Are the refurbished 2405's worth it from Dell?

[digitalduck]

Ok, a refurbished 2405 is $700 and with tax it comes ti around 750 or so. I just cant pay the $999 it is now since it was just one sale for like 2 weeks and I just missed it. I know there is a limited warrenty on refurbished monitors from Dell according to their site. Im waiting on someone on the forsale/trade forum offering his brade new one for around 780 that will come with the 3yr warrenty that is transferable but im having a real hard time getting PMs back from him and I really want to make a decision on this monitor now.

Question is, do I risk a refurbished 2405 from Dell? what is the return policy on something like that? What about dead pixels? The price isnt that great considering it was just on sale for roughly the same price last week.... however, I do want to get this monitor, what do you think, have you ever gone the refurbished route from Dell and had good luck? Thanks!

 

[darkswordsman17]

I wouldn't buy a refurbished one myself. Their computers aren't bad, but their monitors are too much of a crapshoot for me.

Maybe you'll get lucky and Dell will run a firesale on them in the next day or two.

 

[Crescent13]

Why not get the NEC 20WMGX2?

less graphic power needed, HDCP support, perfect contrast, really high brightness, glossy screen and ~$750 brand new.

 

[digitalduck]

size.... I have a 19" CRT now, have had it for 7yrs..I was wanting to see a big difference..

 

[JBT]

I'd check out your local Costco and see if they have any. You can get new ones for ~$800 new ussually and they come with a 3 year advanced exchange warrenty + obviously the amazing Costco return policy.


NM found them online. Even if you don't have a member ship the $45 membership fee is REALLY worth it for anything purchase.
NEW 2405FPW at Costco $799 with free shipping

 

[digitalduck]

Hmm... how is the warrently and return policy for anything bought online through Costco versus something bought local? I know there is one around the minneapolis area and im not too far from that. Ive never set foot in one before though, how is their 3yr exchange warrently vs Dells warrenty etc..? Regardless, I remember someone mentioning that price and just forgot about it but that would be a great deal since its pretty much the same deal as Dell before they went back off sale...

Also dont get me wrong, I know there are other monitors out there but it seems like ive spent the last two weeks narrowing it down to this monitor and then doing all of the research I could on the 2405 so to throw another monitor into the mix is just frustrating, expecially since I really only have a bestbuy, sears and the usual target etc in the area to go to to look at hope to see these minitors I was hoping that the 2405 was "the one" but perhaps im wrong....

 

[JBT]

With Costco's return policy they would let you return the thing even after 3 years. They are EXCELLENT with returns.

 

[digitalduck]

Taken from Costco's 2405 page: "The Preliminary Ship Date is 12-15 business days and represents the estimated time it takes to process your order" im assuming thats not accurate? would hate to wait 2 weeks just t ohave it ship how do they ship..thye list they methods they use, but not what they would use for that monitor..

Also, I notice that Sams Club carries the 2405 as well at the same price. I have a Sams down the street, but online you cant choose that monitor for "store pickup" so I wonder if its even carried in store or just online. Ill have to call tomorrow... then again, I suppose Sams doesnt have any type of return policy like Costco does...

 

[darkswordsman17]

Its possible that it could potentially take that long. I don't know how they manage their supply, and so if they don't have a stock of them, they might have to order from Dell and so there would be the shipping time between and then from Costco to you. I would imagine that they probably just drop ship them straight from Dell if they don't have stock (or maybe they do this anyways), and so it would be padded just in case.

CostCo would be the way to go though. I've never dealt with them myself, but from the sounds of it, they are very nice on returns (granted that could change within the warranty period of the monitor, but who knows).

I would recommend going with CostCo over Sam's unless you already have a membership, but the extra $45 would be worth it from what I've heard.

No offense, but I'm getting a little sick of seeing the "why don't you get the NEC?" posts when people are looking at 2405s. Yes its a nice monitor, and while it is getting good reviews, I don't think that for most people that its worth the money when they can get 4 more inches and a higher resolution (but probably higher dot pitch...) for the same price. I know of few people who could readily tell the difference. Yes there are plenty of picky people, especially on here, but that doesn't mean that its the end all be all monitor.

 

[mazeroth]

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=103621&t=229956

When they say buy a coupon, just search for them on ebay.

You're welcome

 

[digitalduck]

Hmmm...the DPA gets you an 2% or $14 so you wouldnt even have to open one, but the problem is finding that coupon...im searching to find that 25% off one that was mentioned..not seeing it so far...but great deal if it would work..

 

[mazeroth]

Actually it's good to have 5 credit cards or lines of credit open. That's the magic number to boost your credit rating, so I've been told. Do a little research before taking my advide

 

[bendixG15]

Originally posted by: digitalduck
size.... I have a 19" CRT now, have had it for 7yrs..I was wanting to see a big difference..

And you are going for an LCD ???
You will see the BIG difference......
Hope you like it.......

 

[digitalduck]

are you being sarcastic?

 

[imported_Crusader]

Originally posted by: Crescent13
Why not get the NEC 20WMGX2?

less graphic power needed, HDCP support, perfect contrast, really high brightness, glossy screen and ~$750 brand new.

Yup.

And the 2405 is a 6bit panel. I'd rather have 16.7million colors myself. Say hello to 1996 with your 24inch panel if you want one thats 6bit..

Give me an easy to push 1680x1050 (still no easy task..), +8bit.

24inches is too small for a TV and too high res for any sort of moderate video card in games. Unless you enjoy purchasing SLI often or turning down details.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: Crusader
24inches is too small for a TV and too high res for any sort of moderate video card in games. Unless you enjoy purchasing SLI often or turning down details.

True but the 2405 scales quite well.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: Crusader

Originally posted by: Crescent13
Why not get the NEC 20WMGX2?

less graphic power needed, HDCP support, perfect contrast, really high brightness, glossy screen and ~$750 brand new.

Yup.

And the 2405 is a 6bit panel. I'd rather have 16.7million colors myself. Say hello to 1996 with your 24inch panel if you want one thats 6bit..

Give me an easy to push 1680x1050 (still no easy task..), +8bit.

24inches is too small for a TV and too high res for any sort of moderate video card in games. Unless you enjoy purchasing SLI often or turning down details.

You sure its a 6bit panel??? I have never heard that before. From what I have seen its 8bit...

 

[Madellga]

The reviews I read said 8 bits.....source from different sites.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: 1Dark1Sharigan1

Originally posted by: Crusader
24inches is too small for a TV and too high res for any sort of moderate video card in games. Unless you enjoy purchasing SLI often or turning down details.

True but the 2405 scales quite well.

24" is a good TV size for a smaller room (kitchen, office, bedroom, etc. -- especially if you can wall-mount it), although it is too small for extended viewing from 10-20' away. But it looks *damn* good running 1080i/1080p content.

For games, you can also run 1600x1200 1:1 with bars on the sides. That's not much more demanding than 1680x1050 is -- and if you can't hack that, you'd be scaling on a 20" widescreen as well. 1280x720 (720p) scales nicely to almost full screen, but is a bit fuzzy for text work. Gaming, IMO, would be fine at a lower resolution, but LCD scaling doesn't bother me that much.

I've also seen it described as an 8-bit panel, and I didn't see any obvious dithering when I tried it out (you can search for my review thread... I ended up selling it and getting a VP930B instead due to cost).

I'm unsure about Dell refurb monitors, but the 2405 is a nice display. Certainly it's the best value in a 24" widescreen LCD, and if you have the GPU horsepower to game at 1080p, it will look great.

 

[digitalduck]

Nope...dont have the GPU horsepower, just a 7600GT..will probably get a 7800GT, I know its still nothing, but its something. Im of course talking in terms of scaling here and not running full blown everything. I know ill be running games at lower resolutions such as 1650 x 1080 etc... but im trying to avoid the side bars, but if I have to I have to.. I just want a bigger monitor then my 7yr old 19" and the ability to have a nice HD, but for now I just want it for gaming....ive tried to think it through, but for now its just for games...

 

[Washoe]

Originally posted by: Crescent13
Why not get the NEC 20WMGX2?

less graphic power needed, HDCP support, perfect contrast, really high brightness, glossy screen and ~$750 brand new.

I've got both a 2405fpw and a Dell 2005 at home. For me, there is a huge size difference in a 20" WS monitor and a 24".

 

[imported_Crusader]

Originally posted by: JBT
You sure its a 6bit panel??? I have never heard that before. From what I have seen its 8bit...

It is according to xtknight's research
link

Its all explained in that thread.

Originally posted by: Matthias99
For games, you can also run 1600x1200 1:1 with bars on the sides. That's not much more demanding than 1680x1050 is --

I'm going to have to disagree here. 1600x1200 is almost a million more pixels. Even though widescreen renders more.. thats quite the difference. If you have a major review site that has done 1680x1050 to 1600x1200 comparisons I've love to see it (honestly).

Originally posted by: Matthias99
Gaming, IMO, would be fine at a lower resolution, but LCD scaling doesn't bother me that much.

I still prefer native res if at all possible.

Originally posted by: Washoe
I've got both a 2405fpw and a Dell 2005 at home. For me, there is a huge size difference in a 20" WS monitor and a 24".

True, but theres nothing magical about the jump. Same difference going from the 24" to the upcoming 27" or 30".. those dwarf the others as well.
For me, above the ~$500 pricepoint of the 2005FPW and I'll just buy a huge high def television personally.
And if you want a very high quality LCD like the NEC 20WMGX2 20".. you will pay $800 for a 20".

I'd take a easy to push 1680x1050 on a high quality lcd over a larger lcd with far less quality for the same price, personally.
And 1680x1050 is not so "easy to push" itself in games like Oblivion.. we're talking needing SLI.. my 7900GT barely manages 1680x1050 with HDR.

 

[Washoe]

Originally posted by: Crusader

Originally posted by: Washoe
I've got both a 2405fpw and a Dell 2005 at home. For me, there is a huge size difference in a 20" WS monitor and a 24".

True, but theres nothing magical about the jump. Same difference going from the 24" to the upcoming 27" or 30".. those dwarf the others as well.

I realize it's all just opinion, but, for me, there was actually something magical about the jump to 24". I had a 19" CRT for a long time, which I loved, then I upgraded to 21" CRT for awhile, but then LCD's started getting popular and I researched, then decided on the 2405. But the problem was, I was waiting on a sale price and watched and waited for it. Eventually, the 2005 went on sale and I was tired of waiting so I got that one instead. When I got it, I was real excited at first but then it was a bit disappointing. The size was too comparable to my 21" CRT, and in fact the vertical sizing was smaller (even smaller, I believe, than the 19" CRT vertical). I liked the WS ratio a lot, especially in my RPGs. But I couldn't deny the feeling of disappointment.

So like a couple weeks later the 2405 went on sale and I jumped on it. When that monitor arrived, I was ecstatic, and that feeling hasn't left since. The Dell 2405 is for me the single most favorite computer component I've ever purchased - by far. The 24" size is truly the sweet spot. I think that anything else really would be too large.

Like I said, I still keep both monitors on my desktop, and I think the 2005 is great. I don't have anything bad to say about it really. But the jump to 24" was a major one - for me. I would take less features such as no HDCP and go with the size to 24" any day. And I'm not so sure that another jump to 27 or 30" would quite be the same.

Bottom line - 24" WS is/was exactly the sweet spot for me.

 

[digitalduck]

Well now im just trying to get ahold of a Dell 25% off coupon from someone at slickdeals (look above) if I can get one of those im going to jump on the 2405.

 

[Washoe]

Hey digitalduck, there is one thing you'll want to know up front about getting the 2405, and you've probably heard it before if you've done any bit of research on these boards. Moving into the 2405 means you are moving up into graphics card requirements! You will be required to start spending approximately an extra $100-$150 (or more) on each video card purchase, in order to continue with the resolutions and FPS that you are now used to. There's no getting around it. I gamed for a long long time on a 19" CRT like you did, and I was able to get away with, you know, the $200-$250 card. That ain't so any more my friend. While I don't say that to discourage getting the 2405, consider it a head's up warning.