Home > Consumer Reviews > Samsung SyncMaster 213 T - LCD display - TFT - 21.3" - 1600 x 1200 / 60 Hz - 250 cd/m2 - 500:1 - 25 ms - 0.27 mm - DVI-D, VGA - black

The Samsung 213t is significantly cheaper than other 21.3" monitors, although it should be noted that you'll spend a lot less on a 20" monitor. So if you're looking at this one, you'd better value that extra inch. Should you? This depends on whether you like high pixel density or low pixel density. The 21.3" monitor yields about 94 dpi (dots per inch); a 20" monitor is more like 100 dpi. Some of the smaller 1600x1280 displays (especially for laptops) go above 120 and even 130 dpi, and some people prefer the high density, even though the text gets smaller. WinXP has a setting to increase font and dialog box sizes based upon the local dpi, but this is imperfect, since graphics, unlike fonts, are not resized. We can argue theory forever, but the essential question is, what do you find easiest on your eyes? For me, the lowest dpi is most comfortable, because it draws larger characters, but I know of people who prefer the high numbers. If you're like me and you want low dpi and a lot of screen real estate, this is your monitor, at least in 2004. (There's a wider model, the 243t (24"), but it costs about twice as much.) The 213t price has been dropping over the year (with periodic rebates!) and may drop farther, and this model may well be replaced before long.

With any modern LCD monitor, be sure to use the digital connection to a DVI video card. The digital connection assures that the monitor will display *exactly* what the PC intends. If you use the VGA analog connection, you'll be open for some smearing and ghosting.

The 213t has no frills (no speakers, no USB). Its response time (25 ms) isn't as fast as some other monitors, so it's not the optimal choice for gaming or video. But it's a sharp, clear, large display. For the market niche it fills, it's the best monitor at the best price.

Strengths:
Crystal clear images. Excellent contrast and brightness, Portrait Mode

Weaknesses:
Pivot software seems to cause an IE error every time I tilt it. Sometimes have to reboot but comes back ok.

I researched this and other review sites for months before jumping in. Local stores Circuit City, Best Buy etc only had the silver model and I much prefer the black beauty. I had been using a 21" Sony Trinitron CRT (actually Dell's version) for many years so I was use to large monitor but wanted the brightness and easy to move LCD instead of my old beast that takes so much space.

Easy to set up once I realized had to also push the button on the front to turn on, not just the rocker switch in back .. dah...... Quite good manual on the CD vs very short install instruction book in zillions of languages. I upped the contrast and brightness to 90+ but wasn't that bad at default settings.

I was hesitant to use my NVidia GeForce2 MX 32mb with no DVI but wow, I was shocked at how clear and nice the video is even using analog.

I LOVE, absolutely LOVE Portrait mode and will probably almost always use it. Websites so nice to see so much of vertically and never have to scroll horizontally. A bit small at 1900x1200 (I was use to 1280/something) but not bad and I can easily hit Ctl-+ and increase size in increments (use Maxthon browser not IE). Word documents great and my e-mails....I see long messages so much easier with all the length of the screen and never been a problem too narrow at 1900/1200 portrait.

I liked the 213T so much I immediately ordered a second. Too bad the $100 rebate doesn't apply to the 2nd monitor per the disclosure.

[...]This is my first night using the 213T and it has met or exceeded all my expectations. Other than the IE has to stop error I have gotten every time I've pivoted with Pivot Pro, have had no problems, just wonderful monitor to use.

Its now 4:30 am and I am enjoying it too much to go home and go to bed :(

I bought this monitor after browsing monitors ranging in size of 17" to 21". The size is spectacular, although the price from a 19" to 20" to 21" is significant, so only get this one if you value those extra 1 or 2 inches or will outgrow one of the smaller sizes (note the resolution jump from 19" to 20" though). I was a bit nervous when I purchased this monitor because I wasn't sure if the extra few hundred were worth it, but I am very please so far. It is huge, sharp, switches to portrait mode (more convenient than you may think), and plays movies quite well.

The portrait mode is great for documents and surfing the web. I can view 1 1/2 pages of Word documents and search web pages faster. Be sure to get the software to switch your computer to portrait mode (I'm not sure if it usually comes with the monitor; I use PivotPro). I also sometimes do homework with as much viewing space of the document as a 17" monitor and still have a movie playing in the bottom quarter of the screen... one of the many conveniences of the portrait mode. Also, increase the sensitivity of your mouse (or get a mouse with more sensitivity) so scrolling across the screen isn't an inconvenience.

I watch movies quite frequently and, when viewing from 4' or more away, the only noticable differences from a TV is higher resolution in the monitor (pro) and very slight distortion with fast movements (con, but barely noticable). I haven't played games on this monitor (yet), so I cannot vouch for the performance there.

Overall, I am very pleased. Also, no dead pixels or blemishes (at least yet). I don't think I will ever outgrow this monitor; an increase in size would actually be an inconvenience for most of my uses because then there is too much to keep track of (only pros I can think of for a larger monitor would be dual document viewing and a larger screen for movies). I would highly recommend this monitor for anyone considering an 18" through 24" monitor!

I'm usually not a big fan of Samsung products, so I was a little hesitant to purchase this Monitor, but I took a chance that I'm later glad I did!

I do a lot of website design and graphics work (Web and Printed) for my company, so I was looking for something Large, with good color representation. The Samsung SyncMaster 213T-Black 21" LCD Monitor is ALL and More of what I was hoping for in a monitor. The screen is bright and sharp with vivid colors. The pivot/rotation feature is great when working with either Portrait or Landscape style imaging. If you do a lot of web browsing, you will love the portrait (TALL) ability of the monitor!

I currently run a dual monitor setup, and the Toshiba monitor that is running next to it isn't nearly as bright as the Samsung. Before getting the Samsung, I was quite happy with my Toshiba... but it is soon to be replaced with ANOTHER 213T!


One negative I must state about this monitor is that its refresh rate isn't as good as some. This is only useful in Motion graphics situations, such as Movies and Video games. Neither of which I do much of, so the 213T fits my situation perfectly.

I must also mention that in the literature for this monitor it states that it is wall-mountable. Well, it is, but you need additional items to do this! You must remove the stand that it comes on, and mount a VESA (100mm) compatible mounting kit. There are many different kinds and styles since it is a Standard Style mounting kit, so there is no shortage of them!

Overall I must still give the 213T a perfect rating, because... well... sofar it has been Perfect and totally made me change my perception of Samsung Products!

I purchased a 213T to replace a three-year-old 181T. The 181T is still working fine (though it has some slightly noticeable burn-in). The 181T has an incredibly sharp picture (I work with text all day and I'm very fussy about monitors). I was dubious that the 213T could deliver the same picture quality with a 3" larger screen and priced hundreds less than I paid for the 181T.

I was pleasantly surprised. The 213T's picture is perfect. No dead pixels, extremely sharp, and colors that look even better than the 181T. Don't believe the other reviews that caution against using this monitor in analog mode. There is a perceptible difference between the digital and analog mode, but the analog picture is still of outstanding quality. I used analog mode for about a week before replacing my graphics card with a dual-DVI Matrox P650, and I could have lived with it, but I wanted both monitors running in digital mode.

Two noticeable differences between the 213T and the 181T: the 213T comes out of standby a lot faster (about 2 seconds instead of 5), and the fluid is much slower on the 213T. If I take a window with a dark blue background and white text, and drag it around on the 213T, the text smears to blue. There is almost no change in the text color on the 181T. This might be an issue for some people, but it isn't an issue with the way I use the monitor.