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Dell UltraSharp 2001FP Preview: Gaming LCDs for the Masses

 by Kristopher Kubicki on November 10, 2003 12:36 AM EST
53 Comments | Add A Comment
53 Comments

By Popular request...

Here are a few quick looks at some demanding full screen applications (except Solitaire, which is windowed).

The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix - As with our previous benchmarks, these are not spectacular movies to test colors subjectively. However, as far as high motion video, both movies were quite acceptable on the 2001FP. Colors tended to be a little bluer than normal, and as in the frame below, it's obvious that darks are not dark as they should be. The slight problem with backlight alignment that we mentioned earlier is over exaggerated by the still camera (upper right).


Click to enlarge.


Morrowind - Our synopsis of this 1600x1200 LCD wouldn't be complete without some games running at 1600x1200. Although the screenshot cannot tell you much, zooming in reveals that this game is showing up the way it was meant on the monitor.


Click to enlarge.


Firewarrior - Another game we decided to load up at 1600x1200. Firewarrior does a decent job of displaying lots of different extreme hues at the same time, and from the 1600x1200 game, we did not notice anything out of the ordinary.


Click to enlarge.


Max Payne and Max Payne 2 - Response time is definitely acceptable (although it is amplified by still images). We noticed no immediate blurring, but being that Max Payne lacks color depth, this is not the best game on which to judge response time. Darks were a little bit too bright, but acceptable.


Click to enlarge.



Click to enlarge.


Halo - We had some mixed feelings while playing Halo. Granted, we spend a lot of time playing Halo on DLP screens via component input (XBox of course). There is a noticeable difference between playing Halo on a CRT and on an LCD. For probably 2/3 of the games we play, pixel blur is not noticeable; but on a game like Halo, it is. We suspect this is due to the larger amounts of gray-to-gray (and gray-to-black) transitions. Below, you can see where our camera captured some blur.


Click to enlarge.


Solitaire - Again noticeable, but you can see the difference below. On the left is a Dell 1702FP LCD; on the right is the 2001FP. Notice the challenged response time on the 1702FP. The 2001FP seems to be displaying fewer copies of the cursor, even though we are using a program to pull the cursor from left to right at the same speed in both images.


Power Consumption Response Time
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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 ;D

    hey 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
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