The Samsung SyncMaster 172X is one of the first LCD monitors with a 12-millisecond response rate we've tested. In our informal tests with an action game and a movie, we pitted the SyncMaster 172X against our Dell UltraSharp 1703FP Best Buy. We found that the 172X's rendering of movement was more clearly defined in Star Wars: Episode II, but we were hard-pressed to see a difference between the units on our Return to Castle Wolfenstein gaming test. With its thin bezel (half an inch) and small footprint, this monitor fits easily on a crowded desk. And its height adjustability helps find the most comfortable viewing position. We rated the 172X's graphics as Good, and its text Very good. Those ratings aren't up to the standard set by the previously tested SyncMaster 173P, which was rated Outstanding on both graphics and text; still, the 172X would be satisfactory for general-purpose use.
Well-rendered motion and decent graphics make the Samsung SyncMaster 172X a good LCD monitor for entertainment.