Monitor Testing

[lifeguard1999]

I received an Engineering Sample LCD monitor in the mail (it pays to go to SIGGRAPH). I am used to testing CPUs and GPUs - I have my own benchmarks for such things already set up. However, I have no benchmarks for LCD monitors. How does one go about testing the latency and color of an LCD monitor? Right now my plans are to run side-by-side GPU benchmarks to see how my current monitors and this new one compare. Any ideas?

 

[xtknight]

For colors you can get something to measure the DeltaE of colors (like LaCie calibration products). DeltaE<3 is favorable, <2 is good, <1 is excellent IIRC.
For response time, you can use this utility's tests:
http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/files/pixperan_english.zip

It usually makes motion blur show up like a sore thumb. I think ChuckHsiao on this forum had a test for 6-bit or 8-bit color panel also. But if the DeltaE is fine, then you're OK.

 

[lifeguard1999]

Thanks xtknight, I will try it out!

 

[xtknight]

Can you disclose the details of this LCD or is that under wraps?

 

[lifeguard1999]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Can you disclose the details of this LCD or is that under wraps?

Link

It is NEC's 21-inch SpectraView LCD2180QX LED. The resolution is 2048x1536 for the 21 inch screen. That is less than IBM's T221 (9 Mpixel - we have two) and Apple's 30" monster (we have two). However it beats my Sony PremierPro SDM-P234 (1920x1200 - we have ten) for resolution, though not for size.

The LCD 2180UX (1600x1200) is available for $6,600.

Review of 2180UX.

 

[xtknight]

Oh damn. I bet the colors look awesome. Does this have an LED for every pixel or just a big LED backlight? If the latter I don't see what warrants that kind of a price. Glad to see high resolutions on desktop LCD monitors finally.

 

[Mark R]

This is the NEC monitor with the Luxeon LED backlight isn't it?

My understanding of how it works is there is a big strip of red, green and blue LEDs along one edge of the screen, with a complicated light deflector/mixer to divert the light evenly over the whole screen. The LCD panel, is a conventional panel (with red, green and blue coloured subpixels). (This is a typical LED module for LCD backlighting)

Because each colour of LEDs produces a narrow spectral band (unlike a white CCFL which produces a wide spiky spectrum) the combination of narrow band light and narrow band filters gives a much better colour filtering than if a CCFL was used.

It's surprisingly expensive - however, I suspect that's because it's meant to be a high-end product for professional use. This means that they will be very carefully checked and calibrated.

 

[lifeguard1999]

THG Link

At the THG Link is the 1600x1200 version. I have the 2048x1536 version. Still, it is a great read.

 

[Mark R]

THG Link

By "LumiLED (sic) technology" I presume they mean Luxeon technology?

 

[xtknight]

It's Luxeon made by LumiLED LLC. WTF is with that huge casing over the LCD seen on the first page?

 

[Mark R]

WTF is with that huge casing over the LCD seen on the first page?

A common feature for high end monitors. It's to reduce glare and reflections so that you get maximum contrast. You can always take it off if you want - but if you're paying so much for accurate colours, you'll probably want to keep it.

 

[Spacecomber]

It's not very scientific, but for a quick and dirty test of how a LCD handles moving images I'll use the Dragothic test from 3DMark2001. You can easily see the "ghosting" problem on the dragon's wings with a slow response time monitor.