Dell UltraSharp 2001FP Preview: Gaming LCDs for the Masses
by Kristopher Kubicki on November 10, 2003 12:36 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
Wallmount, Swivel, Pivot & Cable Management
How many of you remember the pivot feature on the 191T LCD that we reviewed last year? That's right — Dell brought this feature back in the 2001FP. The original Samsung 191T was pivotable, but fairly awkward. The 191T cable management provided difficulties when attempting to pivot the unit. Dell took a slightly different approach to this problem, but essentially reevaluated the stand of the LCD in the form of a primitive universal joint.
Click to enlarge.
Dell's first move was to build the monitor in two separate pieces; the mount and the screen are two totally separate units. The screen has a receptacle for a standard 100mm VESA wall mount, but can be interchanged with the stand. Interchanging the stand with a VESA wall mount was very simple and requires no tools. Dell deserves some extra credit points here. It sounds obvious, but believe us, not many monitors are built this way. As you can see below, the stand allows a swivel of about 50 degrees left and right, as well as a 90 degree pivot clockwise. A small button locks the monitor in place in either landscape or letter pivot mode.
All of the inputs are fed into the LCD under the stand mount. This is acceptable, but not particularly thrilling. Samsung's 192T, arguably, has the best cable management, with the interfaces all running down the inside of the stand. Dell's whole stand can be folded into VESA compatible mount point. On one hand, we enjoy the fact that Dell set the monitor up to be easily interchanged with a VESA arm, but on the other hand, we miss the extremely simple cable management on the 192T.
As somewhat of an unusual move, the 2001FP has a small cable holster at the base of the stand. Good intentions, but poor foresight. Any premium VGA or DVI cable has an insulator a few inches from the end, and usually, this happens to be the same linear distance as the cable holster on the bezel. This is fine if you keep the monitor stationary, but if you pivot the screen, the cable instantly snags on the holster. This, therefore, makes the holster useless.
We would further like to note that even if you do not use the holster, the monitor can still be a slight pain to rotate. It needs to be tilted slightly before pivoting because there is not enough clearance between the monitor base and the screen bezel to come all the way around in an upright position.
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airjrdn - Friday, April 9, 2004 - link
I'm getting conflicting feelings about this monitor as well. I guess I'm summing it up to some people being pickier than others.Is there ANY ghosting at all in UT2K3/4?
labelreader - Saturday, April 3, 2004 - link
Yep. I have one of these monitors at work and that's exactly what I did; the "insulator" actually helps with the movement problems when it's on top of the cable hook because it gives you some slack in the cable between the hook and the display. By the way, there are no flaws on mine or my coworkers' displays...I want one for home!HermosaBeach - Saturday, February 7, 2004 - link
Hi, I own an ATI 9800 Pro and a Samsung 210T (Digital 1600x1200 via DVI).The ATI 9800 Pro defintely supports 1600x1200 via DVI (digital). Not only does it support it, but I only play games at 1600x1200, I never reduce the resolution, unless the game does not allow this resolution. Furthermore, it most games, I turn 6xAA and 16xAF on as well. The odd game is too slow (frames per second are too slow) and I reduce the AA and AF, but I never reduce the resolution.
You want to use the LCD in its native resolution when-ever possible.
Dave
StripPokeHer - Saturday, December 27, 2003 - link
Owners of 2001FP:Do any of you guys have the same problem with the "grainyness" of this screen.
Here are different posts from others that I have found:
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/mess...
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/mess...
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/mess...
I have the same problem. My eyes are used to LCD screens because I use my laptop for half of the day at least (1400x1040 14") I have also used both the 1800FP and 1900FP without issue. But this thing is bugging the sh*t out of me, and i will probably send it back. Waited a long time to get this (primarily based on this review), and the quality of this monitor turns out to be like crap.
Anyone seen/know what the cause of this is? FYI: I'm running a 9800XT 256MB on DVI @ 1600x1200. Running latest cats + the monitor driver provided by dell. I had the same problem on both DVI and Analog, but truth be told, they were both ATI controllers (9800XT & a Radeon 9000)
Any input to those who are owners are appreciated! :) TIA
MorbentFell - Wednesday, December 24, 2003 - link
Hmm... will check that out. Thnx for the reply.Singletary - Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - link
Folks on the Dell Community forum are saying that the screen is LG Phillips, but the monitor is assembled/manufactured by BenQ.MorbentFell - Saturday, December 20, 2003 - link
I just received this monitor a couple days ago. I've been having some strange problems with green & red horizontal diagnol pixel lines that resolve when I turn the power off and on again. As I was looking on the back, one thing I noticed is that it says 'BenQ Corporation'. I may be showing my ignorance here, but I was under the impression these are LG Phillips screens. Are they the same thing? If not, are the specs/quality equivalent? Any input would be appreciated.Singletary - Thursday, December 18, 2003 - link
I like the monitor very much, but don't think I have it adjusted correctly. I know room lighting is different, but where are you folks setting the contrast and brightness? Anyone found a profile to ensure color correctness? Please share Kristopher!Spirex - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
FYI...go to Dell Business to order, they are currently selling it for $749.00 plus tax. Mine came out to a total of $794.00 to ship to NJ. I am not sure how long this promotion will last.Spirex - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
I just got mine yesterday. Hooked it up via the DVI port to my ATI 9700 pro AIW. This thing is kicks my previous monitor to the curb(Viewsonic p813 21"). At first, I was having difficulty reading text because I wasn't used to the sharpness @ 1600x1200. I had also played in a UT2k3 ladder match that night. To sum it up....AMAZING. No ghosting at 1024x768-60hz full screen. The image quality was as good or better than my CRT. I didn't lose any skill points with this monitor. Maybe I try some real work on it today.