NEW LCD Monitor...But Bad Image/Video!

[Dr. V]

This must be a simple calibration or software info...because when I saw these monitors on display they looked PERFECT.

I picked up the Samsung 205BW...let me tell you it's a BEAUTIFUL monitor. There is a VERY slight backlight bleed on top, only visible during very very very black scenes in the dark - not bothersome at all.

Anyway, in general, gradients and images look kind of weird. Hard to describe...but videos tend to look kind of pixelated. I'm comparing all this to my CRT sitting right beside.

For example, my signature right now, the background doesn't blend from red to black smoothly or properly, and the white curved gradients don't look "pure".

If this is as simple as installing the software (going to try it now) I'll let you guys know for future reference

[Dr. V]

Wow...

Installing the software and doing a detailed and comprehensive calibration DEFINITELY helped...but there is still a bit missing. It could still be smoother - definitely not by much, but I still feel like I'm missing something that I could do to just make it 100%. It's about 90% now.

[Dr. V]

Wow...

Check out this website: Welcome to Ken Edge Music (I made it for a customer, posted it up in a different thread on how to advertise it).

See the glow around the titles? Those look so noisy on my monitor...they look pretty terrible.

I have no clue what's going on.

EDIT:

Actually...it's odd...

Certain pages and certain glows look horrible, others look really smooth. I have no idea...I just know there is a little "mhm" that needs to be done or something like that to get this monitor up to its performing potential and standard. Everything...it just isn't clear enough. It's not concise and how it should be. Smoothness is what it's really lacking. I mean even the writing of my sig, or the text too. Nothing is as smooth and/or defined as it should be.

[screwballl]

must be just your setup because it all looks fine to me on my 19" widescreen Optiquest Q19wb LCD

[Dr. V]

If you saw the sharpness issues with my monitor, you'd be pretty surprised.

I don't know what the problem is really. I've calibrated pretty much perfectly now for all the colours and tones, but the sharpness/smoothness problem is still there - and it's bad. ESPECIALLY when I'm Photoshopping - it's terrible.

I'm gonna check for a driver update...never know.

[Dr. V]

Alright well I installed the latest drivers, not one change.

What I failed to mention before was that GRADIENTS are very noticeably not what they should be. There is HUGE block action going on here. Just different sections of colour in respective blocks...no blending - basically it's not a damn gradient! This is very annoying. This could be one of the most annoying problems...but all of them factor in simply because of the amount of graphical...things...I use my computer for.

I called CanadaComputers and talked to a "tech", apparently it could be the cableS - yea, I tried both (mind you the VGA with an adapter), and both produced identical pictures.

I know for a fact that LCD monitors aren't supposed to be like this. It literally looks like ClearType is turned off, and the sharpness is low.

So apparently I'm supposed to be taking the monitor back in tomorrow for him to "run some tests"...

I doubt he can figure anything out. For all I know, he'll plug it in at his shop, it will work 100% perfectly, and there will be "no problem"...and then apparently it would be me...you never know with these in-store techs.

I'm sure I could easily just swap it for the BENQ FP202W V3 I was originally get. I'd a) save myself about $50, b) get a better quality picture according to TrustedReviews (7 vs 8), and quite a few other forums. Both panels are 8-bit, but the BENQ's seems nicer.

The ONLY thing I'd miss is the height adjustments. But there is always tilt to make up for it if I really have to complain. I haven't decided this yet...it depends on if I can find a GOOD 205BW tomorrow I guess...and partly whether or not I care and I just make them exchange it...oh yes, I can make them lol.

[Dr. V]

http://vikingdesigns.ca/other/test.jpg

Check out that pic. I found a way to show you part of the stupid and annoying problem.

I just don't know if it's a defective monitor...or what...

But on my sister's computer (which doesn't suffer the same issue, and she has a 17" Samsung LCD and on-board graphics running at her native res) I see it the same way as I do on mine, so it should show up for you guys the "messed up" way.

Yes, I'm Armenian. Yes, I listen to and love Armenian music. No, chances are you don't know that artist or what the song means. And, LoL.

I know it's kinda small, but you can very quickly and easily tell the gradient issue - it's worse with everything and there are all kinds of stupid issues like that. Help. I feel like punching some...thing.

For whatever reason, I'm not convinced the actual monitor is defective, but it's more the settings in my computer. It is odd, however, that 2 other CRT monitors I've tried don't suffer the problem.

[gvblake22]

Make sure that you have the color quality turned all the way up to 32-bit in the Settings tab of the Display Properties dialog box?
Can you possibly take a picture of the issue with your digital camera or something comparing what it looks like on your CRT vs. your LCD? This issue you are complaining about sounds like what most people call "banding" where the gradient is "stepped" color instead of smooth transitions.

[Dr. V]

Well I took it back to CanadaComputers and it turned out they said it was defective too, so I grabbed the Viewsonic VG2030wm, a true 100% 8-bit because of its PVA Panel, and the Samsung only had a TN but was reportedly true 8-bit as well. At the end of the day, for $12 more, I got a much better quality monitor!

I'm using the exact same video settings with this monitor, and it looks superb even in VGA (it doesn't come with a DVI cable), and with my DVI cable this week, it will look that much better.

So thanks guys for all the troubleshooting, there's just nothing you can do when the part's bad!

[gvblake22]

Sorry to hear about the bum panel, but glad you got a replacement you are happy with!