Unhappy with Dell S2721DGF Saturation + Color in General

[Mr Technician]

I bought two Dell S2721DGF monitors on Wednesday to replace my aging S2716DG and add a monitor to my setup. Since then, I have played with settings colors but am not happy with what I have achieved. I haven't touched ICC profiles as my understanding is these work under limited circumstances. I also found a dead pixel on one of the new displays.

 

Considering the dead pixel and the lack of a proper sRGB mode, leading to oversaturated colors, I am thinking of throwing in the towel and returning both. If I do so, what monitors would be recommended instead?

 

My reference is my U2515H, which looks much less saturated and natural than the S2721DG, though on the warmer side of the spectrum. I am trying to do more photo and video work, so accurate colors are important and pushed me away from getting a VA panel. I am in a bit of an awkward position as I want to retain gaming performance, meaning a true professional panel isn't an option.

 

 

I am also getting an odd local dimming issue (even with SmartHDR disabled) and the left side of one of the panels is especially dark (more variation than is probably normal for an IPS panel).

 

At the end of the day, I am not sure what course of action to take or if it's worth getting a colorimeter and doing a true calibration.

[Motifator]

The monitor costs as much as a calibrator so... I can't recommend that route at all.

Some better IPS panels might do you fine.

[Heliian]

55 minutes ago, Mr Technician said:

 

Are you using dp or hdmi?  

 

Try adjusting the refresh rate in Windows. 

[Mr Technician]

16 minutes ago, Heliian said:

Are you using dp or hdmi?  

 

Try adjusting the refresh rate in Windows. 

Using DP at 144hz.

 

1 hour ago, Motifator said:

The monitor costs as much as a calibrator so... I can't recommend that route at all.

Some better IPS panels might do you fine.

I'm seeing calibrators around $150 which is a lot less than the monitors.

 

I might run up to Microcenter and look at their display models again.

[Heliian]

44 minutes ago, Mr Technician said:

Using DP at 144hz

I see your monitor is rated for 165hz on dp and 144 on hdmi.  

 

Switch it in windows to 165hz on dp or try an hdmi cable at 144.  

 

 

[Mr Technician]

3 minutes ago, Heliian said:

I see your monitor is rated for 165hz on dp and 144 on hdmi.  

 

Switch it in windows to 165hz on dp or try an hdmi cable at 144.  

 

 

I tried 165hz initially and had the same experience, unfortunately. I've actually pulled both monitors and intend to return them (at least the one with a stuck pixel).

 

Also, is a refresh rate likely to cause an issue with color? This seems unlikely to me...

[Heliian]

20 minutes ago, Mr Technician said:

Also, is a refresh rate likely to cause an issue with color? This seems unlikely to me...

Unlikely, but not impossible!

 

I have a dell monitor that is hdmi 60/75hz.  It looks terrible at 60 but is fantastic at 75.  That's why I suggested trying hdmi.  I would try other cables too just to rule it out. 

[Mr Technician]

13 minutes ago, Heliian said:

Unlikely, but not impossible!

 

I have a dell monitor that is hdmi 60/75hz.  It looks terrible at 60 but is fantastic at 75.  That's why I suggested trying hdmi.  I would try other cables too just to rule it out. 

I'm running two S2721DGs with two different cables and they both have the same color issues- I think it's just a side effect of these panels, not a defect.

[Andrewtst]

From rtings, this model had terrible colour accuracy out of the box, also terrible local dimming as well bad uniformity. 

 

Frank speak I am shocking with the color accuracy scores!

 

You either return it or calibrate it. 

 

https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/s2721dgf

[Mr Technician]

12 hours ago, Andrewtst said:

From rtings, this model had terrible colour accuracy out of the box, also terrible local dimming as well bad uniformity. 

 

Frank speak I am shocking with the color accuracy scores!

 

You either return it or calibrate it. 

 

https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/s2721dgf

By calibrate, are you referring to calibration I can do "by hand" (which I have tried and not liked) or with a colorimeter?

[Andrewtst]

1 hour ago, Mr Technician said:

By calibrate, are you referring to calibration I can do "by hand" (which I have tried and not liked) or with a colorimeter?

This monitor is way too out of color accuracy, I afraid you need to use professional calibrator tools.

 

I will return if still can since one of it also came with dead pixel.

[Mr Technician]

1 hour ago, Andrewtst said:

This monitor is way too out of color accuracy, I afraid you need to use professional calibrator tools.

 

I will return if still can since one of it also came with dead pixel.

I'm planning to return it within the next week (just bought it so I'm within return window). I will probably go to Microcenter and look more closely at monitors in person (which I have done before but not within the past month). Getting a calibrator isn't out of the question, but I would hope it would be good for 5+ years when I buy my next batch of replacements.

 

In comparison my U2515H's looked awesome out of the box when I got those 5 years ago.

[Andrewtst]

4 minutes ago, Mr Technician said:

I'm planning to return it within the next week (just bought it so I'm within return window). I will probably go to Microcenter and look more closely at monitors in person (which I have done before but not within the past month). Getting a calibrator isn't out of the question, but I would hope it would be good for 5+ years when I buy my next batch of replacements.

 

In comparison my U2515H's looked awesome out of the box when I got those 5 years ago.

You just coincident pick the wrong new monitor, that new monitor is seriously bad color accuracy out of the box.

 

Your older monitor is well calibration and it scores very high color accuracy out of the box.  

https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/u2515h

[Mr Technician]

@Andrewtst I'm running to Best Buy on Thursday to return these and then Microcenter to see their showroom and hopefully buy new monitors. Any suggestions for specific models?

 

(1440p 144hz IPS G-sync) 

[Andrewtst]

2 hours ago, Mr Technician said:

@Andrewtst I'm running to Best Buy on Thursday to return these and then Microcenter to see their showroom and hopefully buy new monitors. Any suggestions for specific models?

 

(1440p 144hz IPS G-sync) 

Suggest you check review at Rtings or YouTube Hardware Unboxed. They both provide color accuracy rating out of the box. 

 

https://www.rtings.com/monitor

 

https://youtube.com/c/Hardwareunboxednow

Edited July 20, 2022 by Andrewtst