How to check tech-specs of a CRT/LCD-monitor?

[Irmax]

Greetings, citizens of the world,

If this post doesn't belong in this thread, feel free to (re)move it to another place !

Mr Renier Crause, let me say this first: I've tried several e-mail notifiers and I
must confess, that your fine (little) app works like a charme!
I'm a very satisfied POPTRAY-user since v2.0 ! Great app !

Well… here is my story and (eventually) my questions.

-- SUBJECT --
Several days ago I bought a new LCD-monitor: the Iiyama AX3817UTD (black).
Iiyama has 2 variations of this panel: the AX3817UT and the AX3817UTD.
I'll place the UTD-specs in red and (in brackets) the UT-specs in blue.
The size of these panels is 15" and they have the following technical specifications:
- respons time = 25 ms (50 ms)
- contrast ratio = 450:1 (300:1)
- brightness = 300 cd/m2 (250 cd/m2)
- and comes in white and black (only in white, according to Iiyama!)

-- CONFUSION #1 --
The advertisement of the dealer was something like:
- special offer of €349,- for the LCD-panel AX3817UT (black)
- respons time = 25 ms
- contrast ratio = 450:1
- brightness = 300 cd/m2
The dealer assured me that it was a "typo" and that it should be AX3817UTD !

Thus… confusion (just a bit) ! :o

-- CONFUSION #2 --
At the back of the panel there's a label with the monitor type and serial-number.
This is from the manufacturer Iiyama and it says: AX3817UT ?
The label, however, on the outside of the box says: AX3817UTD !!!
The user manual also says: AX3817UTD and AX3817UTDBK (=black) !

Thus… confusion (all around) !!! :( :o

-- QUESTIONS --
My question, of course, is: what the #@$%#*& did I buy ? I'm sorry... excuse me !
Is it the AX3817UTDBK with the better tech-specs, or…
is it the AX3817UT with the lesser tech-specs ?

I know, this is a retorical question, but the next ones are for real !
- Is there a way to find out, which one I've bought ?
- Is there a benchmark especially for CRT/LCD monitors ?
- Is there a way (software) to "cough up" the tech-specs on screen ?

I would be most grateful for any kind of input on this matter ! :D

Normally I can accept the tech-specs as I buy the product, like with i.e a printer.
But I've been confused twice and now I'm more then curious as to what I've bought !

Hopefully someone can enlighten me… :-*
With kind regards,

[root]

I hesitate to reply here because you seem to have wandered a bit in a couple of spots, but it looks to me like the UTD has the better specs.
I think the bottom line is you paid for the UTD which I assume is the higher priced and they seem to have switched products in the box for whatever reason.
If the manufactureres label on the panel says UT, I think you have to assume it would be easier to switch boxes than manufacturing labels on the product, so it looks like you have the less expensive version.
I certainly would be in heavy duty negotiations with the seller, as I think they are going to have to go by the manuf. label.
Sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear.
As for testing it, There is a program called Sysoft Sandra that may possibly give you that kind of information and there is one other, but my dead brain cells are in the way.
Perhaps someone else knows more about this. I'd hang loose and see if you get more replies.

[Paul Wilders]

Instead of Sysoft Sandra, there's a very nice freeware alternative: AIDA32. Info in this thread (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=4235).

regards.

paul

[Irmax]

Hey Root and Forum Admin,

I tried SiSoft Sandra 2002 Professional and Aida32 v3.02 in order
to find out the technical specifications of my newly bought LCD-panel.

The information I get from these apps, is not really what I'm looking for! :-\
What I would like to see/check/benchmark, is information such as:
- contrast ratio
- brightness in cd/m2
- response time

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to obtain this info? :'(

With kind regards,

[FanJ]

Hi,

Maybe you could use one of those 2 utilities and see whether they might give you that info, but I'm not sure about that:


NTest
Nokia Monitor Test
Free
Tom's Hardware site uses this one too.

http://www.construnet.hu/nokia/Monitors/TEST/monitor_test.html


DisplayMate
Not free

http://www.displaymate.com/infodmw.html

[FanJ]

Tom’s Hardware Guide:

http://www.tomshardware.com/

Maybe posting your question at the following forum might help you:

Tom’s Hardware forums:

http://www.community.tomshardware.com/forum/categories.m

[Irmax]

Hey FanJ,

Sorry for my late reaction! :-\
I do want to thank you and Forum Admin for your advise.
I have to say that, in the meanwhile I'm convinced, that my LCD-panel
is a Iiyama AX3817UT DBK with the better specs!

I also experimented with some Video Cards. I owned a NVidia GeForce2 MX 200/400 32 Mb.
Then I had a NVidia GeForce2 MX200/400 64Mb, which was a great improvement!
And now, since today, I've bought a NVidia GeForce4 MX440 64Mb with DVI-I and TV-out.

I "only" have a couple of games among which Myst II - Riven and Myst III - Exile,
and I must admit that I'm more than satisfied with the results, considering the costs
I've made (~ $86,-).

So all-in-all I'm a pretty happy person thanks to you, Iiyama and one of my collegues! :D ;D

With kind regards,

[Pieter_Arntz]

Good to see you´re a happy camper Irmax ;)
Nice card you bought there. I own a GeForce4 MX 420 32 MB myself and I´m very happy with it.
Have you benchmarked the Video Card yet?

Regards,

Pieter

[FanJ]

Hi Irmax,

I too am happy that you solved it.
Congrats with your new video-card ! ;D

Cheers, Jan.