Dell UltraSharp 2001FP Preview: Gaming LCDs for the Masses
by Kristopher Kubicki on November 10, 2003 12:36 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
LG.Philips LCD LM201U04
Several months ago, we looked at Hitachi's 16ms response time LCD. This monitor was based off the first commercial 16ms panel, AUO's M170EN05. While this panel is good, it has a few adherent flaws to it. The first flaw is, of course, the 262,000 color limitation. Even though 16M colors can be achieved by dithering the pixels (emulated 24-bit), the evidence was clear when comparing our Samsung 172T and the Hitachi CML174 that Samsung had a dominate edge on color reproduction. Granted, AUO is working to fix that, but the limitations of the TN display mode will probably hinder their progress.Dell's 2001FP is particularly interesting because it uses a 16ms panel that is not manufactured by AUO, the LG.Philips LM201U04. First of all, this panel dramatically increases the pixels on the screen from 1.3M to 1.9M. The second major accomplishment is that LG was able to achieve 16.7M color reproduction as well. Put in simpler terms, this means that each subpixel on the Dell 2001FP can reproduce all 256 shades where as each subpixel on the Hitachi CML174 could only do 64. Ergo the Dell 2001FP reproduces 24-bit color, while the Hitachi CML174 does 18-bit.
The pie gets sweeter the deeper you dig. As we mentioned earlier, the AUO 16ms panel uses a tweaked version of the TN display mode. While this worked great to keep the electric modulation down (that's how it achieves 16ms response times), it does not provide the best characteristics for viewing angle. Due to the orientation of the liquid crystals in the substrate, the IPS mode can tweak a few additional degrees out of the panel. On smaller 15" and 17" panels, this is not completely necessary, but once you start getting up into the 20”+ range, off angle viewing occurs more frequently.
Click to enlarge.
Above is a rough illustration of how the IPS, VA and TN display modes stack up against each other. Special thanks to our friends at LG.Philips for providing the graphics.
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GoofyFoot - Friday, January 6, 2006 - link
Thanks for your review of the Dell UltraSharp 2001F. I've notitced that the monitor is a couple of years old. I'm wondering if you've seen anything newer (e.g. Samsung 204T or ???) at 1600 x 1200 and approximately 20" that you would favor for text? I spend much of my time working with black-on-white text, no shading or color. Unfortunately, I have never been able to demo the Dell 2001F.KristopherKubicki - Saturday, December 4, 2004 - link
Carolie: I am not entirely familiar with the BFG card, although i suspect it is not dual headed - meaning you cannot have both inputs hooked up at the same time. I have the D-sub and DVI connector on my 2001FP hooked up constantly and i am switching back and forth all day with no problems - although the two cables hook up to different machines.I suggest just keep the DVI cable and ditch the Analog one.
Kristopher
Carolie - Monday, November 15, 2004 - link
I bought one of these in May 2004 and have had no problems.I need to know if something is possible though. I have a BFGTech GeForce5700LE video card with an analog VGA out and a DVI-I video out. This monitor has an analog VGA in and a DVI-D video in.
I would like to be able to switch back and forth easily between the analog and digital inputs from the same computer for purposes of either work or game.
But when I hook up both the analog and digital connections to the monitor, it defaults to the analog and I cannot get a digital signal.
The only way I can get a digital signal is to not have the analog connected. If I have both connected, I get no signal when I switch from input 1 (analog) to input 2 (digital). The manual says you cannot have both connected at the same time.
Is what I want to do possible and I'm just doing something wrong or is it simply not possible with the design of this monitor?
I can't get through to Dell technical support because the monitor does not have a "service tag" and I can't contact Dell technical support via e-mail, online, or phone without a service tag.
Any advice?
clamps - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - link
I have two of these running from a Quadro 4 980 XGL, and I gotta say these are the best monirots i've yet used.Please be aware that the colour reproduction is not perfect, but it's sure as hell good enough for me.
I do 3d work here in Japan. Running a dual 20" LCD rig has long been my dream. I gotta say it was worth the wait.
Oh, I had 1 red pixel out of the box, away in a corner. I NEVER see it, and the guy said that if it hits 6 damaged pixels in the next 3 years they'll fix it for free.
Has anyone got anything they wanna know before buying some of these?
rhoelzl - Friday, August 6, 2004 - link
i have bought this screen, but i am returning it to dell. it is not acceptable for games in my eyes.i did not notice any problems with ghosting or similar, but the black is so bright, that in any game containing dark areas the atmosphere is being ruined (especially bad: "thief - deadly shadows").
very sad, because besides that problem, the screen was perfect. perhaps i should stick to CRTs...
loopy - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - link
Hmm. I have been using my 2001FP for a month.I have found atleast 5 dead subpixels (green colored)located upperleft quadrant and lowerright quadrant . Anyone know if Dell will replace it ? I haven't been in touch with them yet.
Quote from review: "However, considering the density and volume of pixels (1600x1200), we expected a higher pixel failure rate. Dell has informed us that had this been an actual production unit, and not a pre-production sample, the defect rate would have been much lower."
Ingemar
KristopherKubicki - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
$650 is an awesome price!Kristopher
TurtleMan - Wednesday, May 5, 2004 - link
Hmm i got mine too, haven't test on game yet, but no deadpixel, i like ;Dhey can't aruge about it when i got this LCD for $650 ;]
airjrdn - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
Mine just showed up. I've played a handful of games of UT2004 with it using both the DVI connector and the standard VGA connector. I'm running the following hardware:Intel 2.8Ghz
128M ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
1G Corsair XMS
I'll admit, there's no ghosting in UT, but there's a TON of blurryness. I've installed the driver on the CD and nothing changed. If I don't figure out the deal this weekend, Dell will get it back.
I've not seen anything different on this flat panel than I've seen on any other with regards to being game friendly. To me, there's little difference between being blurry, and exhibiting ghosting. Neither is acceptable in a monitor in this price range.
If anything changes, I'll post here again, but for now, I'd recommend not getting it.
KristopherKubicki - Monday, April 12, 2004 - link
I play UT2K4 on it almost everyday and i have not noticed any.Kristopher