contrast changes with viewing angle?

[court12b]

Hi All, I've been pondering this ever since I got my new monitor a year ago... was wondering if anybody here can explain.

Back in 2005 I picked up a dell 2009FPW. Loved it. used the hell out of it.

Recently I picked up a 23in dell and it's got a great image but it does this wierd thing where the contrast changes depending on the vertical viewing angle. anything lower than perpendicular and it gets darker, anything higher and it gets lighter. My old monitor didn't do this. It's not a terrible problem but it does leave me scratching my head.

can any of you tell me, what is this effect called and WHY DOES IT DO THAT??

Thanks in advance :D

[Tamlin]

:welcome
Its called TN or twisted neumatics ;) The effect you describe is a way to recognize TN panels.

The Dell 2005FPW you bought in 2005 use IPS matrice (in-plane switching). The different crystal matrices are named after their positioning and movement. This gives them different properties.

Here you can read up on the different types:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/panel_technologies.htm

[court12b]

ok, so say I'm shopping for a new monitor(online), How do I know whether or not it's got IPS?

wow it's so nice to know what that's called now, I'm sick of trying to describe it to people.

[X-Warrior]

Often it's hard to tell, but there are clues:

- IPS screens are much more expensive than TNs. A 24" monitor for $200 will be TN with little doubt.
- Viewing angle. Often 176 or 178º for IPS panels. A TN will have a lot less.
- Sometimes an IPS panel is advertised as such. As awareness of panel types grows, it gets more interesting to advertise it ;)

[Tamlin]

ok, so say I'm shopping for a new monitor(online), How do I know whether or not it's got IPS?

wow it's so nice to know what that's called now, I'm sick of trying to describe it to people.

Apart from what X-Warrior mentioned, you can also use the panel search found on the same site I linked to earlier. By entering model name, it will display the panel type if they have updated it in their database. :)

But, if you like the screen you got and this is not a problem, why buy new one?