Verdict: Worth a look if you value size over substance

If Darth Vader had a desktop then this is probably the monitor he'd want sitting on it. The gloss-black finish and curved speaker grille would suit the Sith Lord's distinctive sense of style, and the base might remind him of his favourite Tie Advanced. And what could be better than a whacking 22in screen when you have a hefty facemask and lava-damaged eyes?

However, Lord Vader might not find everything about the VX2234wm to his liking. In some respects, this monitor and the Mirai resurrect the old 19in vs 17in TFT debate: is it worth paying for two extra inches, when all you get is the same resolution made larger? This means that, when it comes to general desktop applications and showing off your snaps, the VX2234wm can't quite match the best 20.1in monitors for clarity, although some people might find the slightly larger text more legible.

Black level performance is mediocre; a little backlight seeps through at the edges, and the VX2234wm also has problems distinguishing lighter tints from white. Nor are the viewing angles perfect, with the VX2234wm losing contrast at angles where the NEC or Philips monitors were still going strong.

However, this didn't seem to affect the panel's presentation of DVD or HD movies, or fast-moving action games. The larger pixel size made 'Amazing Caves' appear a little grainy, but the sheer screen size added heft to this and the '300' trailer. Interestingly, the screen's cinema mode boosts the saturation a little too high, making the skin tones and textures in 'Harry Potter' look unnatural, while again, the screen size shows up every blotch or artefact in the source material. It's worth losing definition in Need for Speed: Most Wanted to see it run on a screen this size, and the VX2234wm coped admirably with the glare effects. Prey was equally fantastic, with fine handling of both the game's high contrast lighting and its shadow detail.

It's a toss-up as to whether you want better colour response, clarity and contrast, or the cinematic game experience of a really big screen. If you favour the latter option then the VX2234wm makes some sense.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
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• OCZ Core Series 30GB - Hard disks / storage
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• Asus EAH4870 TOP - Graphics cards
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro - Sound cards
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