Verdict: A fantastic all-rounder

Regular readers will be aware that we take manufacturers' claims with a pinch of salt, and that's exactly what we did with the so-called 'Xtreme' performance of ViewSonic's 4ms display.

For example, the VX724 boasts a 500:1 contrast ratio and a 300 cd/m2 luminance level, but, after the high brightness levels and heavy saturation of the CTX and BenQ, the ViewSonic seems, well, nice but dim.

After a little tinkering with the brightness levels, the VX724 perks up, but this isn't the brightest display on offer, whatever the specs might say. This caused concern in our photo reproduction tests, in which the colours didn't seem as vibrant as they were on the CTX or Sharp displays. In other respects, however, it's a superior performer, with a strong grasp of detail, and wonderfully smooth reproduction of the colour and greyscale ramps.

If the VX724 has any weaknesses, it's that it has trouble with darker red tones and can't quite distinguish between low-saturation greys and whites. That said, there was enough contrast at the dark end to reveal the monsters lurking in Doom 3's many cupboards, and the VX724 didn't struggle with the darker action sequences of 'Bad Boys 2'. The matt screen surface helps here, delivering a good picture without the high reflection of the CTX and BenQ models. The highway chase sequences, meanwhile, revealed another key strength. The ViewSonic was the best 17in on test when it came to high-speed motion, never blurring no matter how many cars were flung towards potty-mouthed Will Smith's Ferrari. The 'Xtreme' performance tag may be naff, but it certainly lives up to its promise.

The controls are a little elementary, with old-school colour temperature settings instead of new-fangled viewing modes, but the VX724 is still a pleasure to use. We can even forgive the lack of a height-adjustable stand in view of the fact that it sits at a very comfortable height already, with a fine range of tilt options. We also aren't worried about the lack of audio - particularly as most of the rival displays have such poor-quality speakers.

The VX724 has no serious flaws and excels in games, movies and everyday use, making it a clear winner.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
• Motherboards - 24th October 2008
• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
• Dream PCs - 24th September 2008
• Headphones - 12th September 2008
• Media PC components - 22nd August 2008
• PSUs - 14th July 2008

• Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB - Hard disks / storage
• Asus EAH4870 TOP - Graphics cards
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro - Sound cards
• Multiwinia - Games
• Zotac GeForce GTX 260² - Graphics cards
• Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 - Graphics cards
• Scan 3XS X58 Core i7 - Desktop PCs