First Impressions
The packaging here is almost identical to the ML248H. It comes in a very basic box and everything included is the same. We have the two ring stand, the power adapter and cord, the HDMI-DVI cable and D-sub cable.
 ML249H Box |
 ML249H Packaging |
The display has two stand options. You can either use one of the rings or two. I prefer two as I don’t really like the idea of the monitor actually touching my desk. I have a feeling it could lead to some nasty scratches if you’re not careful.
One of the main differences with this ML249H is that the entire unit is black. It looks just as good as it did before, maybe even better given that the entire unit is one uniform color now.
ML249H Back
Nothing has changed with the LED touch sensitive buttons. It looks great, the light is so subtle and the buttons are responsive. This is still my favorite design out of anything I’ve used so far.
ML249H OSD Buttons
The Features
The ML249H comes with ASUS Splendid modes. There are six modes, exactly the same as the ML248H.
ML249H SPLENDID Modes
All the usual controls are there, brightness, contrast, color adjustments, image adjustments and volume for the headphone jack.
Again, the volume control is only accesible through the menus and there’s no shortcut to adjust volume on the fly. They really should swap out the contrast button as who ever really changes their contrast that often?
There is no DVI port, only HDMI and VGA. This is a total plus for me as I love using my HDMI cables for everything. I don’t know about you but I find those screws at the side quite annoying. Good riddance I say.
ML249H Ports
For Gaming
I’ve been playing Battlefield 3 all week but I usually run the monitor through a few games just to see how things look. I was paying careful attention to any ghosting or blurring on this monitor due to its questionable 8 ms (GTG) response time. What I found out was quite surprising.
The colors looked very good but I was noticing some strange, yellowish blurring. It seemed like there was some type of color distortion as the monitor was transitioning from color to color. It was most apparent in the off-whites and even the browns left a purplish trail. I recorded a video of this to demonstrate. This is from the very first level of Portal 2.
I’ve taken some stills as well so it’s more apparent.
 MBP Ghosting Test |
VS. |
 ML249H Ghosting Test |
Quite frankly this is very bizarre. This is my first experience with an MVA panel so this is very new to me. I have a feeling this is inherent to the technology however…
Regardless, this is a deal breaker for me personally. I can’t possibly recommend this monitor for gaming purposes. The color distortion is simply too distracting.
For Media
In preparation for Kung Fu Panda 2, I decided to watch the original Kung Fu Panda.
Kung Fu Panda on ML249H
The colors look quite amazing on this display actually. The default settings are some of the best I’ve seen yet. We’ll get a chance to look at this once we test the colors.
Testing Colors
For the color test we will be using the Lacie Blue Eye Pro software and hardware for our calibration. Here are the default settings of the Standard Mode using the Windows 7 default color profile:
Pretty good for default settings. The color gamut is actually quite wide on this display although it’s a bit off on the green side. Let’s calibrate this thing and see what we come up with.
The calibration process is both tweaking the physical settings on the monitor as well as creating a color profile. These are the external adjustments made via the monitor settings:
| Brightness (120 cd/m2) | 0 |
| Contrast | 80 |
| Red | 100 |
| Green | 96 |
| Blue | 89 |
After the final calibration is done, an ICC profile is created. This will be made available for download to those interested in calibrating their monitors but don’t have the necessary equipment to do so. Just remember to tweak your monitor settings as well.
Here are the final calibration results:
Not bad. I usually like any Delta E peaks to be under one but anything under a three is considered excellent color fidelity. No complaints here.
Conclusion
I really wanted to like this monitor. In fact, I came into this review thinking it was going to be a breeze. I assumed the 8 ms response time was just folks being paranoid and that it would be fine regardless. It turns out I may have been mistaken.
I don’t think the response time is the issue necessarily but the fact that the colors distort upon transition. I think the slower than usual response time just exacerbates the problem.
I have a feeling an 8 ms response time on a TN panel or IPS panel would not have the same effect. This may be a problem that’s isolated to MVA technology, however, I won’t be able to know for certain unless I have another monitor to compare it with.
That said, I’ve never had any issues with TN displays at 2 ms – 5 ms response times. Even the IPS displays I’ve used, which usually have the slowest response times out of all of them, have been just fine for gaming or otherwise.
Despite my criticism, the ML249H is still a great monitor for other things. The colors are excellent, the design is still fantastic and it also has great viewing angles. It would probably be the perfect solution for a workplace environment.
However, this site is about gaming and thus, the ML249H isn’t very well suited for it. I highly recommend its cousin, the ML248H. Check out our review for it as it is still one of my favorite monitors I’ve ever used.
Best Gaming Monitor
Andy H.
| Good | Bad |
|
|
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Price |    |
| Decent price but given what you're getting, probably not worth it. | |
| Performance | |
| While this monitor has some very good traits, the color distortion issue is rather distracting. It's also a tad slow with response times. Colors are great though. | |
| Features | |
| Same features as you normal get with ASUS displays. | |
| Style | |
| Love the design of this monitor. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| While not really a bad monitor overall, it isn't ideal for gaming. There are definitely much better solutions out there. | |
Model
| Brand | ASUS |
| Model | ML249H |
| Color | Black |
| Type | MVA Panel |
| Backlight | LED |
| Launch Date | March 2011 |
Display
| Screen Size | 24″ Widescreen |
| Native Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Response Time | 8 ms (GTG) |
| Contrast Ratio | ASCR 50,000,000;1 (3,000:1) |
| Viewing Angle | 178°(H) / 178°(V) |
| Display Colors | 16.7 Million |
| Max Brightness | 250 cd/m2 |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.2652mm |
Connectivity
| D-Sub | 1 |
| HDMI | 1 |
Power
| Power Consumption | Power On: <39W |
| Power saving mode:<0.5W | |
| Power Off mode: <0.5W |
Features
| Stand Adjustments | Swivel & Tilt |
| HDCP Support | Yes |
| User Control | Convenient Hotkey: |
| SPLENDID Video Preset Mode Selection | |
| Auto. Adjustment | |
| Brightness Adjustment | |
| Contrast Adjustment | |
| Input Selection | |
| Features | 24″ LED Display with 50,000,000:1 ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio |
| MVA 178°(H) / 178°(V) Ultra Wide Viewing Angle | |
| Ultra Slim with Ergo Fit II Technology | |
| Kensington lock | |
| Trace Free Technology | |
| SPLENDID Video Intelligence Technology | |
| SPLENDID Video Preset Modes: 6 Modes | |
| Skin-Tone Selection: 3 Modes | |
| Color Temperature Selection: 4 Modes | |
| AV Audio Input: HDMI | |
| Earphone jack: 3.5mm Mini-Jack (for HDMI Only) |
Dimensions
| Dimensions | With Stand: 22.52″ x 16.97″ x 8.70″ |
| Weight | 9.26 lbs. |
Manufacturer Warranty
| Parts | 3 years limited |
| Labor | 3 years limited |
Packaging
| Packaging | Monitor |
| VGA cable | |
| HDMI-DVI cable | |
| Power Adapter | |
| Power cord | |
| Quick start guide | |
| Warranty Card |
ASUS ML249H
[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-front-3.jpg]
[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-front-2.jpg]
[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-side.jpg]
[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-back.jpg]
![[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-front.jpg]](http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/ml249h-front.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-front-3.jpg]](http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/ml249h-front-3.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-front-2.jpg]](http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/ml249h-front-2.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-side.jpg]](http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/ml249h-side.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/thumbs/thumbs_ml249h-back.jpg]](http://www.bestgamingmonitor.net/wp/wp-content/flagallery/asus-ml249h/ml249h-back.jpg){kind=link}
Andy, your review on the ML249 Asus was terrific! I’m soo happy that I bought the ML248 instead. I received it yesterday and finally today I hooked it up to my PS3 w/ battlefield 3. Let me tell you I’am ectstatic of first making this choice of a monitor for gaming and I used the recommend settings as you previously mentioned in your review. Everything lives up to its expectancy there’s nothing I don’t dislike apart from not having an easier option for volume control adjustment. There was no ghosting, lag, tearing or any other problem while playing BF3 on it.
I was playing around the settings a little bit and I came across a setting feature under settings it was called “Splendid demo” or something like that; which splits the screen in half. Showing one half more brighter than the other half. Could please explain what that is for?
Once again thanks for wonderful informative reviews on Monitors for gaming; that has helped me make my decision.
Thanks,
Terek.
No problem Terek, I’m glad you found the reviews helpful.
I think the SPLENDID demo is just for demonstration purposes. I don’t think you’re suppose to use it in regular use. It’s probably just used to show off the different modes side by side.
Andy H.
Although you ordered the ML249H instead of the ML239 XD that was a damn fast and good review Andy.
Keep it up
You know its funny, I actually had this monitor sitting around for a few weeks. I ordered it along with the ML248H and was going to review both of them back to back but obviously that didn’t happen.
When you messaged me I was like, “Oh, perfect. Looks like I’ll get around to reviewing this model.” Turns out I misread your message haha.
In any case, the ML239H should be here sometime this week (hopefully). I’ll most likely get the review up over the weekend.
Andy H.
Hi, Andy, thanks for the review for this model. Unfortunately, i came upon your review after i got the ML249H. Thinking the 8ms response time won’t be an issue. I use my laptop with HDMI with the monitor, and when view movies, motions very blurry, makes viewing very difficult. I will also use it with PS3, so it will not be ideal. When you were testing movies, did you also get that? I will return the ML249H, and probably go for the ML238H or ML239. Which Asus ML series do you recommend for movies and games with faster response time. Thank you.
Hey Kevin,
Actually no I thought movies were okay. It might have been the movie I was watching, it really depends. I don’t use movies to test ghosting because scenes don’t usually have very fast transitions between frames since the frame rate is so much slower.
I did however notice the issue when playing games.
I think you’ll be happy with either but in your case I would probably go with the ML239H. The response time should be just fine for your needs and its an IPS so color accuracy is extremely good. The only downside is many users report bad backlight bleeding. My unit had it but I didn’t think it was so bad that it was unbearable. It just depends I guess.
Hope this helps.
Andy
Hi i still am interested in this monitor for gaming, just wanted to know if you tested the ghosting test with the Trace Free Technology On?
Oh yeah definitely. You don’t even want to know what it looked like off. The thing was a blurry mess.
Andy
i have read that you could overdue the Trace Free Technology causing yellow and white shadows were as a lower setting would have lowered ghosting without the shadows. was this tested with this in mind?
if so
I’m not 100% on Asus just researching there monitors atm
ML248H or VS248H-P
what would you recommend in a 24″ gaming monitor
Best…
250 budget…
Well I wasn’t testing with that thought in mind. All I know is I did try every setting there was in Trace Free. I always do that when I run it through PixPerAn. I also did that in game as well.
All I know is, it looked the same. Actually, worse especially once you turned it past 60. You’re in ghosting territory by this point. (There’s only 6 settings by the way: 100, 80, 60, 40, 20, 0)
Well in terms of those 2 monitors, in practice they’re really basically the same. The only difference is aesthetics. Choose the one that looks better to you. Also the ML248H doesn’t have a DVI port but they include an HDMI-to-DVI cable though.
Oh and one last thing. I usually only keep the Trace Free at 80 due to exactly what you mentioned. Too much compensation creates artifacts but it’s subtle though. It’s not the very obvious distortion you see in the video.
Andy
thanks for the info. i can scratch one more monitor off the list. its awesome your doing this?! THANKS
Just discovered your site and will recommend to any asking about monitors for gaming and in general. Looking at grabbing the ML249H for office work – lots of text, spreadsheets, and PDFs. Some media. I occasionally play some Skyrim and Borderlands. Will it feel like crap compared to my 1024 x 760 or whatever decade-old (17″? 19″?) CRT that doesn’t ghost/distort? I plan to grab another monitor sometime this year anyway to use as my secondary for work, and could make that one more suitable for gaming.
It’s $160 after MIR; what do you think?
I would actually recommend against it. Overall the monitor looks great and the colors are pretty good but if you look at the review, there’s some weird color distortion when the pixels are transitioning.
I would recommend going for the ML248H or VS248H-P over this.
If you feel like going with an IPS, try the VX2336s-LED.
Andy