Dell U2713HM, use DVI or HDMI ?

[The Matrix]

I recieved my new Dell U2713HM earlier, i presumed it would come with a displayport cable but it seems Dell don't include one, ive got a choice between DVI and HDMI for the time being, i presume DVI would be best ? I'm using a 7970 graphics card.

What res will DVI give you, can you get 2560 x 1440 on DVI ? I take it in the long run that displayport will be best to use ?

 

[The Matrix]

My Sapphire 7970 Vapor-X has 2 DVI connections, one white and one black. I connected it to the white one as the included DVI connector is white, i just presume with them being colour coded that you connect it to the relevant coloured one. I presume the other black DVI connector is for dual link DVI ?

The monitor is up and running, not had a chance to do much with it yet but my early impressions are its a very sleek looking, great monitor. Can't spot any obvious light bleed but i'll test that tonight in a dark room, no obvious dead pixels. The Dell packing is great as well, the monitor is very well protected, i like the stand design how its so easy just to clip it onto the back.

Really impressed with it, Overclockers were superb as well in sorting out a good deal for me and getting the monitor delivered today saturday.

 

[The Matrix]

you need to use dual link dvi or display port to support 1440p

I don't have one of those cables at the min, they are not included with the monitor, i was presuming they would be otherwise i'd have ordered one with the monitor.

The Dell display manager is saying its displaying 2560x1440

 

[The Matrix]

you need to use dual link dvi or display port to support 1440p

if you look at the dvi cable

you should have 4 pins + - then loads of pins with no gaps

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/image/s...50731521FC/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1

Thanks for the link, ive just checked the DVI cable, its dual link..... I feel a bit of a lemon now lol

The bit that threw me is on the Dell site in the listed accessories that are included it just says DVI cable, doesn't mention dual link at all.

http://accessories.ap.dell.com/sna/...cs=audhs1&l=en&s=dhs&sku=210-40773&redirect=1

What's Included

Monitor with stand
Power Cable
DVI Cable
USB Cable
VGA Cable
Cable Tie
Drivers and Documentation media (incl Dell Display Manager software)
Color Calibrated Factory Report
Quick Setup Guide
Safety Information

 

[The Matrix]

Is their any real difference between displayport and dual link DVI other than its easier to plug and unlug a displayport cable ? If their is no real difference i'll leave it on the dual link DVI cable as it seems to be fine.

 

[The Matrix]

The monitor is going back, ive tested it out on some movies and web browsing and its got a horrible big light bleed in the bottom left hand corner, it goes brighter when you launch something like a browser, the same when watching a movie as it goes dimmer and brighter depending what the scene is and how much brightness it needs.

I'm more suprised Dell send this kind of stuff out especially given the price, does quality control not exist these days lol...

 

[The Matrix]

Dell have an outstanding warranty on there panels, I'm sure if you inform them they will have a new one with you by Monday.

Its a common probblem apparently from what i read on the net before buying one, it seems to be pot luck if you get a good one without light bleed or the other reported issues, obviously i was hoping it would be a good one and i think this was new stock at Overclockers as they were out of stock the week before i bought it then 4 came into stock. Obviously the issues are still here even with new stock.

A new one by monday, i'd very much doubt that, i'd have to go through overclockers anyway.

 

[The Matrix]

And it sounds like you had either 'Dynamic Contrast' or 'Energy Smart' enabled. 'Dynamic Contrast' is enabled on certain presets by default (such as 'Game').

Dynamic contrast is off, its one of the first things i turned off, i also turned the brightness and contrast down. A few examples

 

[The Matrix]

Not sure why you didn't buy direct from Dell? Thought it was well known their warranty with the high end panels is outstanding.

Have you seen the price on the Dell site ? Its £626 on the Dell site and for the same Monitor at Overclockers which has come direct from Dell its £439, also included when you buy from Overclockers is the Dell Warranty: 3 Years On-Site (Premium Panel Guarantee).

 

[The Matrix]

And 'Energy Smart' disabled? When you said "it goes dimmer and brighter depending what the scene is and how much brightness it needs" it implies that some form of dynamic contrast is enabled. If not, then the monitor must be faulty for that reason alone.

Yeh, Energy Smart was off as default.

 

[The Matrix]

I'll see what OCUK say as i left a message in the customer service section, they may want to collect this one and send a replacement, if they do and that one is just as bad or worse then i'll take it up with Dell.

One other quick thing while i'm here, this is my first IPS screen, when you look at the screen from any side angle their is a fog across the screen. Is this an IPS thing ? It doesn't look good at all. It seems like you can only view it from head on otherwise the screen has a foggy haze across it.

 

[The Matrix]

Cheers Moogleys, its appreciated you going to that trouble. I'd love a screen like yours, i understand that with any monitor you will get minimal light bleed, that i can accept. Its when it comes to the point that its spoiling your enjoyment that its a problem, i bought my monitor for watching movies which will be in a dark room as its a better viewing experience, obviously with excessive light bleed its something that niggles away when you get dark scenes at it stands out like a sore thumb, its like having spotlights shining up from the bottom of the screen.

I really like the screen and its design, i'm sure this could be a great monitor if you get a good one, i think i'm in the camp where ive got a rogue one like quite a few people on the net seem to have.

 

[The Matrix]

Ive had the monitor now for 2 days and ive had chance to test it out watching a couple of movies and browsing the net, i'll give the pros and cons from what ive seen so far.

Pros:

Great looking monitor with a nice solid base, the design is superb, it has so many adjustment options both up and down, side ways as well as tilt. The anti glare coating is very good, you can barely see any reflections, if any most of the time.

Watching movies is great on this monitor, if you have a good source the colours are superb, browsing the net is also excellent, 27 inch is a perfect size imo. The menu is again superb and very easy to use, the connections are great.

Cons:

Light bleed is the obvious one, my monitor suffers from this, if you read the net a lot of other people have suffered the same issue, it can spoil blacks especially in the bottom left where my light bleed is, it can be really distracting and spoil the enjoyment of a good movie especially if the movie has black bars top and bottom as its like having spot lights shining up.

The other issue ive noticed is the monitor from certain angles mainly from both sides can look foggy, its like a fog mist over the screen, you need to be looking head on with this monitor.

I'd say thats about it really, if you get one of these monitors thats perfect then you will have a top monitor, its a bit of a lottery as to what will turn up based on the reviews and opinions on the net as well as my own experience.

 

[The Matrix]

You're only guaranteed a new replacement within the first 30 days of your purchase. After then it's next business day replacement and if you get a brand new one then great, but they can send a refurbished one too.

That sounds wrong to me, ive had brand new Dell and Alienware products in the past, the way their warranty worked back then is as follows, if you bought a brand new item your entitled to a brand new item as a replacement if it becomes faulty, if you buy a refurbed item your only entitled to a refurb as a replacement.

I know that part as i had a Dell XPS M1730 that gave up the ghost, it was bought as a refurb direct from Dell in the outlet, Dell explained the above at the time that you can only have a refurb as a replacement for a refurb, you only get brand new if you bought brand new.

After contacting Dell I was instructed to obtain the Original Order Number for the monitor (Overclockers supplier of the monitor have this).

Ive just been asked the same by Dell, they also want photos of the fault which is no prob.

 

[The Matrix]

I'm still trying to work out if this is a very good monitor or not, ive watched a couple of films that are 1080p and sometimes the picture seems great, other times it feels as though the quality is softened, maybe thats to do with the finish, i don't know really as i'm guessing.

If i look to either side of the monitor it looks misty looking which i pointed out earlier, maybe it is the finish, as i said sometimes depending on the scene it looks great, but other times it feels softened.

I'll just see what happens with Dell, if the second one is the same i may look at another option, it could be just this monitor i have thats at fault, its my first IPS monitor so i don't know the quirks of them.

 

[The Matrix]

1080 is scaled up to 1440 so can look a little softened are not as sharp as a native 1080 screen.

The monitors are superb when you get a good one but it does seems a bit hit and miss getting one. Luckily the warranty is superb so you can swap them until you get a good one.

It wasn't scaled to the full screen, their was a thinish black bar all the way round so was displaying at the right res for the movie with the extra screen space being taken up on all sides by the thin black bar.