Looking for the real scoop on 6-bit vs. 8-bit LCDs

[rwhapham]

I'm in the market to buy a 17" LCD monitor. I deal with graphics (2D/3D) and some video for personal use, and I'm not a game player, so refresh speed isn't as important as other factors. In my research, though, I've seen quite a tug-of-war on the issue of 6-bit vs. 8-bit LCDs (6-bit using dithering, and 8-bit being capable of true 16.8M color display). Is the difference really that noticable, or does the LCD dithering do a decent job of hiding the truth? Princeton is currently offering a $75 rebate on their Senergy 714, which, with both VGA and DVI inputs, makes it a sweet deal. But it only has a 6-bit display. So any input that might help make this decision would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[homercles337]

Linkage of the 8- versus 6-bit issue would be useful. According to newegg this princeton is 8-bit/gun. Im a color vision scientist and can definately tell you that the 19" BenQ is 8-bits/gun--even though i have "heard" that its supposed to be 6-bit. Cheap and looks great! All LCDs i have worked have issues with running in a non-native mode, but thats to be expected depending on how the pixels are interped. Again, linkage to this discussion would be useful.

 

[rwhapham]

I don't plan on running in non-native resolutions; 1280x1024 works just fine for me (well, I'd LOVE to have a 19" or 20" capable of doing 1600x1200, but that's definitely out of my league right now). I've read that most 17" LCDs that do 16ms refresh are, in fact, 6-bit (though, I can't seem to find in my history where I read that). That's how they pull off the quicker refresh. According to Princeton's own website, the 714 does "16.7 Million Colors by dithering, but also states in the product details page that is does "16.2 Million Colors". The 16.2M is a little confusing, but they come up with that number for their LCD17D by stating it is "16.2 Million Colors (6-bit + 2 bit FRC)"; whatever FRC is.

So, maybe I'm really looking for someone's opinon of this specific monitor (the Senergy 714) in regards to color reproduction, especially with gradients or other images that one would expect to dither noticably at anything under 24-bit.

 

[rwhapham]

Okay, found this in-depth (way TOO in-depth for most of us) article about LCD technologies that I thought I'd pass along: X-bit?s Guide: Contemporary LCD Monitor Parameters and Characteristics. Page 11, specifically, addresses the notion of reproducing 16.2M colors with a 6-bit LCD plus FRC (frame rate control). Reading through this now seems to point the finger at which display matrix technology is being used by a given monitor, and what your intended application is. In my case, I'd be looking for an IPS matrix. Now if I can just figure out what the Senergy 714 is.