24" LCD Roundup

by Jarred Walton on May 1, 2008 8:00 PM EST

Dell 2408WFP Specifications and Appearance

Dell 2408WFP Specifications
Video Inputs 2 x DVI with HDCP support
HDMI
DisplayPort
Analog (VGA)
Component
S-Video
Composite
Panel Type S-PVA (DELA02A)
Pixel Pitch 0.270mm
Colors 16.7 million (8-bit)
110% color gamut
Brightness 400 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio Up to 3000:1 Dynamic
Response Time 6ms GTG
Viewable Size 24" diagonal
Resolution 1920x1200
Viewing Angle 178 vertical/horizontal
Power Consumption <130W max stated
90W max, 45W min measured
Power Savings <2W
Screen Treatment Matte anti-glare (non-glossy)
Height-Adjustable Yes - 3.9 inches
Tilt Yes - 21 degrees back/3 degrees forward
Pivot Yes
Swivel Yes - 45 degrees left/right
VESA Wall Mounting 100mm x 100mm
Dimensions w/ Base (WxHxD) 22.04" x 15.62" x 8.17" lowered (WxHxD)
22.04" x 19.56" x 8.17" raised (WxHxD)
Weight w/ Stand 21.74 lbs.
Additional Features (2) USB 2.0 - left, (2) USB 2.0 - back
9-in-2 Flash reader
(USB connection to PC required)
Audio Audio out
Optional speaker bar
Limited Warranty 3-year parts and labor (when purchased from Dell)
4-year ($39) and 5-year ($59) optional upgrades from Dell
Price MSRP $699
Online starting at ~$580

The Dell 2408WFP follows in the footsteps of Dell's successful 24" LCD line. The 2405FPW was one of the first 24" LCDs to hit the market, and early adopters loved it. The 2407WFP changed the appearance slightly and added a few extra features like HDCP support, while the 2407WFP-HC offered an improved color gamut. The 2408WFP looks nearly identical to the 2407WFP, but it improves the color gamut again -- this time to 110% -- and it also adds additional input options. It has two DVI inputs, and HDMI input, and it's one of the few current LCDs to support DisplayPort. (As we did not have an appropriate graphics card, we were not able to test the DisplayPort input.)

Besides the improved color gamut and the additional inputs, very little has changed relative to the 2407WFP. That's not a bad thing however, is that remains one of the better LCDs on the market. In the features department, you get a fully functional base stand with pivot, swivel, and height adjustment. You also get a 9-in-2 flash reader and four USB ports. Our only complaint with the stand is that even at maximum height it can be a bit difficult to pivot the LCD into portrait mode; you'll need to tilt the LCD all the way back before you can properly pivot the panel. As far as complaints go, that's a truly minor nitpick.


Like the previous Dell 24" LCDs, the 2408WFP uses an S-PVA panel. That means you get all of the good features like better viewing angles and reasonable response times. However, as we'll see later, the S-PVA panels also seem to suffer from input lag -- more so than any other panel type. Whether that's something inherent in the technology were simply a delay caused by the video processing engine, we can't say for sure, and we were never really bothered by the input lag. More demanding gamers however might be put off, as there appears to be a 2-3 frame lag.

In our subjective opinion, Dell's LCDs continue to be some of the most attractive offerings on the market. Some people like glossy panels or bezels; we prefer a matte finish that won't immediately pick up fingerprints. Again, outside of the changes to the connections on the back of the LCD, the 2408WFP looks identical to the 2407WFP.

ASUS MK241H Evaluation Dell 2408WFP Evaluation
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  • Rasterman - Friday, May 9, 2008 - link

    Yeah the figures reported are meaningless, if they were actually useful we wouldn't even need reviews :) I can't believe that a company as big as Viewsonic doesn't send a review site as big as Anandtech a review model, that is just ridiculous, they should be sending you guys a new model of every new monitor without even asking, maybe you aren't emailing the right person. BTW its awesome to see a reviewer actually answer questions and critics to a review, awesome job Jarred!
  • JarredWalton - Friday, May 9, 2008 - link

    I'm sure I'm not getting the right person at Viewsonic (and other companies as well), but that's the trick: *finding* the right person. Without an inside contact, it can be tough to get started.

    Generic PR Person: "AnandTech? What kind of a name is that? http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail50.html">Baleeted!" I'll try to meet with them next CES or something....

    PS - Anyone from Viewsonic read this? If so, email me! :-)
  • 10e - Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - link

    Great review. This is what multifunction fans are looking for. I had this issue a year ago trying to find "THE" multifunction.

    You may want to mention that in terms of 720p and 1080p the Samsung stretches both to 16:10 with A/V mode off. I tested this and found that problem recently, which was unfortunate due to the fact that I liked it as a high quality TN.
  • JarredWalton - Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - link

    I mentioned this on page 11, but I have highlighted (italicized) the pertinent text. I also clarified by indicating that 16:9 modes will always have the wrong AR. Thanks for reading and commenting!
  • xerces8 - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link

    A picture says more than 1000 words :
    http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma...">http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?...2=49&...

    (I can't create a link, seems the post javascript is broken, I cant make bold or italics text either, tried FF and IE7)
  • JarredWalton - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link

    You mean, http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma...">pictures like this one? I don't see any large blowups of their comparisons available for download, so I have no idea exactly how they're testing. What I do know is that I provided images showing LaCie 324 and Dell 2408WFP clearly displaying a 40ms delay relative to an HP LP3065, and I've also provided a picture of the ASUS MK241H with a relative delay of 0ms relative to the same LCD.

    I've got nine other sample images from each of the tested monitors showing the evidence for my "input lag" conclusions. That's about as close to full disclosure as you'll get. All I get on that comparison you linked is a chart that apparently "proves" the ASUS MK241H has a 54ms average delay compared to a CRT, but then the same site lists the Dell 2408WFP as 69ms, the 2407WFP as 24ms, the LaCie as 41ms, and the Samsung 245T at 59ms. I got more or less the same result on the Dell 2407WFP and the LaCie 324, but nowhere near the same result on the MK241H, 2408WFP, and the 2493HM.

    Again, you've got at least one clear sample of my results for each LCD. Sorry, but I have to question their results without better evidence.
  • Dashel - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link

    Hi Jarred,

    Not sure if this is based on the same test or what but there is this:

    http://www.behardware.com/art/imprimer/712/">http://www.behardware.com/art/imprimer/712/

    Which looks to be the same graph and results. To me your results seem to make the most sense if the 2408 is very similar to the 2407WFP-HC, then the input lag should be close too I would guess. I'm hardly an expert just tryint to be logical.

    The thing is I also see anecdotal claims of lag and people who have tested it getting in the 60ms range as well which leads me to wonder if there isnt some sort of defect or difference in some of the panels vrs others.

    Example of a test by an owner:

    http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032124531...">http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032124531...

    I'd love to hear Dells thoughts on it as well as what and when their revision is due to hit.
  • JarredWalton - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link

    I'd like to know what software people are using as timers. I tried about 10 different "timers" and discovered that a bunch are limited to the Windows default timing resolution - about 54ms. So they either scored "0ms" or "54ms" on the delay. I know this because I had screen refreshes where the timer was split in half; the top half would show for example 40.067 and the bottom would show 50.121.

    3DMark03 at least looks to be accurate down to 10ms - there are again pictures where the timer is cut in half, only in such cases I would see 20.23 and 20.24, so I can be sure that the timer is updated in .01s increments rather than in something larger.

    Without a lot more details about what software people use and large images showing the results, I must say that I'm very skeptical. I feel "input lag" testing needs several things to be even remotely acceptable:

    1) Run at native LCD resolution in clone mode (because built-in scalers could have an impact)
    2) Disclosure of the test software that manages better than 54ms accuracy.
    3) You need a high-end camera with a fast shutter speed to capture the results. Simply choosing "Auto" mode and snapping a picture doesn't tell the whole story.
    4) Provide at least one sample image at a high resolution that clearly shows what the camera captured.

    I met all of those criteria I think. In looking around at other reviews, I have not been able to clearly answer any of those questions. Perhaps that's why some of the other results are so different. I also tested at 2560x1600 to verify that I wasn't hurting the HP LP3065 by running at a lower resolution; since the scaling is handled by the GPU rather than the LCD (the LP3065 doesn't have a scaler), there was no penalty.
  • DangerousQ - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link

    I cant believe this set of reviews is so one sided, why no P-MVA panels, I bought a BenQ FP241W about 3 monyths ago and the 6ms response time plus unbelievable colours make this panel really hard to beat, but you try finding any reviews on it. The one review I did find, a long time ago and have lost it now compared it to the 2407 dell and found it a better panel for less money! I know this cos I was going to buy the dell before I saw the review.
  • JarredWalton - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link

    Send me an MVA panel - or get one of the manufacturers to send me one - and I will be more than happy to review it. I don't have the means to go out and purchase $500+ test LCDs, so I review what I get sent. Dell, Gateway, Samsung, ASUS, and other major companies are great about working with review sites like ours. Other companies are not. Thus, I take what I can get.

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