Dell 2007FP Gradient Issues UPDATE: Still Looking for Help

[JMWarren]

Alright,

I just got the new panel and still have the same Issues. If it is a defect it's a whole batch.

I've tried both panels on my roommates ATI X800, the banding is still there.

What still puzzels me is that it's fine on VGA, with an ever so slight (might be my mind playing games) loss in sharpness.

If anyone has any last suggestions let me know. I'm tempted to keep the panel and use it on VGA.

 

[Heartbreaker]

Bummer thanks for the info. I just asked you if you tried another computer in the other thread before I saw this one.

I think it is a bad initial run of panels that they may or may not resolve someday. The LG L2000C which some think has the same panel is reporting the same banding issues in user reports and reviews. I think anything with this panel is hosed for now.

 

[JMWarren]

Thats kinda what I'm thinking. So what the hell do I buy now? I was gonna use this for photos (IPS) next to a 2407 for gaming and movies (PVA).

 

[Heartbreaker]

Originally posted by: JMWarren
Thats kinda what I'm thinking. So what the hell do I buy now? I was gonna use this for photos (IPS) next to a 2407 for gaming and movies (PVA).

Beats me. I bought a 2405 for everything as my first LCD. The poor viewing angles drove me nuts and I sold it. Viewing angles and excess brightness were the issues here, but color and banding looked fine. Maybe you could use a 2407 for everything.

I was thinking I might try an IPS screen before giving up and going back to CRT. From the looks of things, I should just go CRT again and wait for better panels in a couple of years. Other than size CRT is still perfect for things LCD is still trying to fix.

 

[JMWarren]

I've got a 21" IBM CRT that does 1920x1440 @ 85hz. At 1600x1200 I have to say that the image quality of the 2007FP is better (when it's not banding like crazy on DVI).

I've decided to try a third panel. Glad Dell's good about this kind of thing.

 

[JMWarren]

I've also had issues with overlay video on DVI. I'm convinced that somthing is up with the DVI input/controller. The panel is capable of producing smooth gradients on VGA, so it's not the panel itself.

 

[Heartbreaker]

Good luck with the 3rd panel. I will try to keep following how it goes if you could stick to a single thread, it would be easier. ;-) I must say though, I think the production run is bad. :-( It might be worth a look in another month or so.

I have had a panel next to my CRT, certainly on most measurables, LCD is better (sharper, brighter) but I have found that CRT is good enough and LCD seemed to kill my eyes and was extremely fatiguing, maybe it was too sharp, I know it was certainly too bright even at zero backlighting, I had to adjust the gamma in my vidcard settings. And then there is the lag/ghosting/viewing angles/scaling that is all worse than CRT.



If I had a good CRT I woulnd't be looking, but mine is dying, so I need to buy a monitor.

 

[xtknight]

I really think it's just because DVI is so precise in terms of addressing the pixels that the colors tones have a stark contrast against each other. Let me try VGA and report back to you on how the image looks on my VP930b.

Edit: I guess the difference really isn't that great as I thought it would have been.

 

[JMWarren]

Yeah, I'm not even sure I could tell a difference between DVI and VGA. This monitor seems to have a decent VGA port.

 

[yacoub]

Just to make sure the bases are covered:

What is your source material? Maybe what you are looking at has banding when viewed with the more precise/sharper DVI input?

Also you're running 32bit desktop color not16bit, right?


Also does anyone with the 2007WFP have the same issue?

 

[JMWarren]

I dunno about the 2007WFP. My desktop is definatly running 32bit. As for the source it's a black to white gradient generated by several different software programs, all display the banding.

DVI also has problems with overlay video, this occurs on both panels, both computers, both cables. I'm convinced the DVI controller is the culprit. Lets hope the third one is good. If not I'll return it and try again in a couple of months.

 

[Heartbreaker]

I think the panel run is bad. Same reports on banding coming in on L2000C (same basic panel).

One thing. Can you tell us the serial numbers of the ones you send back. If at some point this clears up, we may want to know which serials to avoid. Or know right away if Dell sends us the same one.

 

[JMWarren]

I've already returned the first one and didn't right down the serial. The one I've got now is at home. I'll post the serial later.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: JMWarren
I've already returned the first one and didn't right down the serial. The one I've got now is at home. I'll post the serial later.

Windows saves the data of monitors. Dump the cached EDID and you can get the serial number out of it. Use this tool, and go to Tools->Extract Registry EDID. http://www.tucows.com/start_dl/329441_126647_8920/dlp/

The serial number and other data will then appear on the screen.

 

[Heartbreaker]

Originally posted by: JMWarren
DVI also has problems with overlay video, this occurs on both panels, both computers, both cables. I'm convinced the DVI controller is the culprit. Lets hope the third one is good. If not I'll return it and try again in a couple of months.

Completely unacceptable IMO. Banding makes DVI unusable for photo editing, sounds like unusable for movies too. Would I get an LCD with VGA input only? No. With this kind of defect you may as well say this is a VGA input only LCD.

After 3 do you suppose they will get the message that there might be something wrong with the production run? Likely not.

If this holds, I think the 2007fp needs to make the known defective list (in the buying guide thread) until they fix the production problem.

I have half a mind to give it a shot anyway as I really want to see an IPS panel. Which seem unavailable in the local shops. All seem to be PVA/MVA/TN.

BTW: How are the viewing angles? I guess this only applies as a comparison to PVA/MVA...

 

[JMWarren]

I've never used a PVA panel so I really can't compare but I'd have to say the viewing angles are very wide.

xtknight, that tool only shows the lastest 2007FP (the one thats plugged in). I guess having two of the same model it just uses the most current one. Also the serial number it shows is much shorter than the one printed on the back of the unit.

Current one = CN-0C95364663362E3FUL, FEB 2006

 

[xtknight]

I wonder how the extremely expensive NEC LCD2090UXi fares. I believe it uses the same panel as both the LG L2000C and Dell 2007FP. So you're saying it's a lot more noticeable on DVI than it is on VGA? Odd, the 2007WFP and 20WMGX2 sound like they are infinitely better in this respect but the only difference is widescreen (or not?)

 

[JMWarren]

Yeah, DVI is terrible. I'm guessing that there's a problem with the DVI controller. It's not the panel since it is capable of displaying thing correctly when driven by VGA. It's not my DVI port as I've tested it on other PCs.

 

[Heartbreaker]

Originally posted by: xtknight
I wonder how the extremely expensive NEC LCD2090UXi fares. I believe it uses the same panel as both the LG L2000C and Dell 2007FP. So you're saying it's a lot more noticeable on DVI than it is on VGA? Odd, the 2007WFP and 20WMGX2 sound like they are infinitely better in this respect but the only difference is widescreen (or not?)

Quite well. Oddly they notice a bit of drop off on the Analog connections.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1934582,00.asp

I do notice that NEC seems to do quite a bit of re-engineering of panels. Different screen coating, different backlights, etc.

While the LG seems to suffer the DVI banding problem as well. You can be sure Dells changes from the LG design are going to be mainly cosmetic.

 

[xtknight]

JMWarren: maybe this will help verify if it's S-IPS: Does a solid black color show a violet hue at different angles? AFAIK TNs and VAs show no violet at all on black but IPSes do.

 

[JMWarren]

Yeah, It does show a slightly violet hue if your really on an angle.

 

[Heartbreaker]

Cool, that is actually a good thing. As a PVA panel would start having tone flucuations at much smaller angles. Sounds like this has everything I want minus the banding and video issues.

 

[yacoub]

I have yet to see any reports of this banding issue with the 2007WFP. Might want to look into the widescreen version if you are open to that style.

 

[JMWarren]

I really wanted a 2007FP since it's almost the same height (and is the same pixel height) as the 2407 I planned to sit next to it.

I know Philips makes a 23" IPS panel...

The reason I like Dell is because of the return policy.

 

[Zebo]

Wait so 2007FP has banding issues too? You're talking about the 1600x1200 screen right?

Dell is going down hill fast.