Why You Can Trust CNET Eizo ColorEdge CG222W-BK (LCD display) review: Eizo ColorEdge CG222W-BK (LCD display)
Eizo ColorEdge CG222W-BK (LCD display)
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At $1,500, the Eizo ColorEdge CG222W should be considered by graphics professionals only. While the display has color accuracy that's second to none and a plethora of color customization options, its 1,680x1,050 resolution isn't fit for high-def movies or high-performance games. If professional graphics work isn't on your agenda--but you're still looking for a high performing S-PVA-based display that can play games and movies with the best of them--we recommend the lower-priced Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP.
Eizo ColorEdge CG222W-BK (LCD display)
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Design and features
The Eizo ColorEdge CG222W has a medium-gray chassis with a matte finish and features straight, angular corners. The bezel measures a short 0.6 inch long on all sides. The panel is 1.7 inches deep (in comparison, most 22-inch models we've tested have a panel depth of more than an inch); however, the back of the display, which houses the backlight, connection options, and ventilation system, extends another 1.2 inches, bringing the full monitor depth to about 3 inches. The panel width measures 19.8 inches long, which is slightly lower than average for a monitor of this screen size.
The footstand measures 15.6 inches in width, with a depth of 9 inches. The display weighs a solid 24 pounds and the footstand features two "feet" that extend outward at 45-degree angles, increasing the display's stability. Anything short of a wrecking ball won't make it wobble, much less knock it over even when the panel height is extended to its highest point. The height of the panel is adjustable by about 3 inches and the distance from the bottom of the bezel to the desktop is 4.5 inches at its lowest. The panel pivots to the left 90 degrees--useful if you prefer portrait mode. Also, the panel swivels left and right about 45 degrees but doesn't tilt back. The display includes an easy-to-assemble, antireflective hood that drapes the panel, keeping unwanted light out.
Eizo includes two DVI ports as the sole video connection options with two USB downstream and one upstream to the right of the DVIs. Accessing the connections proved fairly easy as they rest to the right of the stand; however, pivoting the display makes access a lot easier. There is no HDMI connection, which is a mainstay on most monitors, but since the Eizo is being pushed toward graphics professionals we're not too surprised as they wouldn't see any benefit from using HDMI over DVI professional graphics applications.
The onscreen display (OSD) array is located in the center of the bottom of the bezel and includes several buttons aligned horizontally. The buttons includes the source button that allows you to switch between the two DVI ports. The "M" button toggles you through a number of color presets like custom and SRGB. The enter button gives you access to brightness, color temperature, gamma, color saturation, hue, and gain--all of which allow you to fine-tune the color to your specific needs. Also, not only can you adjust the red, green, and blue colors, but also the yellow, cyan, and magenta as well. Navigating the OSD took some time to get used to, but was fairly easy after a couple of hours.
The Eizo ColorEdge CG222W's 16:10 aspect ratio has a 1,680x1,050-pixel native resolution. The 16:9 monitor trend currently sweeping the market has given many smaller monitors higher resolutions than they were capable of at 16:10. A 22-incher (or 21.5), with a 16:9 aspect ratio, now has a potential high-def, native resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels as opposed to 1,680x1,050. We understand that those buying the Eizo monitor would have little use for HD resolutions, though.
Manufacturer's specs:
Resolution: 1,680x1,050
Pixel-response rate: 8ms
Contrast ratio: 800:1
Brightness: 200cd/m2
Connectivity: DVIx2
HDCP compliant? Yes
Included video cables? DVI
Backlight type: CCFL
Panel type: S-PVA
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Performance
We tested the Eizo ColorEdge CG222W with its DVI connection. The display posted a composite score of 95 on CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based performance tests. We compared it with the 22-inch HP LP2275w, which scored a 91. The CG222W scored excellently in all our color tests and only faltered in our black-screen test where we saw clouding at the top corners of the screen. We also looked at some high-resolution photos and found that while the colors had much more pop in the custom preset, they were more accurate to the real world in the SRGB preset. For accuracy, we recommend the SRGB setting, but for vibrancy, the default Custom setting works.
The Eizo CG222W achieved a brightness score of 259 candelas per square meter (cd/M2)--higher than Eizo's claimed 200 cd/m2 max. The LP2275, with its brightness of 283 cd/M2, came just a few points under HP's claimed 300 cd/m2 max. We're not sure why Eizo would undercut the CG222W's max maximum brightness in its spec list; however, it's probable they used a different methodology than we did to determine the maximum brightness.
Our "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" DVD ghosting test yielded minimal ghosting on both the Eizo and HP. We played the movie in the Eizo's SRGB and Custom preset and preferred the custom setting, since the colors exhibited more life and popped from the screen more than the drab SRGB setting.
Unreal Tournament 3 looked great running at 1,680x1,050. Again, entertainment, such as movies, doesn't necessarily look better with more accurate colors, and the same holds true in games. We preferred using the more vibrant default custom setting for game playing. Also, the relatively low 1,680x1,050 resolution puts a cap on the impact games can have on this display.
The optimal viewing angle for a monitor is usually directly in front, about a quarter of the screen's distance down from the top. At this angle, you're viewing the colors and gamma correction as they were intended. Most monitors are made to be viewed only at that angle. Depending on its panel type, picture quality at nonoptimal angles varies. Like most monitors, the Dell P2210 uses a TN panel, which gets overly bright or overly dark when viewed from nonoptimal angles. The Eizo was made with an S-PVA panel, which usually shows only a slight change in the gamma correction at the most with angle changes. Indeed, we noticed that the Eizo's screen hardly brightens at all when viewed from the sides, top, or bottom.
In the power consumption tests, the Eizo ColorEdge CG222W drew only 35.87 watts in its Default/On mode--less than HP's S-PVA-based display, the LP2275w, which drew 51.83. Based on our formula, the CG222W would cost $12.93 per year to run. This is compared with the LP2275w's $16.44 per year.
 Juice box | |||
| Eizo ColorEdge CG222W | Avg watts/hour | ||
| On (Default Luminance) | 35.87 | ||
| On (Max Luminance) | 53.41 | ||
| On (Min Luminance) | 24.04 | ||
| Sleep | 3.21 | ||
| Calibrated (200 cd/ M2) | 53.41 | ||
| Annual energy cost | $12.93 | ||
| Score | Poor | ||
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test LCD monitors.
Service and support
Eizo backs the CG222W with a solid five-year parts-and-labor warranty that covers the backlight for three years. It also offers support through a 24-7 toll-free number, and e-mail support. Navigating Eizo's Web site and finding the drivers and product manuals was easy.