Introduction

It was only 18 months ago when we took a look at Samsung's SyncMaster 213T and declared it the best $1,000 LCD that we had seen. The (relatively) high resolution of 1600x1200, the bright backlight and sleek look put the 213T in the "Ultra-Enthusiast" pool with very few competitors. Ultra-High End has a whole new meaning now, and with reason. Since the Samsung 213T, we have seen high end displays shift toward wide screen, and support for higher resolutions and smaller pixel pitches (0.258mm versus 0.27mm). The entire industry owes Dell a slight pat on the back for their part in really pushing the price barrier.

We were a little surprised when Dell unveiled their next generation lineup last year, since it did not include a 23" display based on a SIPS panel. Instead, two of Dell's four displays went to Samsung (the UltraSharp 1905FP and the 2405FPW) and the mainstream model went to LG.Philips (the UltraSharp 2005FPW). Although the UltraSharp 1905FP and 2005FPW turned out to be phenomenal monitors and the 2405FPW is the cheapest LCD larger than 21", did Dell make the right move by ditching LG.Philips for the highest model? Apple and HP certainly think that LG.Philips LCD has the right formula with their Super IPS displays, and in past display reviews, 8-bit SIPS displays have done very well in our comparisons.

Today, we are taking a look at a display that has been available for a little while, but it's only been a few weeks since it broke the magic $1,000 barrier. The HP L2335 is actually a business display - but it just so happens to support component, composite, S-Video, signal zoom and a 16ms gray-to-gray response time. While I love working in Excel on a 23" LCD as much as the next guy, playing World of Warcraft at 1920x1200 on a low response time display doesn't get any better. Obviously, the market has changed quite a bit in 18 months. What was once top of the line barely gets recognition here on AnandTech, and the monitors that do end up on top are truly modern marvels. Does HP have the opportunity to pick up where Dell left off and capitalize on the success of previous LG.Philips panels? That's exactly what we are set to find out!

Specifications
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  • svi - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    >>Widescreen gaming is the only way to play IMO.>>
    But most engines stretch or clip a 4:3 picture to produce widescreen output. Source is an exception, and a big one, but you can't make a generalization like that based on a single case where widescreens are better.
  • MadAd - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    Finally!!! The L2335 gets to Anandtech, I gave up asking for a review.

    BUT, now you have acknowleged that widescreen gaming is here to stay, will you now do some video benchmarks at 1920x1200 for current top line videocards PLEASE!

    Can anyone say SLI? Do the latest PE's cut it at 1920x? Noone else can tell us, comeon help us out here.

    Its not as if you dont have the screens now ;-)

  • Pastuch - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    I bought my Dell 2005fpw about 2 weeks before Anand reviewed it. I even have the same location and manufacturing date as the monitor they used in their review. I am more than happy with it. I think my Dell 2005fpw is probably my best hardware purchase in the last 3 years. I paid $682 Canadian for my Dell 2005fpw after taxes and shipping. That is 30% less than any comparable LCD in its size range, widescreen or not. Prior to owning my Dell 2005fpw I had a Samsung 1200NF and a Samsung 900nf. The NF series from Samsung are my favorite CRTs other than NEC/Mitsu and I still dont think they can compare to the 2005fpw. Widescreen gaming is the only way to play IMO.
  • arswihart - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    #23:
    "#19

    Also, this monitor was out more than a year earlier than the Dell 2405."

    How true, just another countless example of how Anandtech readers are some of the dumbest asses around. If Anandtech hasn't reviewed it, it doesn't exist apparently, for a lot of Anandtech devotees.

    Honestly I'd never heard of the monitor either, but obviously this monitor has been out for a damn long time, and its about time Anandtech did a review of it.
  • KristopherKubicki - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    Houdani: Ah, I submitted my image of Max Payne but I think I had the naked patch on Mona --- probably why it isn't in the article :-X

    Yeah I dunno what I was thinking with UltraSync, that's fixed. It's been a long week. :(

    Kristopher
  • Houdani - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    Overall, a very nice review. Makes me wish I had the moola for either the 2405FPW or the L2335.

    Are you hiding a screen cap for Max Payne 2 somewhere (page 7)?

    And props to 17 for pointing out why "UltraSynch" just didn't sound right.
  • Capt Caveman - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    #19

    Also, this monitor was out more than a year earlier than the Dell 2405.
  • Capt Caveman - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    #19

    How are they the same thing???? Did you read the review?

    The reviewer wrote that the L2335 has a better screen than the Dell 2405.

    Plus, the L2335 isn't for the average customer as it's listed as Business Monitor. If you go to HP's website, you can't find it under Home and Home Office LCDs. It's actually been upgraded to be the f2304 w/ speakers and is to be used as a MCE display.
  • Questar - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    "HP needs hooked on phonics...going the way of gateway, cept gateway at least mattered at one point"

    Huh? The second largest computer company in the world doesn't matter?
  • Questar - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link

    " Unfortunately I don't think any LCD could really stand up to a CRT as far as response time (since there isn't any on a CRT) "

    Techinically no, but there is phosphor persistance.

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