Dell U2311H - Got two but have a few problems

SlingShotUK

SlingShotUK

SlingShotUK

Associate
Joined
23 Nov 2008
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30
Hi guys,

Just got two U2311H's this morning and am a little disappointed that one of the monitors is brighter and has a better white level than the other. However, the one with the better white level has about 4 flickering pixels that seem to appear mainly on my desktop picture - though I've seen them on other windows from time to time. Initially on the very first power up there were about 20! While it's only really on the desktop I will probably return it as the flickering could infer more problems to come.

My question is, I suppose the differences in panels is quite normal right? Some are brighter than others and some have better white levels. The one with worse white levels is still pretty good - it's just with the other monitor next to it, it can be quite annoying to notice the difference.
I'm not sure how much I could argue to get this one changed as there is nothing actually wrong with it - just not as good white level wise than the other.

Although when I do compare a white window shown on both screens it's quite clear that one has more of a 'dirty' white colour, rather than a pure white which the other seems to have. I can't find any tweaks of settings that fix this so assume it's just the nature of the particular unit.

I was worried about problems before ordering these as there do seem to be a lot of user reports of QC issues. Suppose I can get used to it and at the end of the day it seems hard to get perfect monitors no matter what the brand.

Would be interested in what you guys think though and any experiences with this model.

Also, strange question but do LCD monitors 'bed in' over time. I.E. Improve quality wise over the initial x number of hours? I'm assuming not and think I'm probably thinking about plasma technology but thought I'd ask in case it's possible that the white level on this one could get better in the next 200 hours or something.
 
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You need to thoroughly test first but you certainly shouldn't "put up" with anything if you're not happy. Dell have a superb next-day replacement policy, which I'd advise you use if you're not satisfied.

does sound more like a colour profile difference more than anything.

1) test each monitor on its own in one DVI port
2) i assume you've left them for around an hour each to warm up
3) check your cable(s)
4) could you upload photos to show the difference
5) double check that they are using the same colour profiles (just reset to factory defaults)
 
Hi there,

Thanks for your replies.

I did test both monitors in each DVI slot and I got the same results, in fact you can see the difference in brightness when the monitors are first turned on without a signal as the 'no signal' messages are brighter on one of them.

However, I do think your right about colour profiles.

Last night I tweaked the custom RGB values on the monitor which helped a lot with the monitor with the less bright whites. They were looking a bit dirty or rather perhaps too warm and creamy than white. I was able to tweak the white level to get it fairly close to the other brighter monitor so that's one thing.

My issue now is that the brighter monitor still has about 4-5 lazy pixels (flickering on and off) but they only show on the desktop wallpaper - and only one particular image. I think it's the purple and other colours in the picture that trigger the issue. I can't really get it to happen with other windows. However I am concerned this could get worse as when I first turned the panel on yesterday (after unpacking) it had about 20 of them.

Also turning on this morning this monitor is also showing some obvious large purple tinting on the left leading to green on the far right. This is something my other monitor doesn't have.

I am tempted to get this one replaced. My only concern is that I didn't order directly from Dell so run the risk of the supplier getting the monitor back and then saying they don't get the issue when testing it.
Now I assume I can go directly to Dell with the serial number and with that alone they would replace it? Judging by the Dell dispatch label on my monitor (it was sent to another customer first I think - though unopened) it was sent on the 11th October. With that in mind am I right in thinking that as long as reported to Dell within 30 days of dispatch they will replace with a brand new - not refurbished - unit? I read recently of someone else who did this and Dell wouldn't replace with a new one as the monitors had been ordered from Dell by the supplier over 30 days ago.

Again, any help or insight is greatly appreciated.
 
dnt worry. doesn't matter where you buy from, so long as you can give them the serial and name of supplier and date bought then you'll be fine.

if I were you I would send it back ASAP. Dell are excellent with this sort of thing. you'll get a replacement tomorrow and the same courier will pick up your old one, so you're not going to be without for any time at all. (5 mins maybe!).

it will probably be a refurb though, but that doesn't matter. just make sure you test it before the courier leaves.

cheers,
 
mothermachine said:
dnt worry. doesn't matter where you buy from, so long as you can give them the serial and name of supplier and date bought then you'll be fine.

if I were you I would send it back ASAP. Dell are excellent with this sort of thing. you'll get a replacement tomorrow and the same courier will pick up your old one, so you're not going to be without for any time at all. (5 mins maybe!).

it will probably be a refurb though, but that doesn't matter. just make sure you test it before the courier leaves.

cheers,
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Aha, so even if Dell see it was ordered within 30 days they will still send a refurb unit? Shouldn't it be brand new if faulty in that period?

Thanks again for your help. I suppose I'm just thinking that if I go to my supplier they would have to send me a brand new one, although there is then the danger of them testing it and not being able to recreate the issue and then charging me.. Gotta be careful on this one.

Also with Dell, would I need to give them the supplier name who my supplier bought off? I mention this as the label on the monitors shows who Dell shipped to originally (the customer) and then a collection from a Dell re-seller TO the supplier who I bought off.. So I assume that Dell with have the serial of the monitor tagged to the re-seller who my supplier bought from right?
 
ah well it might, yeh. only one way to find out :) tbh i'd just go straight to dell. guaranteed next-day replacement and no risk of the same one being sent back as you way.

yes you will need to give them the supplier name. it can get very complicated. you need to keep track of all the serials, because your replacement screen will have a new one and you might need to give dell the original serial next time.

don't worry about it tbh - dell are great with this. just ring em up and chat about it. :)
 
mothermachine said:
ah well it might, yeh. only one way to find out :) tbh i'd just go straight to dell. guaranteed next-day replacement and no risk of the same one being sent back as you way.

yes you will need to give them the supplier name. it can get very complicated. you need to keep track of all the serials, because your replacement screen will have a new one and you might need to give dell the original serial next time.

don't worry about it tbh - dell are great with this. just ring em up and chat about it. :)
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Excellent - thanks for your help on this.

If I go the Dell route I assume that I'd then have to always go to Dell - i.e. never back to the original supplier? Which is probably not an issue.

I would want a brand new one but I assume Dell would advise me of this when I call right?

Also, even though I bought from my supplier they probably won't need to know this - just the original re-seller who made the purchase?

The only thing I'm wondering about is the original customer who the monitor was delivered to who wasn't me.. Can see it getting rather complicated.. ;)
 
mothermachine said:
aye. messy :) best just to tell them and ask all these questions. they will be able to tell you if you're going to get a new one or replacement.
Click to expand...

;)

Have to give this some thought I think but great to know Dell may very well be the best and most helpful option. Worst thing would be to return to my supplier and then be told there is nothing wrong with it. I get the impression Dell just replace them no questions.

Certainly complex but am I right to think that even in this situation where Dell shipped to a customer via a re-seller who then sold the unopened units to another supplier that I am still fully covered by their normal service - as if I was the original customer?
 
It's worth investing in a colour calibrator rather than trying to do it by eye - the U2311h definitely benefits from it. I picked up an X-Rite i1 LT for about £100 - there's cheaper options out there, but it's worth the money if you're doing any photo editing.
 
adrichardson81 said:
It's worth investing in a colour calibrator rather than trying to do it by eye - the U2311h definitely benefits from it. I picked up an X-Rite i1 LT for about £100 - there's cheaper options out there, but it's worth the money if you're doing any photo editing.
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I must admit I was thinking about getting a calibration tool. Have done for quite a few years but never got around to it.

It's weird with these monitors though. I've actually had to reduce the gamma today using the Windows 7 calibration tool but not to a level which shows as 'right' - i.e. the centre dots are not minimised. The display feels much easier on the eye now and everything is clearer.

Also I can't take brightness lower than 70 on one of my monitors without the whole displaying looking far too dull.

But yeah I suppose that's where a calibration comes in to make sure everything is right.
 
It is true that Dell is quite good with returns on their UltraSharp monitors and perhaps with all monitors in general?

I find that kind of strange seeing that they are so annoying and frustrating to interact with whenever you have issues with their desktop and laptop ranges. But all the more power to their monitor side of business, they are doing a really good job and is building up quite some customer loyalty.
 
Porcelina said:
It is true that Dell is quite good with returns on their UltraSharp monitors and perhaps with all monitors in general?

I find that kind of strange seeing that they are so annoying and frustrating to interact with whenever you have issues with their desktop and laptop ranges. But all the more power to their monitor side of business, they are doing a really good job and is building up quite some customer loyalty.
Click to expand...

It does sound like they have quite a good process for monitors though I must admit that I suspect that a lot of it revolves around them taking returns from unhappy customers, giving them a new unit or refurb but then just sending out the returned monitor as the next refurb to go out. So getting a refurb could be quite an annoying process as you might end up with one that another customer has rejected due to QC issues..
 
Hi guys,

Just to update you, after owning two of these models for 3 days here is what I have.

One of my monitors had some lazy pixels issues - cyan pixles flicking on and off (often all over the screeen but only on certain images (colours). However this turned out NOT to be lazy pixels but a dodgy DVI cable. I managed to clean off something which was on one of the pins and it sorted it.

I'll say this now, these monitors just aren't consistent (like we didn't know that already) in that I reckon you just won't be able to buy two that are the same.

One of my monitors is a fair bit brighter and 'jumps' out more. However it has a purple tint on the left hand side moving to a green tint on the right hand side. I have left it on standard as messing with the RGB values results in a dimmer picture and the tint issue is impossible to remove and is actually made worse if I tweak.
The screen looks nice although I know I'm going to have to get used to seeing that purple tint when looking over at the left side of the screen.

My other monitor isn't as bright and seems to have a dirtier, more green tint on white backgrounds on the left side of the screen. I have again left this on 'Standard' profile as that one is brighter I find but I have used my graphics card RGB settings to try and minimise the dirty white look on the left and make it a little more like my brighter monitor.

It's still a good monitor - blacks looks good (though not as good as the brighter monitor) and it's easy to read text on etc.

I have been stressing over the brighter monitor due to the lazy pixels and purple tint and was going to return it. However, now that I know it hasnt got lazy pixels I don't think I can risk returning it. I bought from a company who bought stock from a Dell reseller (who had sold to one of their clients who returned the units - but didnt open them).
Therefore, my supplier will test the monitors first and of course find nothing wrong with them.

I therefore think I'm going to have to accept the defects (or idiosyncrasies if you will). In my experience of using monitors over the years I reckon I will get used to them pretty quickly and then in a couple of weeks / months not even notice the tint or brightness differences.

Even if I could return the one with the obvious tint (or even both) I doubt I'd get a replacement that was perfect and there is a risk it would be worse.

When I ordered, even though I'd read about all the issues I really didn't think I'd get any issues. Mainly because it's November now and the A01 revision is out. You'd think things would be settled QC wise by now.
I do believe that many people who order these just don't notice any problems and are blown away by the size and improved quality from their old monitor(s).

Anyway for the record I have two A01 revisions made in August 2010. They were shipped from Dell to the original client on the 11th October 2010 in the UK. Therefore perhaps the August / September batches are what are shipping now - at a guess.

Hope this is helpful.
 
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