Mutterings

Life in the Slow Lane

Dell G2410t review

March 27th, 2009 · 12 Comments

I haven’t seen a single review of the new G2410 / G2410t monitor from Dell on the web. I bought one for my new job and thought I would post some notes after using it for the last week for the benefit of other Internetizens.

This model is pitched as low power and eco-friendly. And it is. The problem is that the picture quality is terrible. I’m running it hooked up to a new MacBook Pro. When I initially got it and hooked it up, it looked horrible but I figured that calibration would help. I ran OSX’s display calibration in normal and expert modes. Normal helped a bit and expert helped a lot. But in the end, it’s still nowhere near as nice as the MBP’s built in LCD panel. The Dell’s image is dark and colors washed out. The MBP LCD is bright and colors ‘pop’.

Note that I have a Dell 2005FPW at home (as the model number implies, it’s a 20″ from 2005) and the picture quality is very much acceptable next to the MBP. The image is a little grainier but not something I would notice if I wasn’t looking for something negative. I’m using DVI with both - the exact same set up.

I like the 2005FPW, I hate the G2410t; the G2410t is cheap junk. It’s a rock bottom monitor with a rock bottom price. In this case, the old maxim is very much true: you get what you pay for. You’d be advised to avoid it at all costs.

Update: since I’m within the 21 day window, I’m going to return it. No way I’m going to live with this thing for the next few years. I’ll probably check out the Apple 24″ and if it looks good, buy it. It’s expensive but should last me for years to come.

Tags: General

12 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Yo Daddy // Mar 29, 2009 at 1:18 am

    I’m running a 24″ Samsung SyncMaster 245bw. $499 just over a year ago but worth it IMO. Check it out.

  • 2 PBW // Apr 2, 2009 at 6:44 am

    Are you sure you weren’t running in one of the energy saving modes. I have got the Dell G2410t and, once I put it in standard mode (no energy saving) it looked fine. Certainly up to the same quality as my previous Samsung 2493HM monitor.

    For some reason, energy saving mode results in a washed out picture with poor brightness. A shame if you want to save a bit of money using that mode.

  • 3 W. Andrew Loe III // Apr 7, 2009 at 11:14 am

    http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2049206&enterthread=y

    I did a lot of research, and 99% of useful information I found is consolidated in that Anandtech thread - if you pick off that list you will not be disappointed.

    Your MBP has an H-IPS panel in it, these are the best LCD panels available. The vast majority of LCD monitors (and anything under about $400) are TN panels. TNs have good refresh times, but thats where the good ends. A 24″ IPS panel (like the Apple Cinema) is around $1000. NEC makes the best one. You can strike a better price/performance balance by looking at the *VA panels, MVA and PVA. The older Dells like the vaunted 2405 were *VA panels. I was recently able to pickup a Benq FP241 for under $400, and it looks fantastic next to my Macbook Pro.

  • 4 Boyan // Apr 23, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Given how cheap it was I was considering throwing it away, I mean literary out my window down the back yard deck like in the movies. Not that I was pissed it is a piece of crap so much than it is being manufactured, some people must be buying it (suckers like me) and using it as a real monitor.

    Bottom line is this: G2410t is a TN monitor which sucks. Colors are washed out, of course you have to take it out of energy save mode just to see the image but that does not help much, contrast sucks, gray scale is non-existent or you have 2 or 3 shades. Most web sites you can NOT even see things like search bars - they all blend together especially if the background is blue or orange (and there is no such thing, all colors between red and green are yellow-ish).

    The lesson - I am getting rid of it and adding another $500 to the budget for real monitor.

  • 5 Bryan // Apr 24, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    @W. Andrew Loe III

    The new (unibody) MBP has a TN panel, not H-IPS.

    The new 24″ Apple LED Cinema Display has an S-PVA panel, not IPS.

    Don’t believe everything you read on the Net. :)

  • 6 Cyberto // May 10, 2009 at 7:04 am

    Another review:

    http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2284084

  • 7 K. // Jun 12, 2009 at 11:53 am

    After 18 years of working with computers, some days for 18 hours a day, I no longer can work with any monitor more than 45 minutes. I get nausea, head ache, sore eyes, blood in the eyes and etc. I tried all different brands like LG, Samsung, Sony and finally Dell. I went to every doctor and they all advise different things and none works.

    I gave this Dell a try and bought it for my office. The color is terrible, compared to my old Samsung but it does not make me sick or turn my eyes red at all. Maybe because it is LED backlit or the 24″ size. I did not have any other 24″ to compare, but for sure it worth the $209 price Dell special offers every now and then.

    The color is terrible no doubt about it, but for office works, web and programming, I set the preset to GAME and use 74 for Brightness and 54 for Contrast and turn Dynamic Contrast ON in menu. It is bearable that way and I am enjoying working for several hours strait without the need to take the day off just after 2 hours.

  • 8 K. // Jun 12, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    G2410 vs. G2410T

    Forgot to mention I have G2410 model not G2410T. From what I have read in web forums, it seems that the difference between Dell G2410 and G2410T is the Energy modes and Ambient sensor.

    Mine (G2410) Energy Modes are:
    - Energy Smart Plus
    - Energy Smart
    - Standard

    But someone mentioned that G2410T has these modes:
    - Energy Savings Plus
    - Ambient sensor on
    - Dynamic dimming
    - Energy Savings
    - Ambient sensor on
    - Standard
    - Ambient sensor off

    So maybe G2410T is newer.

  • 9 K. // Jun 12, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    Or they just renamed Energy Smart to Energy Saving and that’s it!

    If someone has more information about the difference between G2410T and G2410, please share.

  • 10 Dave // Jun 20, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    The 2005FPW is a IPS panel, whereas the new G2410t is just a TN panel. That’s why you’re seeing a big difference - IPS is waaaay better than TN.

  • 11 bob // Jun 25, 2009 at 8:15 am

    i was recently forced into getting a dell computer at my office, which only supports dell, where i was hired to do some digital photography. my G2410 came along with it and clearly this is not the best monitor for processing images no matter how much i play with my graphics card controls, the colour is always off. i was wondering if anyone had tried any of the monitor calibration software available, such as i1diplay2, with any amount of success. bacially, i’m wondering if it’s worth it to even try with this monitor or should i just forget it and go for a higher end monitor (i’m looking at the eizo and LaCie ranges). Thanks!

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