Ultrasharp U2311H

[SunriseMadcap]

After getting sick and tired of crappy TN panels (I especially hate the video noise caused by dithering to get true color out of 6 bit panels), I am thinking of getting a Dell Ultrasharp U2311H. It's reasonably big, 1920x1080, supports displayport, has an IPS panel and mightily tempting at 230 EUR.
I only have two main reservations before pulling the trigger: first, be able to display 16.8 million colors without dithering tricks? I have read somewhere its panel is 6 bit instead of 8 in spite of it being IPS. Secondly, would I be able to hook it up to my 2011 MBP with just a displayport to minidisplayport cable?
Also, what is your opinion on the screen? I'd be using it for pretty much everything (gaming, productivity, video).

 

[llmercll]

Hey kaworu. Although I can't answer your technical questions I'd love to give my opinion on the screen.

I've got ocd, and a bad case of perfectionism resulting from it, so last year when I went monitor shopping, I had a really hard time. I bought and returned 6 TN panels before considering the u2311h. Things like gamma shift, viewing angle, mediocre colors, poor blacks, and backlight bleed were all factors in this.

Well I finally got my hands on a u2311h, and was instantly satisfied. Compared to some of the best TN's, the u2311h blows them out of the water in every picture quality aspect. If you calibrate it, you get the true picture. I love looking at things on my monitor and knowing that's exactly how they are meant to be.

The only negative IMO, and it is substantial, is the "ips glow", which I read is below average for IPS panels. It's basically an off white or purple glow in the corners of the screen, which is distracting on pure black backgrounds. I can't say I recommend this monitor for widescreen movies, but for games and everything else it's fantastic. I might go with a PVA for movies. Also, in the past there have been issues with QC and screen tinting. I was lucky and mine is flawless =)

Sorry I can't answer your technical questions, I'm sure someone on here can though. I wholeheartedly recommend the monitor though, and if you haven't seen an IPS before, prepare to be blown away. When I first saw mine I described it as being so clear and vivid, that it looked like the picture was painted on the screen, haha!

 

[monitor3]

Hey kaworu. Although I can't answer your technical questions I'd love to give my opinion on the screen.

I've got ocd, and a bad case of perfectionism resulting from it, so last year when I went monitor shopping, I had a really hard time. I bought and returned 6 TN panels before considering the u2311h. Things like gamma shift, viewing angle, mediocre colors, poor blacks, and backlight bleed were all factors in this.

Well I finally got my hands on a u2311h, and was instantly satisfied. Compared to some of the best TN's, the u2311h blows them out of the water in every picture quality aspect. If you calibrate it, you get the true picture. I love looking at things on my monitor and knowing that's exactly how they are meant to be.

The only negative IMO, and it is substantial, is the "ips glow"!

Don't forget the AG coating that's caused a grainy picture and mediocre blacks!

 

[kalston]

After getting sick and tired of crappy TN panels (I especially hate the video noise caused by dithering to get true color out of 6 bit panels), I am thinking of getting a Dell Ultrasharp U2311H. It's reasonably big, 1920x1080, supports displayport, has an IPS panel and mightily tempting at 230 EUR.
I only have two main reservations before pulling the trigger: first, be able to display 16.8 million colors without dithering tricks? I have read somewhere its panel is 6 bit instead of 8 in spite of it being IPS. Secondly, would I be able to hook it up to my 2011 MBP with just a displayport to minidisplayport cable?
Also, what is your opinion on the screen? I'd be using it for pretty much everything (gaming, productivity, video).

The 6 bit thing is real and is not an issue (except for some professionals) when the dithering is well done, and I'd argue that the Dell U2x10/LG IPS 2x6 have a good dithering compared to most TN panels. There are probably some TN panels with good dithering as well, but you still have to deal with the horrendous vertical gamma shift.

All in all this is a pretty good monitor but it looks like quite a few people had to return it once or twice before they got a good one, keep that in mind especially if you're thinking about ordering it online.