2007WFP gradient banding

[trabpukcip]

Originally posted by: Ryan Norton
gaming mode ftw indeed... what a washed out POS of a picture!

Same driver settings in all three: The EVGA recommended WHQL Forceware 87.56 from their site, no AA/AF nor any other changes to the Display settings, 2x AA/8x AF in the game, and every other 3D/effects/performance option maxed except for Soft Shadows being turned off.

All I can say is ugh!

 

[redbox]

any new word on this?

 

[angryswede]

yeah i m curious about these monitors as well. i ve seen the price drop on dell's site which makes it tempting to pick one up; however, its probably just to unload the messed up ones.

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: Ryan Norton
OK Dell, I have humored you. Check out the raging banding in FEAR:

http://ryannorton.googlepages.com/dell2007colorgradientbanding

wow, that banding looks pretty nasty

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: Ryan Norton
OK Dell, I have humored you. Check out the raging banding in FEAR:

http://ryannorton.googlepages.com/dell2007colorgradientbanding

What, exactly, does the banding look like? If you are talking about the circular bands around the fire extinguisher, well, they're also quite clearly present in the screenshot, which would indicate that the banding is present in your video RAM - long before your Dell LCD gets a crack at displaying it. Unless of course it's a JPEG artifact...

EDIT: I get the same banding in F.E.A.R - until I set the in-game gamma setting to default. Duh. But the banding doesn't show up in my screenshots both with the F8 and PrintScreen keys. Perhaps our video cards just use different methods to set the gamma?

 

[deeznuts]

Dailytech Article: Dell admits 2007WFP Problem. Claims it's not that severe.

How about that crap about any replacements after 15 days will be refurbed monitors?

 

[mpc7488]

I'll be pretty pissed if the brand-new product I bought that they admit is defective is replaced by a refurb. If it's "not that severe" then they can pony up, do the right thing and give out new replacements to those "few" people that want them.

I'm still waiting to hear Dell's official response later this week. Maybe they'll come through.

 

[JiOwon]

One of the Dell forum moderators may be posting the "official word" from Dell regarding these issues sometime today.
watch - http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums...d=54714&view=by_date_ascending&page=67

 

[Ryan Norton]

nullpointerus--

yeah, it's weird. I don't see that banding when I'm using my older 2001FP via DVI though, just the 2007WFP.

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: nullpointerus

Originally posted by: Ryan Norton
OK Dell, I have humored you. Check out the raging banding in FEAR:

http://ryannorton.googlepages.com/dell2007colorgradientbanding

What, exactly, does the banding look like? If you are talking about the circular bands around the fire extinguisher, well, they're also quite clearly present in the screenshot, which would indicate that the banding is present in your video RAM - long before your Dell LCD gets a crack at displaying it. Unless of course it's a JPEG artifact...

EDIT: I get the same banding in F.E.A.R - until I set the in-game gamma setting to default. Duh. But the banding doesn't show up in my screenshots both with the F8 and PrintScreen keys. Perhaps our video cards just use different methods to set the gamma?

The direct screenshot of FEAR (link) has very noticable banding *if* I turn up the gamma in a photo program ,but by default that scene is suppose to be really dark with hardly any banding noticable (but it IS there) , Im curious why that scene is so overbright in the LCD snapshots (even the Gaming mode shot) because thats defiantely part of the problem. Im using a CRT btw.

 

[yuzna]

Well apparently Dell finally realized something is wrong and have worked out a firmware upgrade that is supposed to take care of this. Whether this is true or not waits to be seen, but according to Chris at Dell's forums more information should be available on Friday this week. So let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

[Ryan Norton]

OK, this is weird... I got my 2nd (3rd overall) 2007WFP today and it is the 1st refurb I've received. Unfortunately I got it at work where no PCs have DVI, so only my Mac has DVI.

And I don't think I see banding on this one....

What's the best test on a Mac? I'm been drawing gradients in PS but gradlin won't run on the Mac. What else should I test? I'm very pessimistic that this is actually a corrected monitor, more likely I'm just not testing right.

 

[cmge]

Originally posted by: yuzna
Well apparently Dell finally realized something is wrong and have worked out a firmware upgrade that is supposed to take care of this. Whether this is true or not waits to be seen, but according to Chris at Dell's forums more information should be available on Friday this week. So let's keep our fingers crossed.

will the firmware fix it tho?... iirc the cheap panel is also a factor in this gradient banding issue

 

[Heartbreaker]

Update: Banding thread is locked. Moderator says there is a new firmware that updates adaptive contrast and shuts off the Faroudja in desktop mode. Between them this cures the banding.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: guidryp
Update: Banding thread is locked. Moderator says there is a new firmware that updates adaptive contrast and shuts off the Faroudja in desktop mode. Between them this cures the banding.

Here is the link to that:
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums...?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=56617

Anyone know if this sounds legitimate or not? I have no cluse what "Faroudja video processing" is. Anyone know what exactly what this is and if this sound like it could actually be the orignal problem?

 

[mpc7488]

Direct Quote for the lazy.

"Sorry for the long wait. We do have a fix in place. Dell has a firmware update that adjusts the ACC (Adaptive Color and Contrast) & ACM (Active Color Management) features, eliminating the banding issue when using the Desktop mode. All of these monitors have three display modes: Desktop, Multimedia and Gaming. The firmware turns off Faroudja video processing in Desktop mode. It remains enabled in the other two modes. Essentially, the updated firmware allows users to choose whether they want the Faroudja video processing feature on or off. I understand your time is valuable. I will private message all of you with details in the next day or two. Please update your forum profile."

I know Faroudja is a type of video processing to improve quality, it's used in a lot of plasmas, projection TVs and DVD players. Don't know a lot about the details, but it seems to me that the banding was also bad if not worse in Gaming and Multimedia modes, and apparently this "fix" only applies to Desktop mode, so I fail to see how it can address the banding issues entirely. Time will tell.

 

[dnd728]

Faroudja is the company that make the chip that does the AAC & the ACM, I guess.
Good intentions, but forgot that pc displays are also sometimes used for things other than video...

 

[dnd728]

Originally posted by: mpc7488
apparently this "fix" only applies to Desktop mode, so I fail to see how it can address the banding issues entirely. Time will tell.

They mean that you can select playing under desktop mode

 

[dnd728]

...or you can keep moving when gaming and never pause a video.

 

[nullpointerus]

So now would be a very good time to buy a 2007wfp?

 

[dnd728]

Originally posted by: nullpointerus
So now would be a very good time to buy a 2007wfp?

I just don't believe that you'll be able to update the firmware at home. If you're fine with that...

 

[DellCA]

Dell is committed to serving our customers.

We have received feedback from some customers regarding our 2007FP, 2007WFP and 2407WFP monitors regarding uneven color bands on some images. This effect is known as "banding.? It is due to the Adaptive Color and Contrast? (ACC) and Active Color Management? (ACM) feature of the Faroudja video processing chip. For general usage, ACC and ACM technology found in this chip is known for delivering impressive picture details and optimal image quality across a multitude of monitor usage modes.

Dell has a tested a firmware update that adjusts the ACC & ACM features, eliminating the banding issue when using the DVI input in Desktop mode. All of these monitors have three display modes: Desktop, Multimedia and Gaming. The firmware turns off Faroudja video processing in Desktop mode. It remains enabled in the other two modes. Essentially, the updated firmware allows users to choose whether they want the Faroudja video processing feature on or off.

Starting today, we have updated units with the new firmware to ship out on an ongoing basis, and will look to fulfill customer requests as quickly as possible. For details on how to proceed, you have two options: email me directly at Customer_Advocate@dell.com, or visit the Dell Community Forum.

Sincerely,

Geoff
Dell Customer Advocate
Customer_Advocate@dell.com

 

[Heartbreaker]

Faroudja makes chips that do scaling. So generally not needed for general desktop usage. Also it could add that blur I saw on mine. A bit of blur on scaled video can actually be a good thing.

I would wait for some guinea pigs to report in before I upgraded.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: guidryp
Faroudja makes chips that do scaling. So generally not needed for general desktop usage. Also it could add that blur I saw on mine. A bit of blur on scaled video can actually be a good thing.

I would wait for some guinea pigs to report in before I upgraded.

Excellent to see an actual Dell rep here at AT.

Does this mean thall all newly purchased monitors from todays date will have the fix prior to being shipped out?

 

[13rian]

Originally posted by: DellCA
[...] All of these monitors have three display modes: Desktop, Multimedia and Gaming. The firmware turns off Faroudja video processing in Desktop mode. It remains enabled in the other two modes. Essentially, the updated firmware allows users to choose whether they want the Faroudja video processing feature on or off. [...]

Does the last sentence here mean it it gives the option to disable it in Desktop mode only, or all three (while only Desktop mode is disabled by default)?

What about the controversy about having the S-IPS switched to PVA? I'm not exactly sure what these things are, but from the description of their features, I'd rather have S-IPS. Also, I read either in that long Dell Community thread, or in another, that Dell started with S-IPS, but quietly replaces it with PVA later on. Can some confirm which one it has?

Edit: Btw, this new thread is basically being used to message ChrisM to get on the list for the fix. People are speculating the wording meant it was only for Desktop mode and there's still nothing confirmed on what exactly this Faroudja video processor does (there's a possibility it might severely degrade it's original spec performance), which is why I'll continue to hold off buying it until it's all straightened out...either by Dell or from those who ordered and get the fix.