Thinking about a Dell Ultrasharp 2005FPW? Think again.

[mauiblue]

I received my new 2005FPW today. That was a suprise because I got a email on Monday from Dell that I wouldn't receive it until next week Monday (the 24th). They said they had to push it back a week because of production issues. Whatever. So I hooked it up and turrned it on...

AND IT IS SO FVCKING PRETTY!!!

No dead pixels and backlighting issues at this point is a non-issue. I still have to do some more testing tonight, but from what I see, no problems. HURRAY!!! (doing the Snoopy happy dance). BTW, if anyone needs to know, Rev. A01 manufactured in Dec 04.

I'm still crossing my fingers, though. After all the problems I've been hearing about this beast, I don't want to let my guard down...

All the best.

 

[omnivore]

Mine's a REV01 Jan build. Has 2 bad subpixels and very minor backlight bleeding... That's no prob, BUT its nonuniform color is(solid white or gray screen has a blue/green cast on the left and a red cast on the right(gradient increase of red push across horizontal). It's subtle and not noticable at all on a busy screen, but still annoying.

That said, white on this thing is MUCH brighter and truer(at least in the middle) than my 1900FP(which I love despite its faint tint).

Coming from the 1900FP, this glass definitely has a larger sweat-spot too. Seems to me LCD's low contrast basically means you just can't have it all... take the shadows or take the highlights, but try for both and you'll get nothing but DULL dissappointment. This is my forth panel(over years, not days--it's my first 2005fpw), and I played the same game with all, trying to tweak settings to get the best image. There is not 1 setting. At least for me, I need seperate desktop settings for regular work and photo/video work; Also, each game is unique.

The 2005fpw's OSD brightness control is virtually useless. Unlike my other panels, it looks like brightness on this display doesn't attenuate the backlight at all. As others said, use the video driver.

This glass has a lot going for it, but it's FAR from perfrect... At this price-point though, (and from Dell) I didn't expect perfection. I'm just not sure whether mine stays.

If you're thinking about nabbing one, here're some of the less talked about aspects:

+ PRICE, at well under $600 shipped I can overlook quite a bit (need a Dell deal)
+ Nice full-screen scaling of analog via Dsub15 (using VD-Z3)
Xbox 480p looks great
HDTV at 720p looks excellent, but for some reason needs sync RGBs, RGBHV is crap
+ PUNCHY, BOLD 'TRUER' colors (than my last panel)
+ widescreen makes for a great work area(better for dual use as a HDTV/DVD/XBOX)
+ Built-in power supply(no wall-wart or brick)
+ svid and composit inputs (not tested)
+/- VERY bright, which can be difficult to tame for analog sources
- Non-Uniform colors? red primary varies horizontally across screen left/weak->right/strong
- OSC very limited and may not have enough ?play? to get settings perfect for all analog sources
- mediocre glass produces annoying shimmering effect (I find my eyes 'want' to focus on the glass instead of the image... no where near as bad as my old 5150 laptop UXGA display, but definitely a step down from the beautiful, smooth glass on the 1900FP--i did get used to it eventually on the laptop)
- Off angle viewing subject to the usual TN purple-haze effect, but plenty of 'true' viewable angle
- does not support HDCP

If this where for just my PC, there'd be no doubt--Forget the 2005fpw and get a good Super-IPS based 19" Samsung or similar. BUT, I want a widescreen for some light HDTV duty too... so it's this or $1600 for the next step up.
That's a big step.😕

FYI Comfortable Desktop Settings (much easier on my eyes):
gamma .85
brightness -15 (15% less 0 norm)
contrast 92 (8% less 100 norm)
OCD Brightness 20
...and don't forget cleartype

My overlay settings are much brighter and contrasty.

 

[SUOrangeman]

Dell: 0% brightness, 75 Hz

I saw only one post that referenced 60Hz. Any reason why 60Hz wasn't used on the LCD? LCDs are progressive displays by nature, so just because it can handle a 75Hz signal, doesn't mean that it offers the best picture at that setting. If the 2005fpw is like most other LCDs available, it should be run at 60Hz regardless.

You cannot equate 60Hz on an LCD to 60Hz on a CRT. At best, you can equate an LCD's response time to the refresh rate of a CRT. For instance, 16ms is roughly 62.5Hz, 12ms is 83.3Hz, 8ms is 125Hz (all progressive). There is no easy way to compare these numbers to the interlaced refresh rate of CRTs.

The only factor impacted by refresh rates/response times is the (perceived?) motion blur with fast moving images. Backlighting and overall color "signatures" are not related to fow fast the signal is displayed on the screen.

-SUO

 

[Boogak]

I ended up returning mine. It had a pink tint on the right 3rd of the screen. I would have kept it had it been perfect, but after seeing it in person (not that much bigger than my 1800FP) and reading how hard it is to get a perfect one, I decided dual 18" LCDs are fine for now.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: SUOrangeman

Dell: 0% brightness, 75 Hz

I saw only one post that referenced 60Hz. Any reason why 60Hz wasn't used on the LCD? LCDs are progressive displays by nature, so just because it can handle a 75Hz signal, doesn't mean that it offers the best picture at that setting. If the 2005fpw is like most other LCDs available, it should be run at 60Hz regardless.

You cannot equate 60Hz on an LCD to 60Hz on a CRT. At best, you can equate an LCD's response time to the refresh rate of a CRT. For instance, 16ms is roughly 62.5Hz, 12ms is 83.3Hz, 8ms is 125Hz (all progressive). There is no easy way to compare these numbers to the interlaced refresh rate of CRTs.

The only factor impacted by refresh rates/response times is the (perceived?) motion blur with fast moving images. Backlighting and overall color "signatures" are not related to fow fast the signal is displayed on the screen.

-SUO

Umm, ok, whatever.

I'm going to add more pictures tonight.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

I got the REV 01, and it was identical to the A00, they both are being sent back.

 

[MrCoyote]

Thanks for the comparison. I went shopping for a CRT monitor this weekend, and glanced at the LCD's. I noticed some backlight bleed in a few. Not good at all. My Sony CRT is about to go out, and I'm looking for another CRT. No way I'll consider LCD monitors until the quality gets better.

 

[w00t]

u said earlier that the 2005fpw isnt for a seroius gamer. if i was to play cs compeditivly like leagues and such would you say get a crt?

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: w00t
u said earlier that the 2005fpw isnt for a seroius gamer. if i was to play cs compeditivly like leagues and such would you say get a crt?

Huh?

Oh, I suppose your referring to the widescreen thing, you'd have a slight advantage, or so you'd think.

My CRT has much better contrast, color, and is guaranteed not to ghost. I said the 2005FPW is not for the hardcore gamer, but I guess it could be, just depends if you really care what your games look like.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Does anyone know who I can contact at Anandtech about my thread? They may find it interesting. I read in the Dell UltraSharp 1905FP review, that they will also be reviewing the 2005FPW sometime in the coming weeks.

 

[arcas]

I'm curious. For you adventurous types who have a 2005FPW with the backlight bleeding problem around the edges, have you considered opening up the display to find the source of the problem? I don't have an LCD so these ideas might be pure bunk but...

1) If the problem is simply due to poor mechanical fit, perhaps you can stop the backlight from leaking through by placing weather stripping along the perimeter behind the panel.

2) If the problem is due to the backlight "seeping" into the panel along the edge (and, thus, acting like a light pipe), then perhaps you could run some black electrical tape along the edge of the glass panel to seal the light.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

doom 3 looks a whole lot more atmospheric and scarier on your crt

 

[MarkM]

Originally posted by: wolfman579

Originally posted by: h3nG
EYE STRAIN! it's almost a FACT that lcds will preserve your vision much better than CRTS. i started wearing glass a year after using the computer. worsened every year. this year the degree is not as much as my previous prescription. and my eyes havent gone red for late night gaming yet since the switch.

in my opinion...if you are only looking at quality, crts pretty much nails the coffin of lcds. those pictures are good proof of it. no arguments needed. but for me, i will never go back to crts...because the last factor is more important to me than some unnecessary eye candle.

Your saying your CRT actually made your eye-sight worsen to the point of needing glasses!?

I think it's very safe to say that this is a problem, yes. I'm a bit of a guinea pig for you all, isuspect, since I am an "old fart" in IT who started using computers in the late 70s, and obviously know other people who have been at it as long. I have noticed that my eyesight has deteroiated greatly over the years, but that the rate of deteoration has slowed greatly (relatively) during periods in which I a) started to pay more attention to ergonomics and set up my monitor distance & lighting more appropriately, b) took five eyes off from the workplace to raise my kids when they were young. After I came back from that five yars the eye strain/dgeneration in the first year was particularly noticable, as it was when I was in CS grad school & at my screen 12/7 for long stretches -- particulary at semesters' end 😀 Last year I finally got a Dell LCD at work, I hope it helps. It's going to be hard to judge though since I still have a CRT at home, and telecommute form there regularly.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
doom 3 looks a whole lot more atmospheric and scarier on your crt

YES, thank you. That couldn't be more true, it actually hurts my eyes a tiny bit to play doom on the 2005FPW because everything is a lot brighter becasue the backlight is so bright. Same goes for Far Cry in dark areas of the game. Plus the 2005FPW has that red tint which is pretty easy to notice in that game.

Although I don't like Doom 3 very much, it still is the best game too test "black" on. 😉

I want to know if other LCD's "black" looks this bad on Doom 3, Far Cry, ect.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: MarkM

Originally posted by: wolfman579

Originally posted by: h3nG
EYE STRAIN! it's almost a FACT that lcds will preserve your vision much better than CRTS. i started wearing glass a year after using the computer. worsened every year. this year the degree is not as much as my previous prescription. and my eyes havent gone red for late night gaming yet since the switch.

in my opinion...if you are only looking at quality, crts pretty much nails the coffin of lcds. those pictures are good proof of it. no arguments needed. but for me, i will never go back to crts...because the last factor is more important to me than some unnecessary eye candle.

Your saying your CRT actually made your eye-sight worsen to the point of needing glasses!?

I think it's very safe to say that this is a problem, yes. I'm a bit of a guinea pig for you all, isuspect, since I am an "old fart" in IT who started using computers in the late 70s, and obviously know other people who have been at it as long. I have noticed that my eyesight has deteroiated greatly over the years, but that the rate of deteoration has slowed greatly (relatively) during periods in which I a) started to pay more attention to ergonomics and set up my monitor distance & lighting more appropriately, b) took five eyes off from the workplace to raise my kids when they were young. After I came back from that five yars the eye strain/dgeneration in the first year was particularly noticable, as it was when I was in CS grad school & at my screen 12/7 for long stretches -- particulary at semesters' end 😀 Last year I finally got a Dell LCD at work, I hope it helps. It's going to be hard to judge though since I still have a CRT at home, and telecommute form there regularly.

Well I think I can hold out a few more years with a CRT before LCD's become the main monitor for PC usage. PC's nowa days are quite a bit better than ones in the late 70's. 😎

Also the brightness on LCD's can't be good for your eyes either, I wouldn't think. But you can turn the brightness down on the monitor and on the graphics card settings, so this shouldn't be a problem.

 

[SunSamurai]

The dynamic range on the LCD looks clearly better to me. Your CRT is too dark.

 

[Xed]

I'm sure I'm in the vast minority here, but I preferred the 2005fpw over the 2141. It really is different for every user and the best way to decide is try yourself =)

 

[Kniteman77]

I just bought 2 22 inch NEC monitors of the type you're using to compare to this LCD 🙂

I am sooooo poor right now 🙁

 

[racer42]

For those with the light bleeding problem, it is just a black masking tape that seals the panel to its frame. I took apart an old 15" Dell with a bad backlight recently and the tape strip had 1/2" of each corner uncovered. If I had a panel with no bad pixels it might be smart to solve the bleed yourself.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: aeternitas
The dynamic range on the LCD looks clearly better to me. Your CRT is too dark.

Dynamic range? Your talking about the widesreen thing, right?

CRT is too dark?, it's supposed to be that dark. The 2005FPW is too bright.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: Kniteman77
I just bought 2 22 inch NEC monitors of the type you're using to compare to this LCD 🙂

I am sooooo poor right now 🙁

Why 2 of them?

EDIT: Should have gotten one instead. 😀

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: wolfman579
The Dell 2005FPW is not for a serious gamer. If you are a serious gamer, you'll demand the best, a CRT will provide you with the best gaming experience..

Why? It's not like you need to calibrate colors against a set standard or anything. 😕

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: wolfman579

Originally posted by: aeternitas
The dynamic range on the LCD looks clearly better to me. Your CRT is too dark.

Dynamic range? Your talking about the widesreen thing, right?

CRT is too dark?, it's supposed to be that dark. The 2005FPW is too bright.

brightness is subjective

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: wolfman579

Originally posted by: aeternitas
The dynamic range on the LCD looks clearly better to me. Your CRT is too dark.

Dynamic range? Your talking about the widesreen thing, right?

CRT is too dark?, it's supposed to be that dark. The 2005FPW is too bright.

brightness is subjective

Well I mean the backlight SEEMS too bright because it can't reproduce blacks too well. You can turn the brightness down on the 2005FPW, than it's ok. But I was referring to the backlight.

Good Night all. :moon:

 

[Spike]

well, I read your thread but decided to get a 2005 anyway. Soon I will have it setup next to my 21" Nokia 445xpro (I know, invar shadow mask = teh suck compared to AG but I really like it). I figure I will give it a try and if I really hate it, I will get a 2001FP. Thanks for the post anyway, hopefully people will find it useful

-spike