Introduction
The Dell UltraSharp range has been one of the most
popular ranges of displays for over 10 years now. Dell seem to update their
models and add new options to the range every year or two and we've reached the
time where they've decided to refresh most of their popular models. In May we
reviewed the new
U2417HJ, which was one of three models replacing the very popular
U2414H
from 2013/14. In a moment we will elaborate on the three new models and how they
differ slightly - the U2417H, U2417HJ and U2417HA. After reviewing the U2417HJ
version, we were keen to also take a look at the "normal" U2417H which has a
slightly different design, spec and feature set to the HJ model. The HA model is
exactly the same as this H model, just with an arm mount instead of the stand.
So by reviewing the H model here, we have covered off all 3 versions of this new
model nicely.
This screen is 23.8" in size like its predecessor,
with the H signifying it is 16:9 aspect ratio - offering a 1920 x 1080
resolution. Much of the design, spec and feature set remains quite similar to
the older U2414H model, but we will make comparisons with the U2414H throughout
the course of the review.
As we've mentioned, there are actually 3 different
versions of the new U2417H display, all slightly different in terms of features and
extras, and with slightly differences with the underlying panel. All 3 versions
technically replace the U2414H screen, but there are a few differences you
should be aware of before making a decision.
The three slightly
different versions of the U2417H are:
U2417HJ - This is the model sent to us
first of all
for testing and
already reviewed in May. It is the most similar in design
to the old U2414H. It has the same video inputs as the U2414H, including DP,
Mini DP and 2x HDMI. The main difference on the new U2417HJ is that it has a wireless charging
function built in to the stand for Qi/PMA compliant devices. The stand is the
same design we've seen from previous UltraSharp models including the previous
U2414H from a couple of years ago. It has a light silver colour used for the
stand and base, and an elongated cable tidy hole in the back. The only
difference with the stand is the integrated wireless charging point and small
LED charging light.
The screens bezel dimensions and appearance are
very similar to the old U2414H. The back of the screen is a matte black colour entirely
like the U2414H was. There are 4 USB 3.0 ports on this model, 3 on the underside
with the other connections, and one on the back (visible in the lower right area
above) which also has charging capabilities, again the same as the U2414H. Even
the OSD menu
is identical and has not been updated with any new options. Dell have forgotten
to update the model name in the OSD software so it still reads 'U2414H' in fact.
Some people have labelled the U2417HJ as a re-packaged U2414H, but although the design and features remain very similar, the underlying
panel has been changed though compared with the old U2414H, moving from an
LG.Display IPS panel to a Samsung PLS equivalent. This panel has a 96% sRGB
coverage according to the spec and comes factory calibrated to offer a dE <4. So
the main changes from the U2414H are the different underlying panel, and the
charging function built in to the stand.
U2417H - the "normal" U2417H is
more different to the old U2414H and is the model we are now reviewing here. It has a four-side zero-bezel design,
minimising the size of the lower bezel from the U2414H and U2417HJ models. It
has a two colour toned back as shown in the pictures here (silver and black).
The front of the stand and the base is also a darker silver colour like we had
seen on the
Dell S2716DG and
U2717D recently, with a circular cable tidy hole in the back as shown
above. There are 2x USB 3.0 ports located on the left hand edge of the screen at
the bottom too (not on the HJ) for easy access, although there are still only 4
in total.
This H model is
missing one HDMI connection and the wireless charging function compared with the
HJ. It does have an updated OSD software though, including an additional response time setting in the
OSD menu. The HJ model doesn't have a response time setting in the OSD menu
although we've
seen in the past that actually the 'normal' setting tends to be optimal anyway
on models with an additional 'fast' option, so this extra setting probably isn't
even missed on the HJ model. The underlying panel is slightly different to the
HJ model. Again Dell have moved away from an LG.Display IPS panel from the
U2414H and to a Samsung PLS equivalent. It is a different revision in the H
model (LTM238HL04) compared with the HJ (LTM238HL01). This panel has a 99% sRGB
coverage (vs 96% on the HJ's panel) and carries a factory calibration with dE <2
(vs dE <4 on the HJ model). We will make comparisons of the performance between
the H model and the U2414H /
U2417HJ displays throughout this review.
U2417HA - this model is basically the same
as the
U2417H, with the same underlying panel, four side zero-frame design, two coloured back, 2x USB ports on the left hand edge,
additional response time setting in the OSD menu and one less HDMI connection
than the U2417HJ model. The difference between this and the normal U2417H is
that rather than a monitor stand, it is provided with a mounting arm as shown in
the above pictures. So the performance and tests in this review also apply to
the HA model.
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Specifications and Features
The following table gives detailed information
about the specs of the screen:
Monitor
Specifications |
Size |
23.8"WS (60.47 cm) |
Panel Coating |
Light AG coating |
Aspect Ratio |
16:9 |
Interfaces |
1x DisplayPort
(version 1.2a), 1x Mini DP, 1x HDMI (MHL), 1x DisplayPort out
|
Resolution |
1920 x 1080 |
Pixel Pitch |
0.2745 mm |
Design
colour |
Zero frame design with matte black bezel with
dark silver stand and base |
Response Time |
8ms G2G (normal)
6ms G2G (fast) |
Ergonomics |
Tilt, height, swivel and rotate |
Static Contrast Ratio |
1000:1 |
Dynamic Contrast Ratio |
2 million:1 |
VESA Compatible |
Yes 100mm |
Brightness |
250 cd/m2 |
Accessories |
Power cable, DisplayPort > Mini DP cable, USB
cable |
Viewing Angles |
178 / 178 |
Panel Technology |
Samsung PLS (IPS-type) |
Weight |
panel only: 3.18 Kg |
Backlight Technology |
W-LED |
Physical Dimensions |
(WxHxD)
537.6 x 355.3 - 485.3 x 188.0 mm |
Colour Depth |
16.7m |
Refresh Rate |
60Hz |
Special
Features |
4x
USB 3.0 ports, Factory
calibration and report, 1x audio output |
Colour Gamut |
Standard gamut
99% sRGB, ~72% NTSC |
The U2417H offers a good range of connectivity
options with DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI (MHL supported) connections
offered. There is also a DisplayPort output for Daisy Chaining support. The
digital interfaces are HDCP certified for encrypted content and the video cables
are provided in the box for DisplayPort > Mini DP only. It's worth noting that
the HJ model has one additional HDMI input as well.
The screen has an internal power supply and comes
packaged with the power cable you need. There are also 2x USB 3.0 ports located
on the underside of the screen with the video connections and 2x ports on the
bottom left hand side of the screen, with one also having charging capabilities.
On the normal HJ model there are 3 on the underside and one on the back of the
screen instead.
Below is a summary of the features and connections
of the screen:
Feature |
Yes / No |
Feature |
Yes / No |
Tilt adjust |
|
DVI |
|
Height adjust |
|
HDMI |
|
Swivel adjust |
|
D-sub |
|
Rotate adjust |
|
DisplayPort |
|
VESA compliant |
|
Component |
|
USB 2.0 Ports |
|
Audio connection |
|
USB 3.0 Ports |
|
HDCP Support |
|
Card Reader |
|
MHL Support |
|
Ambient Light Sensor |
|
Integrated Speakers |
|
Human Motion Sensor |
|
PiP / PbP |
|
Touch Screen |
|
Blur Reduction Mode |
|
Factory Calibration |
|
G-Sync |
|
Hardware calibration |
|
FreeSync |
|
Uniformity correction |
|
Wireless charging |
|
Design and Ergonomics
Above: front view of the screen
The U2417H is part of Dell's 'Infinity Edge'
designed UltraSharp range, much like the
U2717D we also tested recently. This gives it a zero bezel design around
all sides, including the bottom. There is a very thin bezel around all the
edges giving it a sleek and clean design, ideal also for multi-screen set ups.
The old U2414H and also the U2417HJ version have a zero bezel design along the sides and top, but a 15mm thick
bezel along the bottom edge. This is the first 24" category model from Dell to
offer a zero bezel design around all sides.
There is a very thin plastic edge measuring ~1mm
around all 4 sides. This is an additional ~4.5mm inner panel border before the
image starts along the sides and top (total of ~5.5mm black edges around the
sides and top), and slightly wider at ~7.5mm along the bottom edge (total
~8.5mm border). Along the bottom edge the plastic bezel slopes away from you
so it's not a flat edge like the sides and top (see some of the below images
for a better idea). From a normal viewing position this slope cannot be seen
though so the screen does look like it has a very thin border around all four
sides.
There is a small silver Dell logo in the middle
of the bottom panel border, seemingly stuck on to the front of the panel where
the black border is. Along the bottom right hand sloping edge are the
pressable OSD control buttons and power button in the right hand corner. These
protrude out a little so you can just see them from a normal viewing position.
Above: back view and base. Click for larger versions
The back of the screen, stand and base are
finished in a matte dark silver colour as shown above. There is a circular
cable tidy hole in the back of the stand as you can see from the above images.
The stand and base are the same design as the recently reviewed
S2716DG gaming display, and the Infinity Edge
U2717D and a move away from the lighter silver colours we have seen on
previous 24" UltraSharp models including the
U2414H before it. As a side note, the
U2417HJ model retained the same design as the U2414H, so this H model is a
re-design and change.
Above: full
tilt range shown. Click for larger versions
The screen offers a full range of ergonomic
adjustments. Tilt is smooth to move but a little stiff. It offers a good
adjustment range as shown above.
Above: full
height adjustment range shown. Click for larger versions
Height adjustment is also available with
smooth movement which is a little easier to re-position than tilt. At the
lowest setting the bottom edge of the screen is ~40mm from the top of the
desk, and at maximum extension it is ~170mm. This gives a total adjustment
range of ~130mm which is decent.
Side to side swivel is smooth but fairly
stiff, sometimes resulting in the whole screen and base moving instead of
just the screen shifting side to side and the base remaining stationary.
Rotation is also offered but is stiff to use, although at least fairly
useable on a screen this size. Overall the screen remained stable on the
desk with minimal wobbling.
A summary of the screens ergonomic adjustments
is shown below:
Function |
Range |
Smoothness |
Ease of Use |
Tilt |
Yes |
Smooth |
A little stiff |
Height |
130mm |
Smooth |
Fairly easy |
Swivel |
Yes |
Smooth |
Moderately stiff |
Rotate |
Yes |
Quite Smooth |
Stiff |
Overall |
Good range of adjustments and
easy enough to use overall. |
The materials were of a good standard and the
build quality felt good as well. There was no audible noise from the screen,
even when conducting specific tests which can often identify buzzing issues.
The whole screen remained cool even during prolonged use as well which
was pleasing.
Above:
interface connections
The back of the screen features the interface
connections as shown above. There are (from left to right) the power
connection, HDMI, DisplayPort in, Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort out,
audio out, USB upstream and 2x USB 3.0 downstream. The lack of DVI or VGA connections may
be limiting for some older systems, but most modern devices and graphics cards
should be offering HDMI or DisplayPort nowadays.
Two additional easy-access
USB 3.0 ports are provided on the left hand side of the screen, with the bottom
of the two having charging capabilities as well. We prefer the position of those
on the side to them being on the back of the screen as they are on the HJ (1x
port).
OSD Menu
Above: OSD control buttons on the bottom right hand corner. Click for larger
version
The OSD menu is controlled from a series of 4
pressable buttons on the lower right hand edge of the front bezel as it slopes
away from you. There is also a
power button which has a small rectangular LED beneath it which
glows white during operation and pulsates on and off (white) during standby. The
HJ model was criticised a little as Dell had not updated the software since the
U2414H, with all options remaining the same. In fact they didn't even change the
monitor name in the menu and it still read "U2414H"! Here, on the H model they
have updated the software in line with other recent UltraSharp screens like the
U2717D for example.
Pressing any of the four buttons pops up a quick
access menu as shown above. There are quick access options to get to the
preset modes and input selection by default. These can be customised within
the main OSD menu if you would prefer quick access to other settings as well.
As an example of what the quick launch option
looks like when selected,
the preset mode quick access menu is
shown above.
The main menu is split in to 8 sections down the
left hand side, with the options for each shown then on the right hand side. A
couple of examples are shown above but most sections are self-explanatory. The
'display' section has the options for aspect ratio control and the response time
setting as you can see.
We liked the new style and design of the OSD
software on the U2417H and there were plenty of options and settings to play
with. Navigation was a little tricky as the buttons are kind of tucked out of
the way, and you have to keep drilling in to different options to get where you
want, and then back out. We have gotten somewhat used to joystick controls on
other modern screens which
are easier to use.
Power Consumption
In terms of power consumption the manufacturer
lists typical usage of 19.0W and <0.5W in standby mode. We carried out our normal tests to
establish its power consumption ourselves.
|
State and Brightness
Setting |
Manufacturer Spec (W) |
Measured Power Usage
(W) |
Default (75%) |
19.0 |
18.4 |
Calibrated (47%) |
- |
15.0 |
Maximum Brightness (100%) |
68.0 |
22.4 |
Minimum Brightness (0%) |
- |
11.1 |
Standby |
<0.5 |
0.6 |
|
We tested this ourselves and found that out of the
box the screen used 18.4W at the default 75% brightness setting. At 100%
brightness this increased a little to 22.4W. Additional
power draw in the spec is related to having USB and SoundBar devices connected. Once calibrated the screen reached
15.0W consumption, and in standby it
used only 0.6W. We have plotted these results below compared with other screens
we have tested. The consumption is comparable to the previous
U2414H
model and HJ version of this screen as you might expect and a little less than the bigger sized screens and
those with wide gamut LED backlights like the
Dell U2413
for instance.
Panel and Backlighting
Panel Manufacturer |
Samsung |
Colour Palette |
16.7 million |
Panel Technology |
PLS (IPS-type) |
Colour Depth |
6-bit+ FRC |
Panel Module |
LTM238HL04 |
Colour space |
Standard gamut |
Backlighting Type |
W-LED |
Colour space coverage (%) |
99% sRGB, ~72% NTSC |
Panel Part and Colour Depth
The Dell U2417H features a
Samsung LTM238HL04 PLS (IPS-type) technology panel which is capable of producing 16.7 million colours.
This is achieved through a 6-bit+FRC colour depth as with most modern IPS-type
panels of this size range. It should be noted that this is a move away from
LG.Display for Dell as the old
U2414H model featured an LG.Display IPS panel
instead. They've moved this time to a Samsung PLS (IPS-type) panel with
four-side borderless
design. Note that the panel is slightly different in the U2417HJ model which has the LTM238HL01 panel from Samsung. See the
U2417HJ review for testing of
that version.
A note about PLS technology. This is Samsung's
answer to LG.Display's very popular, and long-established IPS (In Plane
Switching) technology. Testing of this technology has revealed that it is for
all intents and purposes the same as IPS. Performance characteristics, features
and specs are all pretty much identical. Samsung weren't allowed to simply call
their technology IPS due to trademark issues, which is why they adopted their
own new name of PLS. AU Optronics are the same with their AHVA panel tech, which
is another IPS-clone. You will see pretty much all monitor manufacturers now
simply use the term IPS, since it is so well known in the market, but underneath
they may be using an IPS version from LG.Display, AU Optronics or Samsung
potentially. People should not get concerned with the semantics here, which is
why we will continually refer to this as an "IPS-type" panel throughout the
review.
The panel part is confirmed when dismantling the
screen as shown
below.
Screen
Coating
The
screen coating is a light anti-glare (AG) offering. It isn't a semi-glossy
coating, but it is light as seen on other modern IPS type panels. Thankfully it
isn't a heavily grainy coating like some old IPS panels feature and is also
lighter than modern TN Film panel coating. It retains its anti-glare properties
to avoid too many unwanted reflections of a full glossy coating, but does not
produce an too grainy or dirty an image that some thicker AG coatings can. No
cross-hatching patterns were visible on the coating at all. The coating remains
unchanged compared with the old U2414H model and is the same on the U2417HJ.
Backlight Type and Colour Gamut
The screen uses a White-LED (W-LED) backlight unit
which is standard in today's market. This helps reduce power consumption
compared with older CCFL backlight units and brings about some environmental
benefits as well. The W-LED unit offers a standard colour gamut which is
approximately equal to the sRGB colour space. Dell quote 99% coverage in their
spec (slightly more than the 96% quoted on the U2417HJ). Anyone wanting to work with wider colour spaces would need to consider
wide gamut CCFL screens or the newer range of GB-r-LED type (and similar)
displays available now. If you want to read more about colour spaces and gamut
then please have a read of our
detailed article.
Backlight
Dimming and Flicker
We tested the screen to establish the methods used
to control backlight dimming. Our in depth article talks in more details about a
common method used for this which is called
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). This in itself gives cause for concern to some
users who have experienced eye strain, headaches and other symptoms as a result
of the flickering backlight caused by this technology. We use a photosensor +
oscilloscope system to measure backlight dimming control
with a high level of accuracy and ease. These tests allow us to establish
1) Whether PWM is being used to control the
backlight
2) The frequency and other characteristics at which this operates, if it is used
3) Whether a flicker may be introduced or potentially noticeable at certain
settings
If PWM is used for backlight dimming, the higher
the frequency, the less likely you are to see artefacts and flicker. The duty
cycle (the time for which the backlight is on) is also important and the shorter
the duty cycle, the more potential there is that you may see flicker. The other
factor which can influence flicker is the amplitude of the PWM, measuring the
difference in brightness output between the 'on' and 'off' states. Please
remember that not every user would notice a flicker from a backlight using PWM,
but it is something to be wary of. It is also a hard thing to quantify as it is
very subjective when talking about whether a user may or may not experience the
side effects.
100% 50%
0%
Above scale = 1
horizontal grid = 5ms
At 100% brightness a constant voltage is applied
to the backlight. As you reduce the brightness setting to dim the backlight a
Direct Current (DC) method is used, as opposed to any form of PWM. This applies
to all brightness settings from 100% down to 0%. The screen is flicker free as a
result which is excellent news (as is the HJ model, and as was the U2414H before it).
Pulse Width
Modulation Used |
No |
Cycling
Frequency |
n/a |
Possible
Flicker at |
|
100% Brightness |
No |
50% Brightness |
No |
0% Brightness |
No |
For an up to date list of all flicker-free (PWM free) monitors please see our
Flicker Free Monitor Database.
Contrast
Stability and Brightness
We wanted to see how much variance there was in
the screens contrast as we adjusted the monitor setting for brightness.
In theory, brightness and contrast are two independent parameters, and good
contrast is a requirement regardless of the brightness adjustment.
Unfortunately, such is not always the case in practice. We recorded the
screens luminance and black depth at various OSD brightness settings, and
calculated the contrast ratio from there. Graphics card settings were left at
default with no ICC profile or calibration active. Tests were made using an
X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter. It should be noted that we used the
BasICColor calibration software here to record these, and so luminance at
default settings may vary a little from the LaCie Blue Eye Pro report.
OSD
Brightness |
Luminance
(cd/m2) |
Black
Point (cd/m2) |
Contrast
Ratio
( x:1) |
100 |
241.23 |
0.21 |
1149 |
90 |
213.02 |
0.19 |
1121 |
80 |
184.65 |
0.16 |
1154 |
70 |
161.81 |
0.14 |
1156 |
60 |
143.93 |
0.12 |
1199 |
50 |
125.76 |
0.11 |
1143 |
40 |
107.30 |
0.09 |
1192 |
30 |
89.46 |
0.08 |
1118 |
20 |
70.36 |
0.06 |
1173 |
10 |
50.90 |
0.04 |
1272 |
0 |
32.09 |
0.03 |
1070 |
Total Luminance Adjustment Range
(cd/m2) |
209.14 |
Brightness OSD setting controls backlight? |
|
Total Black Point
Adjustment Range (cd/m2) |
0.18 |
Average Static Contrast Ratio |
1159:1 |
PWM Free? |
|
Recommended OSD setting
for 120 cd/m2 |
47 |
We conducted these tests in the default 'standard'
preset mode. The brightness control gave us a very good range of adjustment. At
the top end the maximum luminance reached 241
cd/m2 which was
only a tad lower than the specified maximum brightness of 250 cd/m2
from the manufacturer. There was a decent 209 cd/m2 adjustment range
in total, and so at the minimum setting you could reach down to a low luminance
of 32 cd/m2. This should be more than adequate for those wanting to
work in darkened room conditions with low ambient light. A setting of 47 in the OSD menu should return you a
luminance of around 120 cd/m2 at default settings in this preset mode
(standard).
It should be noted that the
brightness regulation is controlled without the need for
Pulse Width Modulation, using a Direct Current (DC) method for all
brightness settings between 100 and 0% and so the screen is flicker free.
We have plotted the
luminance trend on the graph above. The screen behaves as it should in this
regard, with a reduction in the luminance output of the screen controlled by the
reduction in the OSD brightness setting. This is not quite a linear relationship as you
can see, with the adjustments between 100 and 80 controlling a slightly steeper
luminance range.
The average contrast ratio of
the screen was excellent for an IPS panel at 1159:1. This was fairly stable
across the brightness adjustment range as shown above with some fluctuation at
the lower brightness adjustment end below 30%.
Testing
Methodology
An
important thing to consider for most users is how a screen will perform out of
the box and with some basic manual adjustments. Since most users won't have
access to hardware colorimeter tools, it is important to understand how the
screen is going to perform in terms of colour accuracy for the average user.
We restored our graphics card to default settings
and disabled any previously active ICC profiles and gamma corrections. The
screen was tested at default factory settings using our new
X-rite i1
Pro 2 Spectrophotometer combined with
LaCie's Blue Eye Pro software suite. An X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter was
also used to verify the black point and contrast ratio since the i1 Pro 2
spectrophotometer is less
reliable at the darker end.
Targets for these tests are as follows:
-
CIE Diagram - validates the colour space
covered by the monitors backlighting in a 2D view, with the black triangle representing the
displays gamut, and other reference colour spaces shown for comparison
-
Gamma - we aim for 2.2 which is the default
for computer monitors
-
Colour temperature / white point - we aim
for 6500k which is the temperature of daylight
-
Luminance - we aim for 120
cd/m2, which is
the recommended luminance for LCD monitors in normal lighting conditions
-
Black depth - we aim
for as low as possible to maximise shadow detail and to offer us the best
contrast ratio
-
Contrast ratio - we aim
for as high as possible. Any dynamic contrast ratio controls are turned off here
if present
-
dE average / maximum -
as low as possible.
If DeltaE >3, the color displayed is significantly different from the
theoretical one, meaning that the difference will be perceptible to the
viewer.
If DeltaE <2, LaCie considers the calibration a success; there remains a
slight difference, but it is barely undetectable.
If DeltaE < 1, the color fidelity is excellent.
Default Performance and
Setup
Default settings of the screen were as follows:
Monitor OSD Option |
Default Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
Standard |
Brightness |
75 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
n/a |
Dell U2417H - Default Settings, Standard mode
|
Default Settings |
luminance (cd/m2) |
169 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.147 |
Contrast Ratio |
1153:1 |
Initially out of the box the screen was set in the
default standard preset mode. Despite the high 75% brightness setting out of the
box the screen didn't look overly bright which is quite unusual, and you don't
need to lower it much to get a comfortable setting for every day use. You could
tell the screen was using a standard gamut backlight as well with the naked eye.
We went
ahead and measured the default state with the i1 Pro. The
CIE diagram on the left of the image confirms that the monitors colour gamut
(black triangle) is fairly equal to
the sRGB colour space. There is some minor over-coverage in most shades but not by anything significant.
If you compare the gamut coverage to the
U2417HJ's you can see a slight variation between the two Samsung panels
being used, as reflected in the Dell spec for colour gamut.
Default gamma was recorded at 2.1 average, leaving it with a
small 5% deviance
from the target which was reasonable. Given there is no gamma control (other
than switching between PC and Mac modes) in the OSD menu, it is good news that
it is close to the 2.2 target as it
would have been hard to correct otherwise without a calibration device. White
point was measured at a nice and accurate 6568k, being only 1%
out from the 6500k we'd ideally want for desktop use.
Luminance was recorded at a moderate 169
cd/m2 which is
a little too high for prolonged general use but not overly bright. The screen was set at a default
75% brightness in the OSD menu but that is easy to change of course to reach a
more comfortable setting without impacting any other aspect of the setup. The
black depth was 0.147 cd/m2 at this default
brightness setting, giving us an excellent (for an IPS-type panel) static contrast ratio of
1153:1.
Colour accuracy was also very good out of the box
with an average dE of only 2.0, maximum of 3.1. Testing the screen with colour
gradients showed smooth transitions in all shades, with only very minor
gradation evident in darker tones. Overall this default setup was very good and
we were pleased with the results. It was very similar to the U2417HJ as well in
fact. That model had a very slightly more accurate gamma (2.2, 0% deviance) but
had a warmer white point than desired at 5994k (8% deviance).
We also wanted to test the screen out of the box in the 'custom color' preset
mode. This looked visibly different to the standard preset, and would also allow
us access to the RGB controls in the menu for calibration later on.
Monitor OSD Option |
Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
Custom Color |
Brightness |
75 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
100, 100, 100 |
Dell U2417H - Default Settings, Custom Color mode
|
Default Settings,
Custom Color mode |
luminance (cd/m2) |
177 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.146 |
Contrast Ratio |
1216:1 |
This preset mode showed a very similar setup to the
standard mode. Gamma remained pretty accurate at 2.1 average (5% deviance), and white point
was only slightly too warm at 6340k (2% out). The RGB channels were defaulted to
100 each, and so this also resulted in a slightly brighter screen (177
cd/m2),
despite the same 75% brightness setting, and also a stronger contrast ratio of
1216:1. Colour accuracy remained very good with dE average of 2.1. This mode
will be better for
calibration as you have access to the RGB channels here,
although it's unlikely we will need to change them much given the decent white
point setup already. Otherwise, there's not really much difference between this
Custom Color mode and the Standard mode.
Factory Calibration
There is also a factory calibrated sRGB preset
mode on this screen. In the box there is a calibration report provided which is
unique to your particular unit. This shows that the sRGB preset mode has been
factory calibrated to offer a dE of <2 (the U2417HJ had dE < 4 for its
calibration) and tighter grey scale tracking. If you
look at the grey scale tracking graph you can tell that the screen has
apparently been
calibrated to 6000k, and not 6500k for some reason.
The report provided with our test sample is shown
below:
Monitor OSD Option |
Default Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
sRGB |
Brightness |
75 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
n/a |
Dell U2417H - Factory Calibration, sRGB mode
|
Factory calibrated
sRGB mode |
luminance (cd/m2) |
169 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.148 |
Contrast Ratio |
1142:1 |
The factory calibrated sRGB mode offers a decent
setup as well. The 2.2 gamma target is now more accurately met, with a 0%
deviance on average and correcting the 5% deviance we'd seen in the other preset
modes tested above. White point is "correct" in that it is calibrated to
our preferred target of
6500k nicely, although the Dell calibration report suggests it should have been
set to 6000k. We are pleased though that it has not been. On the U2417HJ it had
been set to 6000k as well, which is what that model delivered. Colour accuracy is within targets
just, with dE of 2.0 average, but a max ranging up to 6.0.
Contrast ratio remains
strong for an IPS-type panel at 1142:1. This mode is a good factory calibration
actually, and offers a more accurate overall setup than the 'standard' or
'custom color' modes out of the box, mainly because the gamma curve is more
accurate. It should be a decent setup for most casual users we expect.
Calibration
We used the
X-rite i1 Pro 2
Spectrophotometer combined with the LaCie Blue Eye Pro software package to
achieve these results and reports. An X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter was used
to validate the black depth and contrast ratios due to lower end limitations of
the i1 Pro device.
Monitor OSD Option |
Calibrated Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
Custom Color |
Brightness |
46 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
98, 97, 100 |
Dell U2417H - Calibrated Settings
|
Calibrated Settings |
luminance (cd/m2) |
121 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.10 |
Contrast Ratio |
1204:1 |
We changed to the 'custom color' preset mode which
offered us access to the RGB controls from within the menu. We adjusted the RGB
channels and brightness setting as shown in the table above. All these OSD
changes allowed us to obtain an optimal hardware starting point and setup before software level changes would be
made at the graphics card level. We left the LaCie software to calibrate
to "max" brightness which would just retain the luminance of whatever brightness
we'd set the screen to, and would not in any way try and alter the luminance at
the graphics card level, which can reduce contrast ratio. These adjustments
before profiling the screen would help preserve tonal values and limit
banding issues. After this we let the software carry out the LUT adjustments and create an
ICC profile.
Average gamma was now corrected to 2.2 average
with a 0% deviance, correcting the 5% deviance we'd seen out of the box in this preset mode. The
white point had now been corrected to 6560k, leaving it with a minor 1% deviance
now. Luminance had been improved thanks to the adjustment to the brightness
control and was now being measured at 121
cd/m2. This
left us a black depth of 0.10 cd/m2 and gave us an excellent static
contrast ratio (for an IPS-type panel) of
1204:1. Colour accuracy of the resulting
profile was excellent, with dE average of 0.3 and maximum of 0.9. LaCie would
consider colour fidelity to be very good overall.
Testing the screen with various colour gradients
showed smooth transitions. There was some very slight gradation in darker tones
and a very small amount of banding introduced due to the adjustments to the
graphics card LUT from the profilation of the screen.
You can use our settings and
try our calibrated ICC profile if you wish, which are available in
our ICC profile database. Keep in mind that results will vary from one
screen to another and from one computer / graphics card to another.
Calibration Performance Comparisons
The comparisons made in this section try to give
you a better view of how each screen performs, particularly out of the box which
is what is going to matter to most consumers. When comparing the default factory
settings for each monitor it is important to take into account several
measurement areas - gamma, white point and colour accuracy. There's no point
having a low dE colour accuracy figure if the gamma curve is way off for
instance. A good factory calibration requires all 3 to be well set up. We have
deliberately not included luminance in this comparison since this is normally
far too high by default on every screen. However, that is very easily controlled
through the brightness setting (on most screens) and should not impact the other
areas being measured anyway. It is easy enough to obtain a suitable luminance
for your working conditions and individual preferences, but a reliable factory
setup in gamma, white point and colour accuracy is important and not as easy to
change accurately without a calibration tool.
From these comparisons we can also compare the
calibrated colour accuracy, black depth and contrast ratio. After a calibration
the gamma, white point and luminance should all be at their desired targets.
Default setup of the screen out of the box was
mostly very good with a fairly accurate gamma of 2.1 (5% deviance), reliable
white point of 6568k (1% out), low dE of 2.0 and a high contrast
ratio. The factory calibrated sRGB will correct the small gamma deviance which
returns a slightly better overall setup we felt.
It's worth comparing the U2417H with the previous
U2414H model. The U2417H is fairly similar to the old model, which also showed a
5% gamma deviance (2.3 average), minor 1% white point deviance and a slightly
higher dE average (2.3). There is an improvement in contrast ratio though with
the new model, which is a decent improvement for sure from 970:1 to 1204:1.
The display was excellent when it came to contrast
ratio for an IPS-type panel. It offered a very impressive 1204:1 calibrated contrast
ratio, significantly surpassing the previous
U2414H model which reached 970:1.
It was actually one of the highest calibrated contrast ratio we have seen from any
IPS-type panel, going beyond our previous champion, the
Dell U2515H at 1138:1
and falling only ever so slightly lower than the U2417HJ (1228:1). Of course
it can't compete with VA panel types which can reach over 2000:1 easily, and
commonly up to 3000:1, even close to 5000:1 in the case of the
Eizo FG2421. These VA panels are not shown in the graph above.
Viewing Angles
Above: Viewing
angles shown from front and side, and from above and below. Click for
larger image
Viewing angles of the screen were very good as you
would expect from an IPS-type panel. Horizontally there was very little colour
tone shift until wide angles past about 45°. A slight darkening of the image
occurred horizontally from wider angles as you can see above as the contrast
shifted slighting. Contrast shifts were slightly more noticeable in the vertical
field but overall they were very good. The screen offered the wide viewing
angles of IPS technology and was free from the restrictive fields of view of TN
Film panels, especially in the vertical plane. It was also free of the
off-centre contrast shift you see from VA panels and a lot of the quite obvious
gamma and colour tone shift you see from some of the modern VA panel type
offerings. All as expected really from a modern IPS panel and comparable to the
old
U2414H.
The viewing angles were better than we'd seen from
the recently tested
Dell U2417HJ (with a very similar Samsung PLS panel). That model had
surprised us as it had more restrictive viewing angles than we are used to from
this technology, but it's good to see that those steps in the wrong direction
are not carried over to the U2417H.
Above: View of an
all black screen from the side. Click for larger version
On a black image there is a characteristic pale glow
introduced to the image when viewed from a wide angle, commonly referred to as
IPS glow. This is a bit more than we'd seen from the
U2417HJ which we had labelled as a moderate-glow panel. It's also not a low-glow panel like the
previous U2414H was, where that showed very little IPS glow at all.
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Panel Uniformity
We wanted to test
here how uniform the brightness was across the screen, as well as identify any
leakage from the backlight in dark lighting conditions. Measurements of the
luminance were taken at 35 points across the panel on a pure white background.
The measurements for luminance were taken using BasICColor's calibration
software package, combined with an X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter with a
central point on the screen calibrated to 120 cd/m2. The below
uniformity diagram shows the difference, as a percentage, between the
measurement recorded at each point on the screen, as compared with the central
reference point.
It is worth
noting that panel uniformity can vary from one screen to another, and can depend
on manufacturing lines, screen transport and other local factors. This is only a
guide of the uniformity of the sample screen we have for review.
Uniformity of Luminance
The luminance uniformity of the screen was
decent overall. There was a drop in
luminance on the left and right hand edges of the screen where in the worst
case the luminance dropped to 99
cd/m2
(-21%). That was the most extreme example though and in fact 80% of the
screen was within a 10% deviance from the centrally calibrated point which
was good.
Backlight Leakage
Above: All black screen in a darkened room. Click for larger version
We also tested the screen with an all black image
and in a darkened room. A camera was used to capture the result. The camera
showed there was no real backlight bleed or clouding at all which was great
news.
Note: if you want to test your own screen for
backlight bleed and uniformity problems at any point you need to ensure you have
suitable testing conditions. Set the monitor to a sensible day to day brightness
level, preferably as close to 120
cd/m2 as you can get it (our tests are
once the screen is calibrated to this luminance). Don't just take a photo at the
default brightness which is almost always far too high and not a realistic usage
condition. You need to take the photo from about 1.5 - 2m back to avoid
capturing viewing angle characteristics, especially on IPS-type panels where
off-angle glow can come in to play easily. Photos should be taken in a darkened
room at a shutter speed which captures what you see reliably and doesn't
over-expose the image. A shutter speed of 1/8 second will probably be suitable
for this.
General and Office Applications
With a 1920 x 1080 resolution, the desktop real
estate of the U2417H feels a step down compared with all the high
resolution panels we've tested, and the 27" 2560 x 1440 models we are used to
using day to day. You do lose a large amount of desktop space, and although side
by side split screen working is possible, it's not as easy due to the more
limited resolution and space. With a 0.2745mm pixel pitch, text is comfortable
and easy to read natively, providing a sharp and crisp image. It is not as sharp
as the 1440p panels we've become accustomed to, or of course any ultra HD/4K
resolutions where scaling is used, but it is perfectly adequate. For this size
screen, 1920 x 1080 is about your limit of sensible resolution without needing
to use operating system scaling options.
The very thin
bezel design mean that the U2417H could be easily integrated into a
multi-screen set up if you wanted, and we liked the new 4-side "frameless"
design. The light AG coating of the panel is
welcome, and much better than the grainy and 'dirty' appearance of older IPS AG
coatings. The
wide viewing angles provided by this panel technology on both horizontal and
vertical planes, helps minimize on-screen colour shift when viewed from
different angles and thankfully they were in keeping with typical IPS panel
performance, and better than the somewhat surprising viewing angles we saw from
the HJ model. The default setup of the screen
(particularly the factory calibrated sRGB preset) was very good as
well, offering an accurate gamma curve, accurate white point, decent contrast ratio and low dE.
The brightness
range of the screen was also very good, with the ability to offer a luminance
between 241 and 32 cd/m2, pretty much identical to the HJ model as
well. This should mean the screen is perfectly
useable in a wide variety of ambient light conditions, including darkened rooms.
A setting of ~47 in the OSD brightness control should return you a luminance
close to 120 cd/m2 out of the box if you stick to the 'standard'
preset mode. Otherwise you might want to try the settings from our
calibration
section. On another positive note, the brightness regulation is controlled
without the need for the use of the now infamous
Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM), and so those who suffer from eye fatigue or
headaches associated with flickering backlights need not worry. We don't know
why Dell don't start promoting this as a feature really, as it's a big pro.
There was no audible noise or buzzing from the screen, even when specifically
looking for it using test images with a large amount of text at once. The screen
also remains cool even during prolonged use.
There are a few extras provided here as well
including a 4 port USB 3.0 hub (2x easy access on the left hand side, one with charging support),
and an audio output for speaker connection. We preferred the location of those 2
USB ports on the left hand side of the screen as they are much easier to get to
than when they are on the back of the screen, like they were on the HJ model. There
were no further extras such as ambient light sensors or card readers on this
model which can be useful in office environments. The H model does not feature
the wireless charging function of the HJ model either.
There was a good range of ergonomic adjustments available from the stand
allowing you to obtain a comfortable position for a wide variety of angles. The
VESA mounting support may also be useful to some people as well.
Above: photo of
text at 1920 x 1080 (top) and 1600 x 900 (bottom)
The screen is designed to run at its native
resolution of 1920 x 1080 and at a 60Hz recommended refresh rate. However,
if you want you are able to run the screen outside of this resolution. We tested
the screen at a lower 1600 x 900 resolution to see how the screen handles the
interpolation of the resolution, while maintaining the same aspect ratio of
16:9. At native resolution the text was sharp and clear. When running at a the
lower resolution the text is still
reasonably clear, with moderate
levels of blurring. You do lose a lot of screen real-estate as well of course but
the image seems to be interpolated quite well from lower resolution sources.
Responsiveness and Gaming
Quoted G2G Response Time |
6ms G2G (Fast)
8ms G2G (Normal) |
Quoted ISO Response Time |
n/a |
Panel Manufacturer and
Technology |
Samsung PLS (IPS-type) |
Panel Part |
LTM238HL04 |
Overdrive Used |
Yes |
Overdrive Control Available to
User |
Response Time |
Overdrive Settings |
Fast, Normal |
The U2417H is rated by Dell as having a 6ms G2G
response time (fast setting) or an 8ms G2G response time (normal setting). Both
specs indicate the panel uses
overdrive /
response time compensation (RTC) technology to boost pixel transitions
across grey to grey changes. On this H model (but not the HJ) there is an additional 'response time' setting
available which allows you to switch from the 'normal' 8ms G2G mode, to a 'fast'
6ms G2G mode. We've found this setting on other Dell screens to not really offer
anything practically useful and would expect the 'normal' mode to be optimal
anyway.
The
part
being used is the
Samsung LTM238HL04 PLS (IPS-type) panel. Have a read about response time in
our
specs section if you need additional information about this measurement.
We will first test the screen using our thorough
response time testing method. This uses an oscilloscope and photosensor to
measure the pixel response times across a series of different transitions, in
the full range from 0 (black) to 255 (white). This will give us a realistic view
of how the monitor performs in real life, as opposed to being reliant only on a
manufacturers spec. We can work out the response times for changing between many
different shades, calculate the maximum, minimum and average grey
to grey (G2G) response times, and provide an evaluation of any overshoot present
on the monitor.
We use an
ETC M526
oscilloscope for these measurements along with a custom photosensor device.
Have a read of
our response time measurement article for a full explanation of the testing methodology and reported
data.
'Response Time' Setting (Overdrive)
The 'response time' setting is available via the
display section of the OSD menu as shown above. We will test both modes to see
which is optimal first of all.
In the 'normal' response time mode the average G2G
response time was measured at 8.7ms which is fairly typical for a 60Hz IPS
panel. Some fairly moderate overshoot was starting to creep in though on some
transitions, particularly when changing from black > grey. In practice this was
not overly obvious though. As you moved up to the 'fast' mode, the response
times were reduced down to 6.9ms G2G average, but at the cost of some high
amounts of overshoot. This was noticeable and distracting in actual use as well,
so this mode should probably be avoided. Stick with the 'normal' setting for
optimal performance, the 'fast' mode was just too aggressive.
Detailed Response Time Measurements
We stuck with the optimal 'normal' response time
setting. The average G2G response time was measured at 9.1ms
which was good overall for a 60Hz IPS-type panel. Rise times (changes from
dark to light shades) were slightly slower than fall times (changes from light
to dark shades) but not by anything significant. Some measurements reached below
the 8ms advertised figure as well.
If we evaluate the Response Time Compensation
(RTC) overshoot then the results are pretty good and there is only low to
moderate overshoot
to be seen. A couple of the measured transitions showed a fairly high overshoot,
like those from black to grey (0 > x). But there were only a few transitions
which showed anything particularly noticeable. We know that the 'fast' overdrive
setting is too aggressive and leads to a lot more overshoot.
Display Comparisons
The above comparison table and graph shows you the
lowest, average and highest G2G response time measurement for each screen we
have tested with our oscilloscope system. There is also a colour coded mark next
to each screen in the table to indicate the RTC overshoot error, as the response
time figure alone doesn't tell the whole story.
The response time performance of the U2417H were
slightly slower than the best 60Hz IPS-type panels we've tested. The best models
we've tested reach down to around 8.6ms G2G with no overshoot problems. Here,
the response times were a tad slower at 9.1ms, and there was some moderate
levels of overshoot starting to creep in. It was slightly worse than the HJ
version of this screen as well, which has a slightly different Samsung panel,
and also the old U2414H. To be honest you would be extremely unlikely to spot
any real difference in practice between the two. High refresh rate IPS-type panels
like the
Asus ROG Swift PG279Q and
Acer XB270HU can reach lower response times of around 5ms G2G thanks to the
boosted refresh rate. For a 60Hz IPS-type panel, the results here from the
U2417H are pretty decent. Slightly behind some other competing models in this
size, but not by much.
The screen was also tested using the chase test in
PixPerAn for the following display comparisons. As a reminder, a series of
pictures are taken on the highest shutter speed and compared, with the best case
example shown on the left, and worst case example on the right. This should only
be used as a rough guide to comparative responsiveness but is handy for a
comparison between different screens and technologies as well as a means to
compare those screens we tested before the introduction of our oscilloscope
method.
23.8"
8ms
G2G Samsung PLS (IPS-type) @ 60Hz (Response Time = Normal)
In practice the Dell U2417H showed low levels of
blurring on moving images and no noticeable overshoot in these specific test. It was
quite comparable to other decent 60Hz IPS-type panels we have tested in the past
in these tests. There was a little more blur than the best case 60Hz IPS panels,
and some overshoot starts to creep in on certain transitions we know from our
oscilloscope tests. It didn't have the motion clarity of high refresh rate
panels, which offer improvements thanks to reduced response times and the
increased frame rate.
23.8"
8ms
G2G Samsung PLS (IPS-type) @ 60Hz (Response Time = Normal)
23.8"
8ms
G2G Samsung PLS (IPS-type) @ 60Hz
23.8" 8ms G2G
LG.Display AH-IPS
24"
8ms
G2G LG.Display AH-IPS (Response Time = Normal)
25"
8ms
G2G LG.Display AH-IPS (Response Time = Normal)
If we compare the U2417H with a range of other
recent UltraSharp screens you will see that the motion performance is very
similar between all 5 models. There's very little to separate them all in
practice, although the U2417H,
U2515H and
U2715H are perhaps ever so slightly slower than the other two with a little more pronounced
blur.
Additional Gaming Features
Aspect Ratio Control -
Like the U2417HJ, U2414H, U2515H and U2715H models, the
new U2417H has 3 options for
aspect ratio control through the OSD 'Display' menu as shown above. There
are options for wide 16:9, 5:4 and 4:3 only. There is no 1:1 pixel mapping mode
specifically but given a lot of content from external devices is 16:9 aspect
ratio by default, the native aspect of the screen can at least accommodate that
nicely. You will have to put up with the screen interpolating content up
to the full size of the screen when using an external device, as you can't use
any kind of 1:1 scaling option on this model.
Preset Modes -
There is a specific 'game' available in the
OSD which appears to make the image a tad warmer than our calibrated custom
mode. It gives you access to the dynamic contrast ratio control if you want to
use it as well.
Lag
We have written an in depth article about
input lag and the various measurement techniques which are used to evaluate
this aspect of a display. It's important to first of all understand the
different methods available and also what this lag means to you as an end-user.
Input Lag vs. Display Lag vs. Signal
Processing
To avoid confusion with different terminology we
will refer to this section of our reviews as just "lag" from now on, as there
are a few different aspects to consider, and different interpretations of the
term "input lag". We will consider the following points here as much as
possible. The overall "display lag" is the first, that being the delay between
the image being shown on the TFT display and that being shown on a CRT. This is
what many people will know as input lag and originally was the measure made to
explain why the image is a little behind when using a CRT. The older stopwatch
based methods were the common way to measure this in the past, but through
advanced studies have been shown to be quite inaccurate. As a result, more
advanced tools like SMTT provide a method to measure that delay between a TFT
and CRT while removing the inaccuracies of older stopwatch methods.
In reality that lag / delay is caused by a
combination of two things - the signal processing delay caused by the TFT
electronics / scaler, and the response time of the pixels themselves. Most
"input lag" measurements over the years have always been based on the overall
display lag (signal processing + response time) and indeed the SMTT tool is
based on this visual difference between a CRT and TFT and so measures the
overall display lag. In practice the signal processing is the element which
gives the feel of lag to the user, and the response time of course can
impact blurring, and overall image quality in moving scenes. As people become
more aware of lag as a possible issue, we are of course keen to try and
understand the split between the two as much as possible to give a complete
picture.
The signal processing element within that is quite
hard to identify without extremely high end equipment and very complicated
methods. In fact the studies by Thomas Thiemann which really kicked this whole
thing off were based on equipment worth >100,1000 Euro, requiring extremely high
bandwidths and very complicated methods to trigger the correct behaviour and
accurately measure the signal processing on its own. Other techniques which are
being used since are not conducted by Thomas (he is a freelance writer) or based
on this equipment or technique, and may also be subject to other errors or
inaccuracies based on our conversations with him since. It's very hard as a
result to produce a technique which will measure just the signal processing on
its own unfortunately. Many measurement techniques are also not explained and so
it is important to try and get a picture from various sources if possible to
make an informed judgement about a display overall.
For our tests we will continue to use the SMTT
tool to measure the overall "display lag". From there we can use our
oscilloscope system to measure the response time across a wide range of grey to
grey (G2G) transitions as recorded in our
response time
tests. Since SMTT will not include the full response time within its
measurements, after speaking with Thomas further about the situation we will
subtract half of the average G2G response time from the total display lag. This should allow us to give a good estimation of
how much of the overall lag is attributable to the signal processing element on
its own.
Lag Classification
To help in this section we will also introduce a broader classification system
for these results to help categorise each screen as one of the following levels:
-
Class 1)
Less than 16ms / 1 frame lag - should be fine for gamers, even at high levels
-
Class
2)
A lag of 16 -
32ms / One to two frames - moderate lag but should be fine for many gamers.
Caution advised for serious gaming and FPS
-
Class
3)
A lag of more
than 32ms / more than 2 frames - Some noticeable lag in daily usage, not
suitable for high end gaming
For the full reviews of the models compared here and the dates they were written
(and when screens were approximately released to the market), please see our
full
reviews index.
(Measurements in ms) |
|
Total Display Lag (SMTT
2) |
5.00 |
Pixel Response Time
Element |
4.55 |
Estimated Signal
Processing Lag |
0.45 |
Lag Classification |
1 |
|
Class
1 |
We have provided a comparison above against other
models we have tested to give an indication between screens. The screens
tested are split into two measurements which are
based on our overall display lag tests (using SMTT) and half the average G2G
response time, as measured by the oscilloscope. The response time is split from
the overall display lag and shown on the graph as the green bar. From there, the
signal processing (red bar) can be provided as a good estimation.
Correction 16/8/16: We've had a few emails
about the lag on the U2417H since we published this review, and comparisons with
the measurement made at
PCmag where they had used the Leo Bodnar device to measure a 10.2ms total
lag. We can't really comment on the accuracy or otherwise of that device, but
something didn't seem right. We will hold our hands up here as it looks like
we've made a mistake with the lag measurements of this screen. The important
thing is correcting that now, as we're sure it has an influence on people
looking at buying this screen. Thanks to our friends at
Pcmonitors.info who are
currently testing the HA model with the same SMTT 2.0 tool we use we've managed
to figure out what has happened here and corrected our measurement results
above. It seems that (very unusually) the U2417H shows an increased lag when
non-native resolutions are used on the screen. The scaling options in the OSD
don't seem to impact it though. Our original measurements showed a total lag of
26.36ms, with an estimated signal processing lag therefore as 21.81ms in those
circumstances. However, when running the screen at native res, the total lag was
~5ms which is much better, giving a signal processing lag of only 0.45ms
(basically nothing). We apologise for the confusion with the results previously
published. To be honest, we've not seen the lag vary like that before so it's an
oddity which we will account for in the future as well.
Movies and Video
The following summarises the screens performance
in video applications:
-
23.8"
screen size makes it a reasonable option for an all-in-one multimedia screen,
but being quite a bit smaller than most modern LCD TV's of course.
-
16:9
aspect ratio is more well suited to videos than a 16:10 format screen, leaving
smaller borders on DVD's and wide screen content at the top and bottom.
-
1920 x
1080 resolution can support full 1080 HD resolution content
-
Digital interfaces support HDCP for any encrypted and protected content
-
Good range of connectivity options provided
with DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI (with MHL) offered.
-
Cables provided in the box
for DisplayPort to
Mini DP only.
-
Light
AG coating a positive change providing clean and clear images, without the
unwanted reflections of a glossy solution.
-
Wide
brightness range adjustment possible from the display, including a maximum
luminance of ~241
cd/m2 and a decent minimum luminance
of 32 cd/m2. This should afford you good control for different
lighting conditions. Contrast ratio remains stable across that adjustment
range as well and is excellent for an IPS-type panel. Brightness regulation is
controlled without the need for PWM and so is flicker free for all brightness
settings.
-
Black
depth and contrast ratio are very strong for an IPS-type panel at 1204:1 after
calibration. Detail in darker scenes should not be lost as a result.
-
There
is a specific 'movie' preset mode available for movies or video if you want
but it is much cooler than our calibrated custom mode. May be useful to some though.
-
Good
pixel responsiveness which should still be able to handle fast moving scenes
in movies without issue. Low overshoot issues which is pleasing.
-
Wide viewing angles thanks to IPS-type panel
technology meaning several people could view the screen at once comfortable
and from a whole host of different angles. Thankfully better than the HJ model
which were for some reason more limited than usual IPS-type panels.
-
IPS glow is moderate meaning you might
experience some annoying white glows on darker content from an angle. It is
not a low-glow panel like the U2414H before it.
-
Very good and mostly easy to use range of
ergonomic adjustments available from the stand, so should be easy to obtain a
comfortable position for multiple users or if you want to sit further away
from the screen for movie viewing.
-
No
noticeable backlight leakage, and none from the edges which is
good. This type of leakage may prove an issue when watching movies where black
borders are present but it is not a problem here.
-
No
integrated stereo speakers on this model but it is compatible with Dell's
SoundBar if you want. There is also an audio output connection.
-
Moderate
range of
hardware aspect ratio options with 16:9, 5:4 and 4:3 modes available which
should be fine for most uses.
-
Picture in picture (PiP) and Picture By Picture (PbP) are not available.
Conclusion
It was interesting to test the U2417H having only
recently tested the HJ version. To be honest we weren't expecting much
difference given the use of a Samsung PLS panel in both, and given they are
equivalent replacements to the successful U2414H of a few years ago. The obvious
differences first of all are the design, connections, USB port location and
presence/absence of a wireless charging function in the stand. We liked that
wireless charging feature on the HJ, although appreciate not everyone will want
or need it. We did prefer the new sleek infinity edge design of the H model
though and the darker silver stand and base. Having the arm-mounting option for
the HA version is also useful for some.
Underneath all that, despite both new models using
a Samsung PLS panel, there are some differences in performance to be aware of.
Of most significant difference are the viewing angles. The HJ had
disappointed us with its rather restrictive viewing angles, something we're not
accustomed to seeing from an IPS-type panel at all. Thankfully the H was better
and more what you would hope for from this tech. As a small trade off, the HJ
seemed to have a little less IPS-glow on dark content, although neither model
were as low-glow as the U2414H before them.
There were some more minor differences in other
areas as well as some similarities. Default setup was pretty comparable between
the H and HJ to be fair, as was brightness adjustment range and contrast ratio.
Both were PWM-free and had light AG coating which was pleasing. Response times
did vary a little, with the H being a tad slower and having a little more
overshoot than the HJ. The additional 'fast' response time setting was pretty
pointless as well. The lag was basically the same and non-existent on both which
is good news.
We still felt that the U2417H was a very strong
all round performer and at its competitive price it's a decent 24" sized option
for a whole range of uses. If you're aware of the differences in features and
performance you can pick between the H and HJ (or maybe HA) to meet whatever
needs you have nicely.
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Pros |
Cons |
Good factory calibration,
strong contrast ratio and great all-round performance |
Response times not
quite as good, although not bad still |
Viewing angles are wide and as
you'd hope for from an IPS-type panel, and thankfully better than the
U2417HJ |
Moved away from a low glow
panel of the U2414H before it and a bit more glow than the HJ |
Nice new Infinity Edge design
and 4 side zero bezel design |
Not much really new compared
with the old U2414H |
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TFT Central Awards Explained
We have two award
classifications as part of our reviews. There's the top 'Recommended'
award, where a monitor is excellent and highly recommended by us. There is
also an 'Approved' award for a very good screen which may not be perfect,
but is still a very good display. These awards won't be given out every
time, but look out for the logo at the bottom of the conclusion. |