HP LP3065: A new contender for the 30" throne
by Jarred Walton on March 22, 2007 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
Color Gradients
Taking a look at the ability to reproduce a smooth color gradient on all of the displays, the HP display again does well, subjectively rating near the top of the charts. Those interested in comparing the HP LP3065 to previously tested displays can open their gradient images via the following links:
Acer AL2216W
Dell 2405FPW
Dell 2407WFP
Dell 3007WFP
Gateway FPD2485W
It's difficult to say which display is the best when it comes to producing a smooth color gradient, and slight banding in the darker colors is present on almost all of the displays. We would actually rate the Dell 3007WFP slightly ahead of the HP LP3065, even though the HP uses a newer 30" panel, but it's still pretty close. The 2407WFP and Acer AL2216W come next, but despite using the same panel as the 2407WFP the Gateway FPD2485W doesn't do as well in the gradient tests. Depending on how you use a display, banding issues may or may not be a serious concern; we weren't particularly bothered by any of the monitors, but other users may be more demanding.
Prior to calibrating the displays, many of the results were quite a bit worse. The Gateway FPD2485W is almost unacceptable without calibration, although further tweaking of the display settings would probably improve matters somewhat. Trying to provide a good representation of what gradients look like is also quite difficult, as you can't take a normal screenshot and using a camera to photograph the display is like making a copy of a copy. After a bit of trial and error, we were able to get images that at least convey the general impression, but it's still no substitute for viewing a display in person.
Taking a look at the ability to reproduce a smooth color gradient on all of the displays, the HP display again does well, subjectively rating near the top of the charts. Those interested in comparing the HP LP3065 to previously tested displays can open their gradient images via the following links:
Acer AL2216W
Dell 2405FPW
Dell 2407WFP
Dell 3007WFP
Gateway FPD2485W
 |
| HP LP3065 |
It's difficult to say which display is the best when it comes to producing a smooth color gradient, and slight banding in the darker colors is present on almost all of the displays. We would actually rate the Dell 3007WFP slightly ahead of the HP LP3065, even though the HP uses a newer 30" panel, but it's still pretty close. The 2407WFP and Acer AL2216W come next, but despite using the same panel as the 2407WFP the Gateway FPD2485W doesn't do as well in the gradient tests. Depending on how you use a display, banding issues may or may not be a serious concern; we weren't particularly bothered by any of the monitors, but other users may be more demanding.
Prior to calibrating the displays, many of the results were quite a bit worse. The Gateway FPD2485W is almost unacceptable without calibration, although further tweaking of the display settings would probably improve matters somewhat. Trying to provide a good representation of what gradients look like is also quite difficult, as you can't take a normal screenshot and using a camera to photograph the display is like making a copy of a copy. After a bit of trial and error, we were able to get images that at least convey the general impression, but it's still no substitute for viewing a display in person.
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Renoir - Friday, March 23, 2007 - link
That sounds like a very reasonable assumptionStill looking around for confirmation but I thought the ICT only affected analogue connections. If it does indeed affect digital connections then why are current software players not allowing full res over non HDCP compliant dvi ports given that no current discs have ICT enabled? We should be able to answer most of these questions when you get that laptop. I very much look forward to the review.
JarredWalton - Friday, March 23, 2007 - link
Bad news... the laptop is single-link. :(I'll still be able to test HDCP on a non-HDCP display, though. I've got a 2405FPW so we'll see what happens. Could be the software companies enforcing something that isn't strictly required?
chakarov - Friday, March 23, 2007 - link
Hope this could help you:http://www.behardware.com/articles/656-1/hdcp-prot...">http://www.behardware.com/articles/656-...ion-is-n...
Renoir - Sunday, March 25, 2007 - link
That link seems to confirm what I said which is that the ICT only applies to analogue connections and HDCP is always required for full res over a digital connection. At first Jarred I thought you might be right in that the software companies may be implementing something that isn't strictly required but the article linked shows that standalone units operate in the same way suggesting that that's the way it's supposed to work.chakarov - Friday, March 23, 2007 - link
In the specs:http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/3820...">http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm...382087-6...
And even in the detail specs:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/1262...">http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/1262...
There is no mentioning of HDCP support.
There is nothing officially written.
May be there is a reason?
JarredWalton - Friday, March 23, 2007 - link
Interesting... I'm sure I saw HDCP there when I was working on the review, and I can find numerous web links where it says HDCP is supported (at single-link resolutions). I wonder if they updated the page recently to remove HDCP?Renoir - Friday, March 23, 2007 - link
Well the review states HDCP support and Loyd over at extremetech said that he was told by HP that the display "offers HDCP at full dual-link bandwidth". This information is what I'm basing my questions on although the fact that HDCP isn't mentioned in your links merely confirms that the situation is clear as mud. Clearly someone is either misinformed or spec sheets have been poorly writtenmi1stormilst - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
I have delt with a number of companies when trying to help friends and family with store bought PC's and there is no question that HP is second to none with tech support. If you own a HP system use the online chat support...it is excellent.leousb - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
To buy a monitor this huge just for gaming is IMHO a complete obscenity.OrSin - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
People been saying the asme thing about BMW, 65" tvs and pretty (but dumb) women.In the words of bart "We do what we like"