This may be a bit to esoteric for here but maybe someone can point me out where to ask. My true color VX2025 finally died (typical DVI input going dead problem with that model). So I’m looking for a replacement, preferrably 23" It’s come to my notice that nowday almost all LCDs aren’t 8 bit true color, they’re really 6 bit with trickery like dithering and frame rate control to make them seem like true color. The ASUS PA23Q is the only one I’ve found that really is, but nearly all users have reported terrible backlight bleed with that model so I feel I have to look elswhere. I want to do this right as opposed to buying some random 6 bit monitor, on my old one the VGA still is usable so I can wait a bit and research properly.
I have two Viewsonic vx2025wm screens and constantly deal with the DVI perma-sleep bug. I’ve always been able to revive it by doing a factory reset on the screen.
And, yeah, I know what you mean about 6-bit + FRC vs true 8-bit. Pretty much the only panels that’re true 8-bit are mid-upper level IPS screens, like $350 - 1000, depending on the size. I’d just look at reviews on prad.de or tftcentral for the specs since manufacturers are rarely open about the panel bit depth or panel type.
TFT Central has a part database listing panels used in displays and their specs. To look up which panel a particular display uses search for its brand/model name in on the search page then reference it’s panel number against the listing in the first link. Or conversely you can find a panel you like on the chart and see which displays are made using it using the panel search. Unfortunately not all displays are in the database.
Search Page: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/panelsearch.htm
Panel List: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/monitor_panel_parts.htm
Since it looks like you’re shopping for a display I recommend the reviews at prad.de if you haven’t seen them yet. Not all of its reviews are translated into english so check the German listing if a display you are interested in isn’t there.
English: Aktuelle TFT Monitor Testberichte - Prad.de
German: Aktuelle TFT Monitor Testberichte - Prad.de
Regarding FRC, I was also skeptical but ended up choosing a panel using 6bit + 2bit A-FRC and have been very happy with it. When I first got the display I looked at several gradients from up close and couldn’t notice any banding. I have read that there are cases where 8 bit displays can have poorer color/gradient reproduction so color tech alone probably isn’t the best gauge of quality.
I ended up buying a Dell u2412m but my personal criteria for choosing a monitor narrowed my selection greatly. (IPS, sRGB colorspace, 1920x1200, fast response, led backlight or low brightness cfc.) Only issues this monitor has are minor IPS glow in the corners and it only supports 60hz refresh. Also worth mentioning is it doesn’t handle 16:9 signals without stretching but that’s not an issue for me since I only use it with my PC at native resolution.
I can now see picture over DVI, but it’s 640*480 with now option to change it and no indication Windows knows what the monitor. I can’t even try installing the Radeon drivers because the OK button falls out of the screen in that resolution. Judging by the number of people with problems the VX2025 is a beautiful looking panel with some of the worst horseshit firmware ever invented.
I did look at Prad.de- they don’t mention the backlight bleeding problem everybody is having with the Asus. And looking at tft central some of the monitors that use the same panel as the Asus are 6 bit designs.
As others have mentioned, if you are looking for a good color monitor, the place to start is looking at the IPS ones. They cost more, but hey, that is kind of expected. The reason flat panel monitors are so cheap is that most of them are crappy monitors.
I’m underwhelmed by the 6 bit TN display in my notebook. But are todays 6 bit IPS displays really as good as the old 8 bit display I have now? I tried emailing some manufacturers. Dell suggested their U2410 which was more than I want to spend, ($300) but will if it means doing the job right. HP gushed about how good their products were without answering the question. Haven’t heard back from Viewsonic (like I’d want to buy another one of theirs) or NEC.
Any have experience with the Samsung S24A650D? I know they market it as a business panel, but it has an MVA panel like my present monitor that I (was) very happy with.
Sorry Mods, but it looks like another of my threads has moved into IMHO territory. I wanted a factual answer on how to determine specs but now I’m also interested in opinions on the various technologies.