IPS panels color does not look exact in dual monitor setup?

Compman55

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Feb 14, 2010
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I bought two very nice dell S2240M LCD's off CL for a killer deal while I wait and wait and wait for my two borderless Ultrasharp U2414H to arrive.

What I have noticed, is although there is nothing wrong with these awesome displays, the one panel has a warmer color tone to it, like it has more reds than the other panel. I have played for hours trying to balance them out with no success. This really bothers me as to my eyes it is very noticeable. To others that can't understand or see what I am talking about.

I did reset both monitors to factory defaults when I first plugged them in.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
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Your only other option is to buy color calibration hardware. I've seen devices from $80 to several thousand.
 

Compman55

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Feb 14, 2010
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So is the color adjustments done thru software & ICC profiles, or is there adjustments that get made on the monitor itself.

I have a feeling that the panels are just from a different batch, of the factory calibrated them different.

Question: When you order a pair at the same time from dell, so they try to calibrate them close to the same in comparison to just buying two from amazon. I heard a rumor of that.
 

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
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When you order a pair at the same time from dell, so they try to calibrate them close to the same in comparison to just buying two from amazon. I heard a rumor of that.
There's no way they can do that without losing money, and/or needing their monitors to be much more expensive. They do calibrate the displays, though, as does HP (and probably others, but Dell and HP are all I've seen many of the same models of). So, if you buy 2 of the same model, at the same time, it was likely calibrated to the same specs, at the same factory, has the same make/model panel, from the same batch, and has the same backlighting, with a tube, or LEDs, also from the same batch, all of which lead to them looking about the same. I'd bet all of them produced over any month or so period are calibrated closely enough to one another to not need further calibration, unless you need greater accuracy for work.
 

rgallant

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Apr 14, 2007
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also try switching the panels left to right ,right to left ,but not the cables , power cord /or brick ,just thinking a refection of something in your room could throwing the color off on one.
-what cables are you using and plugged into what system / video card /using monitor drivers ? btw.
 

Compman55

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Feb 14, 2010
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Mini DVI to DVI to HDMI on secondary panel. Mini display port to DVI to HDMI for primary. Flip flopping the displays does not change a thing. It is the panel itself.
 

KentState

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2001
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Maybe you are sensitive to the pixel arrangement from your left to right eye?

I would suggesting getting something like a Datacolor Spyder Pro. You will be amazed that even if the calibration matched, that the calibration is not the greatest. My HP IPS monitor had a green tint to the grays.
 

KaRLiToS

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Jul 30, 2010
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I have 3 x CrossOver 27 Q Led-P and I also noticed that one monitor is a little colder, the other warmer and the other one is kind of neutral. I was able to balance them through Catalyst (Graphic card software) and was able to almost match them. I usually only notice it on white background/image.

But the more you are OCD, the more you think about it, the more you will notice it ;)
 

borderdeal

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Aug 4, 2013
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I have 2 different panels One PLS and one MVS and I had to use a colorimeter to match them. Colormunki. After I calibrated them they look the same :) plus they look better now too
 

TheUnk

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Jun 24, 2005
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I have a feeling that the panels are just from a different batch, of the factory calibrated them different.

This. When I purchased my surround monitors the nearest Best Buy only had 2 of what I wanted. So I grabbed them both and drove to the next one for the 3rd.

That 3rd one did not match the first 2 at all. It was driving me crazy. I had to return it and called up several stores to find one with a serial number that had something like the first 5 digits the same as my other 2. Once I found it, they all matched perfectly.
 

birthdaymonkey

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Oct 4, 2010
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Is there not an OSD for setting custom RGB values? Every Dell monitor I've owned has had one (but then I've always had U-series).

I had a couple of 2412M made about a year apart. They looked dramatically different next to each other, but I managed to get them VERY close by fiddling with RGB.
 

Compman55

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Feb 14, 2010
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I got them close. But the adjustments are way different which makes me think the panels are different batches completely.

The S/N are very close, but not consecutive.

Dell should automatically pick up on this when you buy multiple monitors to match the S/N in consecutive order, or at least to have a check box for an extra price that would allow them to do this. Any yes, I would have paid it.