Skip to main content

Samsung’s new curved monitor series can handle FreeSync over an HDMI connection

samsung cf390 monitors cf591 curved
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you don’t care about the effect it might have on your Netflix viewing experience or the distortion it may add to gaming, a curved monitor is an excellent way to manage your viewing space on a larger display. That’s why Samsung has just revealed a handful of new 1080p curved displays, complete with AMD FreeSync technology over HDMI.

The CF591 ships in a 27-inch form factor while the CF390 series come in both 23.5 and 27-inch flavors.

CF591-Curved-Monitor-2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Notably, FreeSync over HDMI is the feature that stands out, however, until just recently, the screen tearing-reduction and stuttering-reduction components were only available through DisplayPort. Unfortunately, that’s accompanied by the limitation of a modest 60Hz refresh rate across both monitor series.

Because the displays take advantage of vertical-alignment, or VA, LCD panels, Samsung claims that all three will exhibit improved contrast and less prevalent backlight bleed issues than are seen with IPS (plus, the backlights are supposedly flicker-free). All three monitors boast 3000:1 contrast ratios, with a 250 cd/m² maximum brightness. And, for those who are sufficiently committed to the idea of a curved display, the 1800R (1,800mm radius) curvature evinced by the lineup should be a welcome surprise.

But enough about their similarities. There are, of course, a few features that distinguish the models as well. The CF591’s panel, for instance, can cover 117 percent of the sRGB color space, while its inclusion of a 5W speaker duo allows it to double as an entertainment center. The CF591, on the other hand, bears a single DisplayPort 1.2 input, dual HDMI 1.4 connectors, and VGA input.

CF390-Curved-Monitor-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lastly, the CF390 models are a bit more minimalistic. While they don’t include a pair of built-in speakers nor DisplayPort input, the enclosed stand adds some level of flexibility. With adjustable height, swivel, and tilt, what more could you need? Besides the absent things previously mentioned of course. Both CF390 models tote HDMI and VGA connections.

All three monitors mentioned are slated to launch in the United States, Europe, and Asia come March, with shipments to other regions scheduled in April. Pricing information will be unveiled at a later date.

Gabe Carey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A freelancer for Digital Trends, Gabe Carey has been covering the intersection of video games and technology since he was 16…
A dangerous new jailbreak for AI chatbots was just discovered
the side of a Microsoft building

Microsoft has released more details about a troubling new generative AI jailbreak technique it has discovered, called "Skeleton Key." Using this prompt injection method, malicious users can effectively bypass a chatbot's safety guardrails, the security features that keeps ChatGPT from going full Taye.

Skeleton Key is an example of a prompt injection or prompt engineering attack. It's a multi-turn strategy designed to essentially convince an AI model to ignore its ingrained safety guardrails, "[causing] the system to violate its operators’ policies, make decisions unduly influenced by a user, or execute malicious instructions," Mark Russinovich, CTO of Microsoft Azure, wrote in the announcement.

Read more