Verdict: Nice to look at, but too dim to leave much of an impact

If the E1700S proves anything, it's that even a basic budget monitor can be improved by a matt-black finish. It's already a more attractive design than the BenQ or CTX, with a few more curves in the stand and bottom bezel, but the colour certainly helps it to look more expensive than it is.

However, that's where the compliments end. Firstly, the E1700S isn't the most comfortable monitor to use; it sits low on the desk, so you'll need to raise it up on something to avoid neck strain. The controls and menu system are clean and functional, but cover only the basic options. In comparison to the rest of the monitors on test, the screen is slightly dim, while the built-in speakers are as feeble as their small size would suggest. Viewing angles are also unimpressive, with a loss of brightness and shift of colour sweeping in once you pass 45 degrees from perpendicular.

In our tests, the performance was equally unspectacular. The results in the technical trials were at the lower end of the spectrum, with quite severe banding in the greyscale range tests. The E1700S was a better bet for photos; its natural colours and fine detail gave images more impact than the similarly dim LG, although the panel predictably failed to resolve lighter details, such as clouds in a bright but overcast sky. The image in the HD movie tests was rather soft, and the E1700S struggled in the depths of Hogwarts lake, making it difficult to see all the action in the sub-aquatic gloom.

When it came to games, the E1700S disappointed once again. The image was tight and smear-free, but the screen lacks the dynamic range to do justice to Prey, while the limited brightness means that the solar glares in Need for Speed: Most Wanted were reduced to a gentle glow. You can still enjoy the game - you just don't experience the full effect of it. The E1700S isn't an awful monitor by any means but, given the competition at this price point, your money is better spent elsewhere.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
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