D, the graphics card manufacturers must supply the drivers for this.
Conclusion: A dream despite blemishes
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
