Quality Monitor Advice

Credo

Credo

Credo

Associate
Joined
14 May 2003
Posts
1,116
Location
Worcestershire
I've been using a 22" Dell 2209WA E-IPS monitor for a few years now, and as I am increasingly working from home, and like using two screens, I need a new monitor for my main PC with the 22" relegated to use alongside my work laptop.

So... my usage is browsing, office, an occasional blast of UT3 online, and increasingly RAW image processing in Adobe Lightroom and HDR's in Photomatix. This is my most critical use of a monitor, the purchase of a Nikon D7100 has now made this a quite frequent activity.

Despite my FPS gaming, I think IPS is the way to go, I do like the sound of 120/144Hz gaming, but I've managed on the 2209WA OK...

Stand out options are:

Asus PA248Q
Dell U2413

Both appear to be quality screens, and both seem to do OK for gaming according to TFT Central. A plus for the Dell is no PWM dimming, and the wider Gamut range. I don't know if the PWM dimming is even a factor, I've worked in IT for 27 years and don't wear glasses at all or suffer from any eye strain! There is an Asus PA249Q which seems to be more directly comparable to the Dell in terms of Gamut, but seems expensive.

The additional 'panel lottery' aspect does not make this any easier either!

Some opinions would be very welcome!
 
have you thought about whether you actually want or need the wide gamut support for your image processing, or is it just going to be a hinderance meaning you end up running in an sRGB emulation mode all the time anyway, and wasting your money on something you don't need.

The Asus PA249Q is their equivalent to the Dell U2413, using the same panel and offering similar features. The Asus PA248Q is equivalent to the Dell U2412M (both are standard gamut)

In regards to backlight flicker / PWM. if you've never had any problems before with monitors which do use PWM (like your current 2209WA) then you're unlikely to experience problems with other screens using it really. although there is a chance you may be more likely to see side effects of its use on modern LED backlighting as compared with older CCFL backlighting as used on the 2209WA, for reasons explained in the TFTCentral article about PWM :) i wouldn't worry about it too much though really unless you had had problems in the past with eye strain etc.

I'd steer clear of the U2413 to be honest for gaming as if you re-read the review you will see it has some problems with overdrive overshoot, which can produce pretty obvious and nasty trails on moving images. not really a gaming screen at all sadly.


Have you considered a 27" 2560 x 1440 res screen as the massive bump in resolution is really excellent for all kinds of uses and may last you longer as a monitor option?
 
Thanks for your reply Badass. This is exactly what I wanted to know, I missed the point on TFTCentral about the trails. Re. The 27" question - yes, I've been flip-flopping between 24" and 27" all week. I agree on the future proof nature of the 27" screens, if you can recommend a suitable 27-incher I'd be all over it. I'd kind of given up on the larger screens as reviews seemed less favourable than their smaller cousins. I also take your point on not needing a wider gamut screen, In reality I would be in sRGB mode most of the time.
 
Ok in that case don't waste your money on a wide gamut model, it's pointless and to be honest they won't really handle gaming very well really

I'd really recommend taking the opportunity to get a 27" screen. Popular choices are the Dell U2713HM, Asus PB278Q and ViewSonic VP2770-LED. Buying online will give you protection of distance selling regulations if for any reason you had a unit with a problem but really you are probably no more likely to get issues with backlight bleed etc than you might on a 24" model
 
The Asus and the Dell are the two I've been considering in the 27" dept. But which one? I lean towards the Dell for the 'Premium Panel Guarantee' and the Asus for the slightly better lag times. Is is 'horses for courses' here?
 
It is. You have done your research and narrowed it down to two. I would go for the Dell, if I was in your position.
 
pryere - any particular reason you prefer the Dell? OCUK reviews are glowing, those on a certain South American River are not as good as for the Asus. I know we're rather more tech savvy on here, but still...
 
Credo,

I can't speak in terms of the Dell, as I don't have one. However, I have recently made a purchase for the Asus PB278Q, and got a bit unlucky with the Panel lottery.

First one had 7(8) rather noticable stuck pixels. But otherwise largely flawless. This was RMA'd (Pixel count was higher than Asus acceptable limit policy, but Overclockers took care of it when Asus deferred to retailer as it was under 30 days).
Second one had 8 less noticable stuck pixels. And also had rather bad Back Light Bleed as well. This was RMA'd (RMA'd same as the one above).
Third one had zero pixel errors and virtually no Back Light Bleed.

Had any of the stuck pixel counts been 5 or less, Asus is unlikely to do much about it. Dell's policy however, would cover this if I'm not mistaken.

In any event, as Baddass' recommendation, I too would suggest that when you make your purchase, to obtain it online and if things for the monitor don't quite work out, at least you have some recourse to work with via Distance Selling Regulations.
 
Last edited:
I'm definitely leaning towards the Dell, your post has confirmed what I was afraid of. At least with Dell the Panel Lottery is less of an issue. Add to that the fact that the Dell has a factory calibrated sRGB profile, which I would use in Lightroom and the non-PWM brightness control, this seems a better bet. Appreciate your input!
 
I think you've made your mind up...
I have had an S2340L for a few months and it has been good as gold. You will have to play around with the settings and calibration on setting up to get the best from it. Some people I know can't get on with the auto selection feature.
Be lucky!
 
Thanks pryere!

As I sit with mouse hovering over 'Buy Now' on a U2713HM - a question has occurred - is it likely that there will be any new 'U2714' type model in the near future, and if so is it worth hanging on?
 
Credo said:
Thanks pryere!

As I sit with mouse hovering over 'Buy Now' on a U2713HM - a question has occurred - is it likely that there will be any new 'U2714' type model in the near future, and if so is it worth hanging on?
Click to expand...

It is not likely. That sort of model is not typically refreshed by Dell every year. The 22", 23" and 24" UltraSharps are due replacements in the near future but not the 27" models. :)
 
Last edited:
Dell U2713HM ordered! Fingers crossed for the panel lottery, at least with Dell I have the panel guarantee. How I would explain exchanging a £440.00 monitor because of stuck pixels etc to the wife remains to be seen :eek:
 
Credo said:
Thanks pryere!

As I sit with mouse hovering over 'Buy Now' on a U2713HM - a question has occurred - is it likely that there will be any new 'U2714' type model in the near future, and if so is it worth hanging on?
Click to expand...

If you haven't found out during the extensive buying research, then no.
Pull the trigger.

I have just spent more than a week mulling over, then buying a new mixer.
It was intense..with no 24 hour remorse, (finding something that you dont like about it, or seeing it cheaper elsewhere).
 
Credo said:
Dell U2713HM ordered! Fingers crossed for the panel lottery, at least with Dell I have the panel guarantee. How I would explain exchanging a £440.00 monitor because of stuck pixels etc to the wife remains to be seen :eek:
Click to expand...

I missed this, ha! We will no doubt be kept abreast of how it performs.
 
Arriving today between 13:32 - 14:32. I happened upon an older thread on here about panel revisions and I'm not encouraged! I now fully expect to take delivery of a piece of expensive junk going on what people say! I should apparently hope for a Rev00 unit made from May '13 onwards.
Buying most other stuff is so easy, but monitors - :eek:

First impressions due in a few hours... gulp!
 
Last edited:
Wizzkidy said:
I have also joined the panel lottery, bought the U2713HM

This will arrive tomorrow so I will also let you guys know how this goes
Click to expand...
This will be interesting! The next 24 hours could make or break this monitor's reputation on here :D
 
Just wanted to chime in:
With regards to U2713HM, I haven't heard of any panel lottery, only about backlight bleed being an issue. But that is an assembly side problem, not the component side. Backlight bleed can happen on VA and TN panels, just as well. Monitor revision lottery might be an issue, if some of you guys are referring to that? But in that case, there could be other changes, not just the panels. Or the panels might even be exactly the same, and only other components/electronics/etc have changed.

With regards to backlight bleed:
I think some, though certainly not all, of the backlight bleed criers are actually confusing IPS glow to backlight bleed. IPS glow is present to some degree in all IPS panels. Granted, on some it's worse than others.

But indeed, the U2713HM did seem to have some quality control issues with backlight bleed some time ago. And it apparently became such wide-spread of an issue, that they started refusing the bleed as a flaw with that specific model.

Spoiler contains discussion with regards to backlight bleed vs IPS glow:
IPS glow is dependent on the viewing angle. And if you view a large screen from a relatively close distance, you can see the (usually) white-bluish glow/hue in the corners and sides on a totally black background, even from normal viewing position (middle). But if you move your body to the side, and look at the specific part from a straight angle (0 degree), then it will disappear. Kind of like TN panels' color change problem, but instead of inverted colors, you get a slight hue.

Backlight bleed, on the other hand, appears when the panel, chassis, backlight unit, etc. aren't sufficiently attached/glued/screwed together, meaning there's light leaking through from places it shouldn't be. And it won't disappear even if you move your head to the side and thus change the viewing angle. Backlight bleed will be visible from all angles.

IPS glow is just an unwanted attribute of the panel design, whereas backlight bleed is a flaw in some part of the assembly process, and it can be fixed (though might be problematic to do by the end-users themselves, and could even void the warranty).

Other panel types have their own unwanted attributes, too, by the way. VA has the gamma-shift, TN has the inverted colors. PLS is IPS-based, so it also has the glow. But in any case, usually the IPS glow isn't that big of a problem, as even the reflections from a (semi-)glossy screen can be more apparent and disturbing.

Be sure to distinguish the difference between these, before you ask for another unit. If it's a case of IPS glow, then another unit of the same monitor model most probably won't make a tangible difference.
 
Yes we are stating "lottery" as it is a complete luck game if you get a decent panel on any monitor brand these days.

It's just Dell have a decent return policy from what I understand
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom