Dell U2713HM thoughts

mrk

mrk

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I've had the Hazro HZ24Wi since before release and this week I've retired it by replacing it with the Dell U2713HM to go alongside the U2412M I already have in a dual display setup.

A26A5325.jpg

e: Updated pic with calibrated on.

It was this or the Asus but I felt the extra for the Dell would add a few benefits.
- The same menu system and options.
- The same casing design.
- Panel quality should be similar to the U2412M.

Out of the box the sRGB mode appeared fine but not the same as the U2412M with custom RGB (calibrated). The 2412M has no sRGB mode preset in the colour menu though either. I've now calibrated both again and am pleased that they're almost 1:1 with the U2713HM just a shade brighter. I like to have the luminance below 120cd/m2 so around 90 is my target.

I use Lacie's Blue Eye Pro and these are the results post calibration:

U2412M:
DellU2412M.JPG


U2713HM:
DellU2713HM.JPG

(with the blue RGB slider at 100% there was was still more blue as shown by the graph! I expect this will settle with time though).

The Delta max/average values are excellent, exactly what I've come to expect from these panels. The Blackpoint matches up as well so shadow areas when editing photos on either screen will be consistent.

Lag wise I've noticed the 27" is ever so slightly more delayed than the 24", the 24 is pretty much instant but you only notice it if both are side by side and you move the window across screens, on its own the 27" won't have noticeable lag, if I put a window in the middle of both screens and move it up and down you can see this but I suspect this is in most part down to the difference in resolution as well and that I'm using the 24" in portrait mode (?).

I've not noticed any issues when gaming or with trailing of the mouse cursor. There is some trail but it's not something you notice in normal usage.

Backlight bleed doesn't appear to be a problem. there is the IPS tinge but this is to be expected anyway.

The panel front itself is not glossy but it is glossier than the U2412M.

The LED on the power button on the 27" is white whereas previous screens have been blue (24"). It would have been nice to have a blue LED on the 27" as well. I have noticed when it's in sleep mode the LED pulsates white whereas it just goes orange on the 24".

The U2713HM wobbles more on the stand than the 24" does. The stand is bigger as well.

Is it worth upgrading from a 24" (1920x1200 16:10) to this (2560x1440 16:9)?
If you have the means to do so then I say yes! The extra FOV in games is really nice, having letterbox free movies/TV shows is also a bonus and looks amazing. 1080p content doesn't look pixelated at all and the extra screen estate is really good.


Dark Knight, picture really doesn't do it justice :p
A26A5315.jpg


What I like about it:
- Image sharpness.
- Picture quality.
- Colour accuracy (after claibration although getting it close without a calibrator is possible, I didn't like the factory calibration).
- USB3 hub.
- The menu UI is brilliant, best of any screen I've used and I hope Dell don't change this in future screens!

What I don't like about it:
- The stand, the screen wobbles on it more than the 24" does on its stand. No a problem if you have a solid desk surface though.
- Factory calibration is too bright and feels too warm.
- White power LED is a little bit more of a distraction when working in the dark compared to the soft blue LED on the 24".
 
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Nice review, great set up you have got there as well. I've been looking at the Dell 27" monitors as 2560x1440 is on my wishlist.
 
I think if you chose the Dell (or any IPS 1440p 27" really) you'd be really pleased with it!
 
Thanks for taking the time to write up your thoughts mrk. I have also recently purchased a U2713HM to go alongside a 24" Dell (the 2405FPW in my case), and I would fully agree with your comments. Overall an excellent monitor, and I can't say that I'm troubled by any backlight bleed as I have seen mentioned elsewhere.
 
With IPS people often confuse the tinge with backlight bleed as you notice it from the edges/corners first before anywhere else so yup, it can be a bit weird at first!
 
Cool review mrk - great pictures as always.

27" 1440p Monitors are lovely - I went from a Dell 2007WFP ot a U2711 last Feb - the upgrade was unreal.
 
I love the U2713HM, it's just a shame this is my 3rd and this is going back too. I can live with slight backlight bleed, my 2007WFP has almost none, but the 2713 has a large yellow part of the screen, so dark games or films have a yellow block

Waiting to see what Dell will do, another replacement or a full refund. Just wish it would be ok from the beginning
 
Cheers all.

What revision is yours madman? Just checked mine and it's Rev A00.
 
it's Rev 00 and its the only revision as far as I know, but i've had build July, August and now i'm on September 2012
 
He calibrated it using a LaCie probe so will be using an ICC profile. Each U2713HM is slightly different but comes factory calibrated most stringently in the sRGB mode and with good gamma and white point in the 'Standard' mode. Brightness depends on your preferences and lighting and the default contrast is optimal. You may feel you can balance things a little better using the RGB controls ('Custom Color') but this is done on a unit-by-unit basis.

In other words you shouldn't need to change anything and will only really improve things if you have a hardware calibrator.
 
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You can try my profile if you'd like but as above, your results with it may not be accurate :p

http://robbiekhan.co.uk/root/files/DellU2713HM.icc

Brightness: 21
Contrast: 75

R: 81
G: 92
B: 100

Note that my particular U2713HM has extra blue in that channel so the calibration process adjusted for that to get to 6500K. Keep an eye on this blue if you apply my profile as yours may not come out the box with as much blue!
 
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