10-1-06
To all,
A reference checklist for casual users to verify functionality and information about their 2407FPW Dell LCD monitor.

First, see your set up guide in the shipping box.
Check if you received all the pieces: Dell 2407FPW LCD Monitor, Monitor stand, DVI cable, VGA cable, Power Cord, USB cable, Product Information Guide Booklet (Warranty Info., I recommend reading it and get a full understanding of the warranty terms), Monitor User Guide CD which also contains the monitor driver for a 2407FPW.

Read the User Guide on the cd and Product Information Guide Booklet first.

You can do the following in any order that you are comfortable with to familiarize yourself with your Dell LCD monitor. If you don’t understand any part of the list or are uncomfortable with testing any part, See the Dell Community Forum-ask questions, read posts and use the search feature; call Dell tech support or ask a friend that is an expert in these matters.
NEVER RISK PERSONAL INJURY.

As a reminder, Dell screens allow you to access the hidden ‘factory’ OSD menu to find out some additional information about your screen. Here is how to do it, it will become important later on…

1- Turn off your screen, while your computer is still on.
2- Press simultaneously the 'Menu' and '+' button of the screen.
3- While holding the 2 buttons, press now the 'Power' button.
4- Once the screen in ON, let go of the 3 buttons.
5- Then press the '-' button.
6- Press menu again to exit hidden menu.

This is only a reminder checklist and notes.

CHECK FIRST (1.) NO BANDING (2.) NO DEAD PIXELS.
If you don’t know what banding and dead pixels are, then read about banding and dead pixels at the Dell Community Forum or join and ask questions.
If minor banding appears in DVI, switch to the other DVI out on the video card as this may clear all banding, it did in my 2407FPW A03.

Make a list of all product order errors or functionality problems for future reference. Example: Check all labels on the shipping box, look for the word “REFURBISHED” on the model and version label. If you ordered a new monitor and accidentally received a “REFURBISHED” LCD Monitor, call Dell customer service and set up an Exchange as soon as possible. I have personally found Dell Customer Care representatives friendly, very polite, professional and efficient. If the shipment is damaged or any problems are found at all, take pictures and make a record of it for future reference.

Be sure the PC and the monitor are both OFF before connecting or disconnecting any cables.

2407 FPW Checklist:

Part 1, Information Verification:

1. Check the shipping box for the country it’s from, model & version printed on the label. Is it the one you requested? Example: as of 10-1-06 latest version A03.
Ex. China, Mexico, Czech; 2407; A03, A02
2. Set it up, verify version thru factory service menu, verify firmware version.
3. A02 is V1B15 A03 is V1B20
4. Also note the panel A02 was SAM WUXGA LTM240L2, A03 HN208
5. Note the use hours and minutes in Time used, should be near 1 or 2, or as long as you had it plugged in for and it took you to get to the service menu.
6. Time accrues when On, In Power Save Mode and even Off and plugged in.
7. Layout of the 2407 A03 service menu is as follows:

RGB values did differ by 5 to 10 per panel in my A02’s; they are not all the same values.
________________________________________________________________
V1B20 HN208 (#’s from another A03
Exit Menu
Auto color: Press Menu
ACC: OFF(-) On(+) Set to ON
Burnin mode: OFF(-) On(+) Set to OFF
Reset timer: Press Menu
Time used: Hour Min
Offset 1 R 256 G 249 B 280
Offset 2: R 63 G 57 B 75
Gain : R 393 G 407 B 409
PC Blue Preset: R 195 G 226 B 239
PC Red Preset: R 220 G 226 B 196
PC Normal Preset: R 240 G 255 B 241
MAC Normal Preset: R 240 G 255 B 241
Video Gain: R 141 G 148 B 153
Video Offset: R 128 G 128 B 128
Register RD/WR: RegNo 038F Rd. Val. 0075 WR Val 0075
DDC-CI (ISP) OFF(-) On(+) Set to ON
iTest: OFF(-) On(+) Set to OFF
Soft Dither: OFF(-) On(+) Set to ON
Clear User Area: Press Menu

Dell 2407WFP ___________________________________________________________________
· Copy Serial # from back:
· Manufacturers date:

Part 2, Appearance:
Is the anti reflective coating even?
8. With a flashlight, (while the LCD is turned OFF), inspect the screen for white specks (normal from shipping), sticky substances, fingerprints, smudges, milky white film from being whipped with a damp rag at manufacturing facility.
9. See Dell User Guide on the CD and/or FAQ’s for cleaning at Dell Community Forum for specific cleaning instructions.
10. Remove white specks with a 100% cotton white soft damp “not wet” handkerchief or cloth or eyeglass material cloth. (don’t get any liquid in the seams on any side of the bezel, especially the bottom, the liquid can wick upwards into the LCD and ruin the display) Check with flashlight frequently as you move from area to area.. Clean small areas at a time to remove big marks. Then wipe entire screen off.
11. Use a clean 100% cotton white soft dry cloth to get the milky film off your cloth just left. Wipe small areas 3”x3” or 4”x4” or so in a circular motion 3 or 4 times in a clockwise direction and then repeat in reverse direction, counter clockwise. Repeat if necessary as some areas may be more stubborn than others. When you have finished you will have a fantastic looking screen. Don’t press to hard while wiping as to bend or flex the panel, just firm enough to remove the milky film.
12. Inspect screen for scratches from all angles. If any found call for an exchange.
13. Inspect case, cabinet and stand for scratches and rub marks, like black rubbed off of bezel, scratches on silver case part and stand.
14. Inspect cords for defects cracks or bent pins.
15. Refurbished only, be sure all cords are in box and don’t send back anything you didn’t get again as new. Box maybe LCD and stand only.
16. Check stand for level monitor when mounted or close to level by .25 of a cm., return for replacement if not satisfied.


Part 3, Testing:
Listed in a non specific order, (I recommend reading the User Guide first.)
Be sure the PC and the monitor are both OFF before connecting or disconnecting any cables.
17. Test all inputs: VGA, DVI, Component, S-video, Composite, USB 2-side-2-back and card readers. Check that card readers show up as drive letters in My Computer. Check for proper native resolution 1920x1200, 32bit color.
18. Use Plasma GL, a really slick screensaver, to wake up the pixels and give them a work out. http://www.reallyslick.com/downloads.html
19. Or use alternating test patterns to do the same.
20. Use Dead Pixel Buddy, test patterns.
21. Check for DEAD pixels (gray on white) or ON pixels (blue on black) with Dead Pixel Tester If any are found, wipe the dead pixel in a circular motion clockwise and counterclockwise with a 100% clean soft cotton cloth semi firmly but not to firm to make the panel flex or bend. If this fails try the Dead Pixel Tester’s “Launch a Pixel Exerciser” , drag the box from the center of the upper edge and place it over the dead pixel, for 5 minutes or so. Sometimes these two methods used alternately can revive the dead pixel. Works 70% of the time for me.
22. Test Picture In Picture and Picture By Picture. Test swap function.
23. Check ALL functions in the OSD menu. In both VGA and DVI.
24. Check functionality of all buttons on front of the panel, see guide for reference.
25. Test power save mode and wake up.
26. Use Passmark Monitor Test, click on the “?” to see an explanation of each test screen. “h key will hide menu, “h” will display it again. Set up VGA and make sure the LCD can pass all tests 25 screens. Especially Moire by setting Pixel Clock (Corse adjustment) and Phase (Fine adjustment). No banding and noise in desktop mode in all vertical and horizontal gradient test patterns, check pixel persistence so that there is no stutter or hitch (freeze or release) or trail ghosting in the 5 white boxes moving across the screen at various speeds, a must pass for gaming, “if hitch, return or exchange LCD. Moire, convergence lines, it has to perform straight lines for CAD CAM. Test all others. Photoshop Pros make your test patterns, also.
27. Use Passmark Monitor Test, to verify DVI is functioning correctly and it to must pass all 25 tests. Ex. No banding and noise in desktop mode in all vertical and horizontal gradient test patterns, check pixel persistence so that there is no stutter or hitch (freeze or release) or trail ghosting in the 5 white boxes moving across the screen at various speeds, a must pass for gaming, if hitch return. Moire, convergence lines, it has to perform straight lines for CAD CAM. Distinguish light and dark color scales 2% at a time. Pass all other tests. Photoshop Pros make your test patterns, also.
28. Use the gradient .png’s found at Dell Forum to further verify there is no banding or noise in the dark to light circular, vertical and horizontal color gradient test patterns. Especially gray gradients, black to white.
29. Must be no shimmering pink or green areas in VGA or DVI. Adjust RGB if needed in PC Custom part of On Screen Display. Some like PC Blue setting.
30. Must be no shimmering in compressed files or scrolling at web pages.
31. Must be no pink or green shimmering, 1 or 2 pixel length trails behind pointer/cursor.
32. In DVI set brightness to level acceptable to you. Also set RGB in OSD to what you like I use 95% all or R 75 G 87 B 90 no pink sky in Call Of Duty 1.
I use Call of Duty 1, because of the great gray gradients in the sky.
33. COD 1 no pink sky, no banding in sky in car ride scene and look at sun for circular banding halos. Or use a game that has gray gradients in the sky areas.
34. COD1 must be fast with no glitches or hitches. Or for faster PC’s or MAC’s use any game you like.
35. Check for backlight leaks top, bottom, left and right sides and all four corners. If no good exchange it.
36. In an all white screen check for an even backlight from side to side.
37. Test for banding or unacceptable noise levels in all applications and software you use on a regular basis.
38. Test several games. Watch for banding in low resolution game logos at start up. This is normal, as far as I can tell when a low res pic or logo is stretched to a 1920x1200 resolution.
39. Test low res pictures and video.
40. Test hi res pictures and hi res video. No banding.
41. Test DVD’s thru component and thru PC DVD drive with Power DVD 7.0 with Batman Begins and check that the dark areas are consistent and not splotchy.
42. Test DVD’s thru component and thru PC DVD drive with Power DVD 7.0 with The Fifth Element for sharpness and clarity acceptable to you.

See this link for the links page for test applications below:
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=64769#M64769

Passmark Monitor Test used in above tests.

Dead Pixel Buddy used in above tests.
Solid color test screens.

Dead Pixel Tester used in above tests.
Solid color & gradient test screens, pixel flasher & more.

gradlin-v0.2-fs.exe
RGB gradient test screens

Checkemon
Test screens for solid color, gradients & more.

Softcare Monitor Test
Test screens for gradients, solid colors, geometry & more.

EIZO Monitor Tester
24 test images for geometry, convergence, brightness, and homogeneity and panel response time.


Undead Pixel
Solid color test screens, pixel flasher.

Nokia Monitor Test
Test screens for color, resolution, brightness, contrast, geometry, focus, readability, and more.

NEC Monitor Test
Test screens for color, resolution, brightness, contrast, geometry, focus, readability, and more.

Pixel Persistence Analyser
Tests for pixel persistence (aka 'ghosting') in LCD displays. Interprets user adjustments to test screens, and returns numerical values for Gamma Factor, Transition Time, scrolling text readability and other criteria.

As you can see this is just a rough reference guide.

Please post any additional tests you would add to the list so others may reference your suggestions.
Such as, testing high resolution input content and sources. 720P 1080I

All comments are welcome.

Thanks to everyone for your support and help over the past few weeks. I do appreciate it very much.:)

ChrisM FAQ please.

Have Fun :)

Good Day to All :)

Message Edited by all the facts on 11-06-2006 07:11 PM

Message Edited by all the facts on 11-06-2006 07:14 PM