My new Dell 2405FPW - pictures & first impressions
- Thread starter Baddass
- Start date
For about two weeks I was thinking about getting one then I thought no I'll leave it but then I read more reviews, this thread, the price is low but will be going back up to 900+ shortly..........I've now had one for 2-3 weeks and i think the monitor is great, play x3, bf2, quake4, fear and it manages each game very well. Well chuffed.
Just received mine yesterday. Thanks to all you guys for giving great impression on this monitor, for it really is beautiful.
I've only had the one problem so I'd appreciate if someone could help me. I hooked my xbox up through vga via the x2vga adapter. 480p games work fine but 720p games do not, with it being displayed at 832x624 res and the bottom/top being cut off. I've ordered some components cables for my xbox which should arrive in a few days, but this worried me slightly that I won't have the option of using vga cable for xbox 360.
Does anyone else out there have an x2vga that they've tried to hook up with a 2405?
I've only had the one problem so I'd appreciate if someone could help me. I hooked my xbox up through vga via the x2vga adapter. 480p games work fine but 720p games do not, with it being displayed at 832x624 res and the bottom/top being cut off. I've ordered some components cables for my xbox which should arrive in a few days, but this worried me slightly that I won't have the option of using vga cable for xbox 360.
Does anyone else out there have an x2vga that they've tried to hook up with a 2405?
moaaz said:
I had a "something 2 vga" box thingy myself when I was using my 18" Dell, but now I see no reason to use it really I just plug the things in right into the monitor and I'm happy, besides I don't sit that close when playing console games on it so it all looks ok. Not really able to comment on the xbox thing, as I left mine at my parents house and don't use it too much anywho and besides the EU version doesn't really do 720p unless you chip it
And in regards to xbox2, I doub't you'll have many problems hooking it up via VGA as it's going to have it's own VGA cable it is not going to need to go through any sort of vga adaptor box and hopefuly M$ will add the option of configuring the output of the box to a 16:10 aspect ratio.
One slight niggle with the 2405FPW...... My PCs run 24/7 and used to switch off my old TFT with the power button on the front, now ive got my 2405 ive continued doing this and everytime I switch it back on it says I unplugged some mass storage thingys, obviously its the memory card slots, so if I want to avoid this warning im going to have to let windows put the monitor into standby, my problem is, as I read a LOT off the monitor and dont want it powering off whilst im reading I would like to have control of this, does anyone know of a program to turn off the monitor that I could put on my desktop? Im using Win2kpro if that matters.
Last edited:
I don't seem to get that problem Dreeder, whenever I switch off the monitor by the power button then back on in a second I don't see any messages about any mass storage devices. (Yes I have got the hub plugged in and all 
)
No idea what other people's experience regarding this is though.
)No idea what other people's experience regarding this is though.
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I use Wizmo, get it at www.grc.com
Amongst other things, it can mute your sound card, set your graphics card to display a blank screen saver, and turn off your monitor, just by running wizmo.exe with a few switches I use it on the laptop when I go to bed with msn still on etc, don't want the sounds waking me up
Amongst other things, it can mute your sound card, set your graphics card to display a blank screen saver, and turn off your monitor, just by running wizmo.exe with a few switches
I use it on the laptop when I go to bed with msn still on etc, don't want the sounds waking me up Its probably because the memory card reader and the USB ports are USB2 and are connected to your PC via a USB1 controller. If your PC should have USB2 update the chipset drivers to remove this message - if you are still on USB1 then Im afraid you will have to get used to the popup.DreederOcUK said:
Its only Windows advising you that you will be running your USB2 compliant ports @ USB1 speeds due to the way they are connected - its not an issue with the monitor, just your general setup...
ps3ud0
ps3ud0 said:Its probably because the memory card reader and the USB ports are USB2 and are connected to your PC via a USB1 controller. If your PC should have USB2 update the chipset drivers to remove this message - if you are still on USB1 then Im afraid you will have to get used to the popup.
Its only Windows advising you that you will be running your USB2 compliant ports @ USB1 speeds due to the way they are connected - its not an issue with the monitor, just your general setup...
ps3ud0
Checked that this morning and its definately connected thru USB2 and its still doing it, the Wizmo program is perfect though, thanks for that LadFromWales85.
Are you sure Windows has recognised them as USB2 controllers? - should have a USB2 mass controller in your device manager - if you have, thats a wierd message to have - might want to search the M$ KB just to verify if the issue might affect you...
ps3ud0
ps3ud0
I just got my new 2405.... my review
OK guys... so i got my new Dell 2405 yesterday.
Now before anyone shoots off at me I would just like to say this is my honest opinion of the LCD screen. Specially for people who are thinking about buying it.
HISTORY
Previous to this, I did not own a LCD. Im coming straight from a 19inch CRT setup.
Packaging and installation
------------------------
Well packaged... no probs.
Installation an absolute breeze. Watch out if you dont have a graphics card that supports 1920X1200.
Build and Appearance
--------------------
Its no Apple. I personally would have preferred a more glossy surface screen. The casing is really just plastic. But from afar, its sits like a simple slimline monitor suspended in air. It looks a lot better if you can install a light behind it, like badass'.
Performance with browsing
-------------------------
Pretty darn cool. Once u get a high resolution wallpaper, prepare to spend a good few minutes just staring at it in delight. At first I was getting headaches.. the brightness of the screen straight out of the box was too high. It got better with time.
Viewing angles arent as good as some poeple will let you believe. If you look at the screen, there is colour disturbance (haziness) around the peripherals when you move your head around. Its not major. But its there. Probably cause its widescreen.
Pics are more vibrant than CRT, but the clarity and sharpness is not comparable.
Performance with games
-----------------------
IT HAS GHOSTING.
I know a lot of people say otherwise. But its there.
I guess it depends where you're coming from. If you have been using a crt all this time... i bet its more apparent... as opposed to someone who is coming from a high ms older gen LCD.
Im sure its a subjective thing. Some people might be more prone to it.
BUT
When I turned on Call of Duty... I was having immense trouble playing. Its a slight motion blur. Its not apparent all the time. But when I raised the rifle to draw a shot, I found it was very hard to target in on distant sites. Because there is blurring. Its not crisp motion like CRT. You have to stop your mouse movement before you press fire. Otherwise your shooting at a hazy-glowing image. Gone are the days of shooting someone from a distance while on the move. Forget it. I would be amazed to hear from anyone, that they dont see ghosting when they AGGRESSIVELY swivel the mouse around in FPS games.
Im sorry but that is my opinion. Maybe if you're a general gamer, its no probs. But if you're like me, FRAGS are important... being competitive is important.... spent $1000's on graphic card setup... then its something to seriously consider. Whether this is a problem with LCD's in general still, im not sure. I havent had access to Viewsonic and others. As I said, Ive come straight from a CRT. Maybe it will get better with time. But still there is a significant difference. If you like drawing your rifle in CAll of Duty and using the scope, picking off moving targets involves a lot more guess work.
I used to be able to shoot moving targets from a distance by calculating the speed of target and distance of fire. i.e. shoot a few mm in front of their path. Thats how crisp CRT was, but I cant do that with far away targets now.
Things are even more complicated if you stretch the screen. Because judging your mouse movement is impossible. Sensitivity of moving your mouse left and right is different from up and down (cause its widescreen) . i.e. the scaling will upset your mouse accuracy.
Im sure someone here is going to tell me that their experience is more positive.
I hope they are right for the both of us.
Summary
--------
I was damn happy when I learnt that the monitor I had finally purchased, was also purchased by Badass himself. At the end of the day... there is no denying the brilliance of this product. Its cheap.... and worth every penny. Its one of those products that you buy and find applications for it... cause its so cool. Would I have bought it... knowing what I know now?
Yes.... but Im probably going to buy another screen for gaming. or I may go back to CRT.
****Hardcore FPS gamers will need to look elsewhere!!!!!!!!!*****
OK guys... so i got my new Dell 2405 yesterday.
Now before anyone shoots off at me I would just like to say this is my honest opinion of the LCD screen. Specially for people who are thinking about buying it.
HISTORY
Previous to this, I did not own a LCD. Im coming straight from a 19inch CRT setup.
Packaging and installation
------------------------
Well packaged... no probs.
Installation an absolute breeze. Watch out if you dont have a graphics card that supports 1920X1200.
Build and Appearance
--------------------
Its no Apple. I personally would have preferred a more glossy surface screen. The casing is really just plastic. But from afar, its sits like a simple slimline monitor suspended in air. It looks a lot better if you can install a light behind it, like badass'.
Performance with browsing
-------------------------
Pretty darn cool. Once u get a high resolution wallpaper, prepare to spend a good few minutes just staring at it in delight. At first I was getting headaches.. the brightness of the screen straight out of the box was too high. It got better with time.
Viewing angles arent as good as some poeple will let you believe. If you look at the screen, there is colour disturbance (haziness) around the peripherals when you move your head around. Its not major. But its there. Probably cause its widescreen.
Pics are more vibrant than CRT, but the clarity and sharpness is not comparable.
Performance with games
-----------------------
IT HAS GHOSTING.
I know a lot of people say otherwise. But its there.
I guess it depends where you're coming from. If you have been using a crt all this time... i bet its more apparent... as opposed to someone who is coming from a high ms older gen LCD.
Im sure its a subjective thing. Some people might be more prone to it.
BUT
When I turned on Call of Duty... I was having immense trouble playing. Its a slight motion blur. Its not apparent all the time. But when I raised the rifle to draw a shot, I found it was very hard to target in on distant sites. Because there is blurring. Its not crisp motion like CRT. You have to stop your mouse movement before you press fire. Otherwise your shooting at a hazy-glowing image. Gone are the days of shooting someone from a distance while on the move. Forget it. I would be amazed to hear from anyone, that they dont see ghosting when they AGGRESSIVELY swivel the mouse around in FPS games.
Im sorry but that is my opinion. Maybe if you're a general gamer, its no probs. But if you're like me, FRAGS are important... being competitive is important.... spent $1000's on graphic card setup... then its something to seriously consider. Whether this is a problem with LCD's in general still, im not sure. I havent had access to Viewsonic and others. As I said, Ive come straight from a CRT. Maybe it will get better with time. But still there is a significant difference. If you like drawing your rifle in CAll of Duty and using the scope, picking off moving targets involves a lot more guess work.
I used to be able to shoot moving targets from a distance by calculating the speed of target and distance of fire. i.e. shoot a few mm in front of their path. Thats how crisp CRT was, but I cant do that with far away targets now.
Things are even more complicated if you stretch the screen. Because judging your mouse movement is impossible. Sensitivity of moving your mouse left and right is different from up and down (cause its widescreen) . i.e. the scaling will upset your mouse accuracy.
Im sure someone here is going to tell me that their experience is more positive.
I hope they are right for the both of us.
Summary
--------
I was damn happy when I learnt that the monitor I had finally purchased, was also purchased by Badass himself. At the end of the day... there is no denying the brilliance of this product. Its cheap.... and worth every penny. Its one of those products that you buy and find applications for it... cause its so cool. Would I have bought it... knowing what I know now?
Yes.... but Im probably going to buy another screen for gaming. or I may go back to CRT.
****Hardcore FPS gamers will need to look elsewhere!!!!!!!!!*****
i agree with what you have said above tbh. Personally i dont play any FPS at all, and for the games i do play like GTA SanAndreas and EA sports games, this texture blurring is not an issue to me. However, i can imagine that it is difficult to deal with if you're a hard core gamer. It may be something you will get used to in time since you have come from a CRT straight to this screen, and hopfully you will not notice it so much once you have gotten used to the feel of a TFT screen more. However, it is not the most responsive screen out there, but for many people it is perfectly fine for gaming. Like pretty much all the TFTs in the market, ghosting and game play depend very heavily on the person
Thanks for an honest opinion. I've come from a 17" TFT and the increase in size is most welcome but yes, there is ghosting there and I noticed it straight away. It's more apparent in darker areas. I've been playing Far Cry in 1920x1200 and the outdoor areas look beautiful but in the darker corridors, turning round quickly does produce this slight blur. To me it doesn't matter so much as I'm not a truly hardcore gamer.
I agree
I know you weren't huge on the FPS games. Specially when you revealed your graphics card setup. So I thought I'd write something for people who are actively involved with FPS online.
Its a damn awesome monitor for the price... I know a lot of gamers will be thinking hmmm.
In the end... I agree with Toms hardware on this. There are conflicting reports in regards to gaming. I reckon I acn confirm that their strict analysis of the monitor isnt just for technical sakes (paper value)... its significant.
I reckon, its a damn good screen for any other activity!!!
I hope i get used to it.
I know you weren't huge on the FPS games. Specially when you revealed your graphics card setup.
So I thought I'd write something for people who are actively involved with FPS online. Its a damn awesome monitor for the price... I know a lot of gamers will be thinking hmmm.
In the end... I agree with Toms hardware on this. There are conflicting reports in regards to gaming. I reckon I acn confirm that their strict analysis of the monitor isnt just for technical sakes (paper value)... its significant.
I reckon, its a damn good screen for any other activity!!!
I hope i get used to it.
I cant wait to play far cry with it.
I reckon if you're playing single player games then ghosting is no big deal.
But if online gaming is your thing, the precision and accuracy to snipe off a human player will prove to be frustrating.
THe annoying thing is to have to go back to a smaller screen
Its like moving out of my mansion and going back to a town house... cause its closer to work.... Bummer!
I reckon if you're playing single player games then ghosting is no big deal.
But if online gaming is your thing, the precision and accuracy to snipe off a human player will prove to be frustrating.
THe annoying thing is to have to go back to a smaller screen
Its like moving out of my mansion and going back to a town house... cause its closer to work.... Bummer!