The CTX S530 is a below-average monitor at an average price. Performance was unimpressive, and though we like the online documentation, the on-screen controls could be easier to use.

The S530 performed well on our low-saturation color test, correctly displaying each subtle shade of red. It mastered white levels, accurately handling most of the light end of the gray scale. And as on most of the monitors reviewed here, common Windows apps look crisp. The S530, however, is burdened by below-average brightness levels and contrast ratios, and it struggled with some of our DisplayMate test screens. It was oversaturated during black-level and gray-scale accuracy tests. We couldn't stop a significant portion of pixels from jittering on our pixel phase test without manual adjustment. And though the unit picked up most of the detail in the digital photos we examined, it skewed the colors ever so slightly.

CTX fails to provide extensive print documentation, but its online user guide is impressive, carefully walking you through the Windows driver installation. The S530 is far from the most impressive model we evaluated, but this 15-inch LCD is not without its merits.