Considering buying a Dell 2407WFP

[superbooga]

Originally posted by: larllar
How come I can't access the "Wide Mode" (for aspect/1:1/fill) menu? It's greyed out. I'm using DVI-D.

Some options, such as wide mode and contrast, aren't available when using DVI-D.

 

[larllar]

Originally posted by: superbooga

Originally posted by: larllar
How come I can't access the "Wide Mode" (for aspect/1:1/fill) menu? It's greyed out. I'm using DVI-D.

Some options, such as wide mode and contrast, aren't available when using DVI-D.

So I'm supposed to use VGA and my VGA->DVI adapter? The 8800gts only has 2 DVI ports. And isn't DVI the new standard anyway?

 

[alaricljs]

For some reason there are restrictions as to what you can switch to 1:1/Fill/Aspect. I've never had a problem with games however. I know that I can't set it to 1:1 during the windows boot logo deal.

I haven't been able to map out what it is that prevents the 1:1/Aspect/Fill option.

 

[zylander]

Arent those options only for use when you cant get a perfect resolution? When I load up starcraft that option is no longer grayed out and I can adjust it. The reason you cant adjust it when in windows is because there isnt anything to adjust because you have a perfect resolution that fills the screen. This i sjust my reasoning, someone correct me if Im wrong.

 

[larllar]

Originally posted by: zylander
Arent those options only for use when you cant get a perfect resolution? When I load up starcraft that option is no longer grayed out and I can adjust it. The reason you cant adjust it when in windows is because there isnt anything to adjust because you have a perfect resolution that fills the screen. This i sjust my reasoning, someone correct me if Im wrong.

I already tried with Freelancer, Elastomania, Fallout.
I'm finding lots of hits on this issue with google, but no one sums it up clearly.

edit: using a VGA cable with VGA-->DVI adapter, I can now access the Wide Menu and various other options, also before it boots the OS.
Starcraft seems to flimmer a bit though, which is especially noticable using Aspect mode. Some spots look a bit like there's steam in your vision.

 

[alaricljs]

zylander: I was referring to the windows logo that comes in at 640x480 at the *very* first startup section. Not when Windows is actually running.

 

[dyetube]

Yes, this monitor does 1080p great... I actually havn't seen the little black bars... I'll have to look closer! I don't typically wathc to many movies or such on my monitor.

 

[gramboh]

Originally posted by: larllar
How come I can't access the "Wide Mode" (for aspect/1:1/fill) menu? It's greyed out. I'm using DVI-D.
Also, screen went black (except the mouse) after I quit Fallout (when I wanted to test pixel mapping) and I had to reboot.

edit: it's using Nvidia software scaling (which fills out the screen by default, but even if I select "use my display's built in scaling", it reverts to "Use NVIDIA scaling" when I leave the control panel (settings applied of course)

This is actually NVidia's fault. The LCD scaling options are broken in virtually ALL G80 (8800 series) driver releases for Windows XP (since November 2006). It's ridiculous they haven't properly fixed it yet. There is however a hotfix that will work:


The problem with the hotfix is that if you use something with a video overlay (Windows Media Player to play a video file etc) it will break the scaling hotfix and you'll have to reboot to get scaling back.

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=34832&st=0

With my 2407, I use "Do not scale" and let the monitor handle it. Then again, I only use 1920x1200 and 1600x1200. With older games like Fallout you might want fixed aspect scaling from within the driver control panel.

 

[Chadder007]

Sorta off topic, but why does 24" panels cost twice as much as a 22" or maybe even a 23" panel?? Is it better in quality than any of the 22/23s, besides giving a bigger picture??

 

[alaricljs]

Totally different manufacturing process. 22" are all TN panels, and 24" are a mix of other higher quality and price panels. SIPS at the top of the heap in the NEC, and and on down to PVA and MVA variants in the less expensive 24s. There are a couple 24" TN panels, I only know of 1 that's available but due to that the monitor is still closely priced to the nicer panels. Make a big profit while there's little TN competition and screw your uninformed customers, yay!

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: alaricljs
Totally different manufacturing process. 22" are all TN panels, and 24" are a mix of other higher quality and price panels. SIPS at the top of the heap in the NEC, and and on down to PVA and MVA variants in the less expensive 24s. There are a couple 24" TN panels, I only know of 1 that's available but due to that the monitor is still closely priced to the nicer panels. Make a big profit while there's little TN competition and screw your uninformed customers, yay!

So which technology is the Dell 24" panel?

 

[alaricljs]

This might be the place to look, but since WebNONsense blocks it due to "Sex" I can't double check.

Grrrr. From what I remember the Dell is either S-PVA or S-MVA... since I already have mine I forgot and don't care since I'm quite happy with it.

 

[zylander]

The older 2405fpw is PVA
The new 2407WFP is S-PVA

 

[vhx]

Originally posted by: Chadder007

Originally posted by: alaricljs
Totally different manufacturing process. 22" are all TN panels, and 24" are a mix of other higher quality and price panels. SIPS at the top of the heap in the NEC, and and on down to PVA and MVA variants in the less expensive 24s. There are a couple 24" TN panels, I only know of 1 that's available but due to that the monitor is still closely priced to the nicer panels. Make a big profit while there's little TN competition and screw your uninformed customers, yay!

So which technology is the Dell 24" panel?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_monitors

 

[larllar]

Is there any actual image quality difference between DVI and VGA at 1920*1200?
Using VGA seems to be the only way to get all the features of this LCD (Wide Mode, Contrast, Auto Adjust).
I could compare myself, but I've honestly got no idea what to check for.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: larllar
Is there any actual image quality difference between DVI and VGA at 1920*1200?
Using VGA seems to be the only way to get all the features of this LCD (Wide Mode, Contrast, Auto Adjust).
I could compare myself, but I've honestly got no idea what to check for.

I don't know what wide mode is, but all that stuff is adjustable in your control panel if you have a video card made in the past.... probably 5 years.

 

[larllar]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: larllar
Is there any actual image quality difference between DVI and VGA at 1920*1200?
Using VGA seems to be the only way to get all the features of this LCD (Wide Mode, Contrast, Auto Adjust).
I could compare myself, but I've honestly got no idea what to check for.

I don't know what wide mode is, but all that stuff is adjustable in your control panel if you have a video card made in the past.... probably 5 years.

Yeah, the 8800GTS can handle it, but buggy Nvidia drivers or some such means it can't use 1:1 and Aspect scaling whilst in DVI mode... Or so it seems.

 

[gramboh]

See my post on page 2 for details on how to get scaling working in XP with DVI (although it is a crappy method).

Contrast is always adjusted in software when using DVI on an LCD.

 

[secretanchitman]

just ordered this monitor...hopefully my 8800GTS 320MB will drive the monitor at 1920x1200 (my friend said that his 6600GT couldnt drive his 2407 at 1920x1200). im planning to do some moderate gaming. nothing too extreme (stalker, oblivion) but playing games like ut2k4, wow, cs:s which dont require that much gpu power.

 

[aiya24]

let us know how it turns out for you.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
just ordered this monitor...hopefully my 8800GTS 320MB will drive the monitor at 1920x1200 (my friend said that his 6600GT couldnt drive his 2407 at 1920x1200). im planning to do some moderate gaming. nothing too extreme (stalker, oblivion) but playing games like ut2k4, wow, cs:s which dont require that much gpu power.

Most any video card can drive a 1920x1200 resolution, I forget how much video RAM it actually requires, but its a lot less than what most cards today come with.

However, your friend probably wasn't doing any gaming at 1920x1200 with a 6600GT. Perhaps older games would be fine, but certainly not anything recent. Running at 1920x1200 and turning all the details to minimum would defeat the purpose of running at 1920x1200 in the first place.

 

[Bateluer]

Well, mine came today. Its an A04, and appears to have no blemishes yet. I saw no evidence of uneven back lighting, and haven't seen a stuck pixel yet. I'll be firing up some games tonight and seeing how things look at 1920x1200. Windows itself looks very good, plenty of desk top space for 'work'.

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Well, mine came today. Its an A04, and appears to have no blemishes yet. I saw no evidence of uneven back lighting, and haven't seen a stuck pixel yet. I'll be firing up some games tonight and seeing how things look at 1920x1200. Windows itself looks very good, plenty of desk top space for 'work'.

see thread right under this one!