DEAD DEAL: DELL UltraSharp 2000FP 20-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor for $799 or lower...

[vetteguy]

BTW, I'm undecided at this point whether to get rid of it or keep it. If someone makes me a good offer I'll likely take it.

I'm feeling the same way...I just can't get past the color thing. If I can get the colors to rival the Planar then I will keep, if not, will likely return.

 

[VBboy]

Originally posted by: VBboy
This monitor has serious color banding. It is unable to display smooth and even color gradients (e.g. going from light blue to dark blue). As such, it will not be a good monitor for desktop publishing or games that run in 32-bit color (unless all you play is FPS). Additionally, black color is not black at all but is rather a milky black. This is extremely annoying in DVDs, games, and general work. I bought one, then got a replacement, and ended up returning both.

VBboy is right

First of all, look at 32-bit color gradient that takes up the ENTIRE SCREEN. One of the main reasons is that the more pixels they need to involve horisontally, the more vertical lines of "gradience" there needs to be (1200 in this case). Without getting into the whole RGB/gamma issue, I will tell you that it cannot physically produce 1200 unique "shades" of the same color. Thus, you seen the banding. Don't look at a gradient or a picture that only takes up a part of the screen (e.g. in a half-size Web Browser window).

FPS games do NOT push the limits of colors on monitors. FPS games only test the lag (response time). Slow-playing games will be able to show the imperfections of the coloring.

Finally, I tested on the GF4-4600, then on the Radeon 9700 Pro, both digitally and electronically. Additionally, I am very sensitive to even subtle problems, but the color banding is not so subtle after all. Make sure to set color to 32 bit when doing your tests.

P.S. Almost everyone I spoke with confirmed the issue.

 

[VBboy]

The monitor comes with very good documentation. Read it before asking "oh no, I'm using DVI, half the options are disabled. is it a defect?"

And to add to the non-black black issue, I used the video input to try to watch a taped movie. Again, nigh was grey, african americans were spanish-looking, and blood seemed pink. Wait, which one of us has issues?

 

[halik]

whooo hooo got on eoff ebay


now i gotta come up with ebay ad for my 1600sw

 

[dethman]

Originally posted by: VBboy

Originally posted by: VBboy
This monitor has serious color banding. It is unable to display smooth and even color gradients (e.g. going from light blue to dark blue). As such, it will not be a good monitor for desktop publishing or games that run in 32-bit color (unless all you play is FPS). Additionally, black color is not black at all but is rather a milky black. This is extremely annoying in DVDs, games, and general work. I bought one, then got a replacement, and ended up returning both.

VBboy is right

First of all, look at 32-bit color gradient that takes up the ENTIRE SCREEN. One of the main reasons is that the more pixels they need to involve horisontally, the more vertical lines of "gradience" there needs to be (1200 in this case). Without getting into the whole RGB/gamma issue, I will tell you that it cannot physically produce 1200 unique "shades" of the same color. Thus, you seen the banding. Don't look at a gradient or a picture that only takes up a part of the screen (e.g. in a half-size Web Browser window).

FPS games do NOT push the limits of colors on monitors. FPS games only test the lag (response time). Slow-playing games will be able to show the imperfections of the coloring.

Finally, I tested on the GF4-4600, then on the Radeon 9700 Pro, both digitally and electronically. Additionally, I am very sensitive to even subtle problems, but the color banding is not so subtle after all. Make sure to set color to 32 bit when doing your tests.

P.S. Almost everyone I spoke with confirmed the issue.

wait a second, are you agreeing with yourself?

 

[Halcyon98]

Haha.. that is hilarious.

Very good point there VBboy I agree with myself most of the time too you know.

P.S. Almost everyone I spoke with confirmed the issue

I hope you speak to more people than yourself..

All jokes aside, I will think that 99% of the people will agree that this is a great versatile monitor that can do many things. It's kind of like those people who thought that the Klipsch promedia speakers sucked when it was pretty much known that they are the best, if not close to the best computer speakers.

 

[Jeraden]

Mine finally arrived today - 7 days in transit from texas. This monitor rocks! I do have one dead pixel, but its so small that its inconsequential. Running at 1600x1200 is sweet and cleartype font is a MUST. I love this thing! It's extremely bright too. I have my brightness down to 35 and still think its a bit bright.

 

[AWEstun]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
Mine finally arrived today - 7 days in transit from texas. This monitor rocks! I do have one dead pixel, but its so small that its inconsequential. Running at 1600x1200 is sweet and cleartype font is a MUST. I love this thing! It's extremely bright too. I have my brightness down to 35 and still think its a bit bright.

Speaking of brightness, what are people setting their brightness at?

shelbY

 

[douglassirk]

brightness 91 for me

re dead pixels.... i find they are easier to see with a totally black backround in fact thats the ONLY time i can find them...

i'll bet a zillion dollars the guy who says he has none didnt set an all black background and put his nose up to the screen and inch over and back like 100 times as you move slowly downward across the screen

thats the only way you'll find most stuck or dead pixels really.......

again when ya see you have a few... i dont think it matters..... but put yer nose up there anyways i'll bet money ya do if you stare long enough

 

[lamchop9]

I got mine a couple of days ago. This monitor is sweet. No dead pixels. Running brightness at 90. CS runs awesome, so does Dungeon Siege and NBA Live 2003. Now I need a new video card.

 

[Cryo]

no dead pixels yay

mine is on brightness 0 contrast 10
and i like it that way, too bright hurts the eyes

 

[tjaisv]

Hey how's TV on this? As good as a CRT?

I'm guessing that since it's not billed as a multimedia LCD it won't display as nice a picture here.

 

[TheTechnique]

Got mine today, ran the tests, no dead pixels, running in DVI, everything is perfect...

 

[TheTechnique]

I was having trouble getting my new FP2000 to run in DVI mode and found out it was my graphics card's BIOS. Here's the fix in case any of you have a Visiontek Xtasy GeForce3 ti500.

DVI Fix for VisionTek Xtasy GeForce Ti500

 

[J9JM3]

Man I run my 2000fp connected to a ti4200 card at like 55 brightness. I can't imagine 90+ brightness.

 

[huesmann]

Boost it to 100 and then you won't have to use your imagination.

 

[TheTechnique]

Originally posted by: huesmann
Boost it to 100 and then you won't have to use your imagination.

LOL!!! huesmann the comedian

 

[mfavin]

Just chiming in here... I ordered a second 2000fp for $850 3 days ago. Total is $919, that includes $70 sales tax I owe as I'm in Texas.

I paid $1300+ for my first 2000fp about 8 months ago and love it. I've been running a 2000fp plus a Planar 18" with a Gainward GF 4 4600- the only card that has 2 DVI outs.


This is such a steal even though it's not as cheap as it was a few weeks ago... $850 when other similar monitors are still $1400.

 

[tedinde1]

they're ok, still not good enough for game's. I still use my 22" viewsonic PF815 for that. I've had my fp2000's for 6 months. And i have never been really pleased with them. A friend of mine got the fp1900, and it does look better and handle 3d better than the 2000's.

Id trade my 2000's now for a pair of 1900's if dell would take them back.

 

[bbrontosaurus]

Originally posted by: tedinde1
they're ok, still not good enough for game's. I still use my 22" viewsonic PF815 for that. I've had my fp2000's for 6 months. And i have never been really pleased with them. A friend of mine got the fp1900, and it does look better and handle 3d better than the 2000's.

Id trade my 2000's now for a pair of 1900's if dell would take them back.

tedinde1, that's strange that you would say that the 1900fps are better for gaming......I've read everywhere that the 1900fp (the rebadged Samsung) had some serious ghosting issues. What kind of video card are you running?

 

[AWEstun]

I had the 2000fp for 2 weeks now and it's great. Did anyone say what kind of rebagged monitor it is?

shelbY

 

[Vegito]

I highly doubt the 1900fp are better than the 2000fp. If the 1900FP are the rebadge samsung 191T, then they suck like hell

I have all three models, 2000fp, 1900fp and 191T also (both both models), 1800fp and those viewsonic pf815s.

There is no way in hell that the 1900fp/191t are better. And hell, the 2000fp a lot better of the viewsonics crt crap

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: forcesho
I highly doubt the 1900fp are better than the 2000fp. If the 1900FP are the rebadge samsung 191T, then they suck like hell

1900fp suck like hell huh?

 

[prudick]

Have been following this thread and am very impressed with the FP2000. I am new at this though and want to ask a question. Running in DVI mode my contrast adjustment is grayed out and I cannot adjust it. Is that normal? Thanks. You guys are making me a poor old man... Thanks again.

Ralph

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: prudick
Have been following this thread and am very impressed with the FP2000. I am new at this though and want to ask a question. Running in DVI mode my contrast adjustment is grayed out and I cannot adjust it. Is that normal? Thanks. You guys are making me a poor old man... Thanks again.

Ralph

This is normal. DVI natively provides the optimal contrast on this monitor so the option to change is greyed out.