LG L1980U LCD: The New 19" Panel on the Block

Subjective Analysis

For this portion of the benchmark, we will pit the UltraSharp 1905FP against the other monitors benchmarked in our 19” LCD roundup.   This is a subjective test that relies on our overall experience with the monitor after several hours of casual and thorough use.   We also use test patterns and guidelines from the VESA FPDM to rate each unit as fairly as possible.

Here is generally how we rate a category:

5 - Outstanding; we have not seen anything to date that could rival our impression of this monitor's performance.
4 - Good, but room for improvement. There are units on the market that perform better.
3 - Average; this monitor performs well enough to maintain the status quo, but does not excel.
2 - Improvement needed; this monitor performs poorly in performance of this category.
1 - Unacceptable; this product does not pass even basic performance requirements.

DisplayMate / CheckScreen / VESA FPDM 2.0
	BenQ FP931	Dell 1905FP	Planar PE191M	Samsung 193P	Samsung 910V	Sony SDM-S94	ViewSonic Q190MB	LG L1980U
Intensity Range Check	4.5	5	4	5	4	4	4	3
Black Level Adjustment	4.5	5	4.5	5	4.5	5	5	4
Defocusing, Blooming, Halos	5	5	5	5	4	5	5	5
Screen Uniformity and Color Purity	4.5	5	-	5	4	4	5	5
Dark Screen Glare Test	3	4	4	4.5	4	4	4	4
Primary Colors	3	4.5	4	4	3	3.5	4	4
Color Scales	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	3
16 Color Intensity Levels	3	4.5	4.5	4.5	3.5	4.5	4.5	3
Screen Regulation	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Streaking, Ghosting	5	5	5	5	2	4	5	4

Note: the streaking/ghosting mentioned in this portion of the analysis refers to streaking and ghosting as interference, not as a byproduct of poor response time.

Notes From the Lab

There were a few specifics that stick out to us with regard to this display. We were particularly disappointed that the intensity range and black level adjustment did not live up to some of the L1980U’s competitors.   Even after compensating brightness and contrast in some of our trial runs, the darkest darks on the LG display just don’t stack up to the other displays – particularly Dell’s 1905FP, which is based on a Samsung panel.   Samsung’s SyncMaster 193P is also based on the same Samsung panel and out-performs the LG L1980U in that regard.

Perhaps we are just overly sensitive to the interpolation effect created by the 6-bit display, but this also proved to be a low mark for the L1980U.   Granted, the difference between all of these displays is so miniscule in many instances that they have to be lined up next to each other to tell the difference.   (Of course, at AnandTech, that’s exactly what we do).   One visual analysis that we use to identify color intensity ranges is to display anti-aliased multi-color text on the screen of various sizes and thicknesses.   On close inspection, there is clearly a noticeable difference between a display like the Dell 1905FP and the Flatron L1980U; the Flatron’s text comes out jagged, and even slightly distorted.

Gaming on the L1908U was right about where we expected.   We didn’t find any fault with the response time of the monitor; the display was even a little more responsive than our Dell 2001FP (16ms TrTf, Super IPS panel).   Response time is highly subjective to the user and while we feel that the display was quick enough to not detect any motion blur, our level of sensitivity may not be as high as others.   When compared to a CRT display, the L1980U does not present the same level of responsiveness, but then again, no LCD does.

Like all LCD monitors, we highly recommend that only the DVI adaptor is used for this display, at least as a primary adaptor.   For casual use, the 15-pin analog input seemed acceptable, although we could detect some minor distortion from time to time.   The DVI signal was flawless.