The perfect combination of technical specifications, a high degree of reliability and affordable cost makes the Philips 170S an ideal monitor for budget systems. It is this peripheral device that will be discussed in this material. In addition to its main technical specifications, the communications of this solution, as well as the algorithm for its configuration, will also be considered. All this will allow the potential owner not only to make a choice, but also to configure such a device without outside help.
What segment of the monitor market is the subject of this review aimed at? Equipment
Low cost and mediocre technical parameters clearly and unambiguously indicate that the Philips 170S is an entry-level solution. Therefore, the main scope of application is the office. In this case, the picture quality requirements are minimal. Also, the cost of the peripheral device should be low. These two selection criteria correspond to the object of this review.
The package contents of this device include the following:
Monitor.
VGA wire.
Power cord
Stand.
User manual, which is supplemented by a warranty card.
A disk with software and documentation.
The delivery list is really excellent in this case and does not cause any complaints.
Main characteristics
The matrix with a diagonal length of 17 ”and based on TFT technology underlies the Philips 170S. Its characteristics indicate a resolution of 1280X1024 and an aspect ratio of 3: 4. Screen brightness is limited to 250cd / m2 and dynamic contrast ratio is 500: 1. The reaction time is 12ms.
All of these values indicate that using the Philips 170S as part of gaming PCs is unacceptable. The device certainly will not work for those that are the most dynamic.
The viewing angles of this monitor are limited to 160 degrees for the horizontal direction and 140 degrees for the vertical. At such extreme positions, image distortion on the monitor will already occur. The screen refresh rate is fixed at 60Hz.
In operation mode, power consumption is 30W, and in standby mode - only 1W.
Enumeration of communications. Short connection order. Setup algorithm
The communications list of the Philips monitor in question is kept to a minimum. It includes only two connectors. One of them is power. With its help, power is supplied to the device. The second is the analog VGA port. But now the popular graphic connectors DVI, DISPLAYPORT and HDMI in this case is not provided. It is quite possible to use the first of them to connect, but for this you will have to use a special adapter. In other cases, the image will not work.
The connection of the peripheral solution in question is reduced to connecting the power cord to the power supply network and the monitor, the VGA wire to the connector that is installed in the object of this article, as well as the video output of the computer’s graphics adapter.
At the next stage, it is necessary to install the control software and perform auto-tuning of the monitor. It only makes sense to do it when something in the displayed image does not suit the user. Otherwise, we leave everything unchanged.
Owner reviews. Cost. Conclusion
The advantages of this device include the cost, which is only 16 euros (1100 rubles) in a used form, functionality, reliability and a simple setup procedure.
The list of disadvantages of this monitor includes a modest set of connectors and the use of a matrix format TFT. But these points are due to the budget of the device.
Initially, the Philips 170S cannot boast of outstanding technical specifications. But this is not his destiny. It is intended for use in the office sector. And it is in the composition of such PCs that you can use a similar monitor. But for a gaming application, it certainly does not fit. He has too slow a reaction and a low value of dynamic contrast.