MaximumPC 2001 11

G

ateway’s FHX2402L is one of several
super-slim monitors that we’ve re-
ceived over the past few weeks, but
it distinguished itself immediately by being
the one that made us sit up in our seats and
say, “Wow... that looks really good.” On pa-
per, the 24-inch, 60Hz monitor sounds pretty
standard: TFT active-matrix TN display,
1920x1080 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, and
matte-finish screen. But seeing is indeed
believing, and the FHX2402L impressed with
its crisp detail and clean lines.
While its range of movement isn’t note-
worthy—you can tilt the display but there
is no elevation adjustment or swiveling to
the left or right—the FHX2402L comes with
DVI, VGA, and HDMI cables. We also liked
the fingerprint-resistant mesh pattern on
the back.
For folks who are sick of searching for the
hidden touch-sensitive buttons embedded in
a monitor’s bezel, the FHX2402L off ers relief
in the form of fi ve analog buttons along the
bottom-right side of the bezel.
While the colors didn’t pop with the
vibrancy that you get with a glossy screen,
the FHX2402L did ace the color portions
of our DisplayMate tests, displaying each
shade clearly in the 256 intensity-level color
ramp and giving a stellar performance in the
color-purity and uniformity test.
During the still-photography portion of
the testing, the FHX2402L displayed images
in better quality than we’d previously seen
on any display, producing even minute
details cleanly.
It also did an outstanding job with the
extreme grayscale and the 64-step grayscale
tests, where it produced clearly defi ned lines
and color gradation; furthermore, it excelled
in the sharpness matrix, resolution matrix,
and corner-resolution tests. During the
horizontal-line resolution test, the FHX2402L
displayed sharp, clean lines with distinguish-
able spaces between each line, and did better
on the Moiré Pattern test than previous moni-
tors we’ve seen, showing almost no fuzz or
motion in the lines and patterns.
What didn’t it earn top marks for?
For starters, the dark-screen test, which
revealed some uneven splotches and the

tiniest bit of light leakage on the bottom

right (near the menu buttons). This was

reproduced during our viewing of V for Ven-

detta, where the screen didn’t achieve quite

the black-level detail that we like to see. It

also suffered some during the gray screen-

uniformity test, where it displayed slightly

darker shades in the upper-right corner of

the screen. However, these problems were

not readily apparent while watching our test

movie or while playing Batman: Arkham

Asylum—where the screen continually

produced precise details and textures in

the characters faces and clothing and didn’t

exhibit any abnormal smearing.

Overall, it was easy to ignore the

FHX2402L’s few drawbacks, as it consistent-

ly produced such vivid and sharp images

and detail. –AMBER BOUMAN

Gateway FHX2402L

A display that will make you sit up and take notice

Gateway’s FHX2402L

impressed us by

producing crystal-

clear details and

sharp lines.

VERDICT

$250, http://www.gateway.com

9

Extremely sharp and

detailed images; good

color reproduction.

Can’t adjust height

or swivel; black-level

detail can be lacking.

DEPTH CHARGE

GATEWAY FHX2402L

INSTANT DECAF

http://www.maximumpc.com|JAN 2011 |MAMAMAXIMXIMXIMXIMUUUUMMPPPCC| 89

SPECIFICATIONS

Viewable Area 24 inches 24 inches

Native Resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080

Panel Type TNTN

Inputs DVI, HDMI, VGADVI, HDMI, VGA