Dell 27" Ultrasharp monitor offer with coupon - looks pretty good for the spec £382.08 Delivered @ Dell

I can tell you now that this model has severe backlight issues. The worst I've ever seen.
I also received units which had dust particles behind the screen which look like dead pixels but move a bit if you repeatedly tap at them.
I went through 3 replacements before calling it quits. So 4 monitors total, each with dust under screen and most had severe backlight issues.

A great monitor otherwise. Brilliant stand and build quality.

To be fair, mikeyfive, this is supposed to be a premium monitor. The regular selling price is £680. I did not expect it to have considerably worse backlight bleed than the £140 monitor it was replacing (also a Dell).

I do most of my movie/TV watching on my PC, so I find the backlight bleed very distracting unless the image is 16:9 and filling the entire screen. It's so close to being awesome, and I know we're getting these at a good discounted price, but the point still stands that when you're spending this kind of cash you expect better. I don't expect perfection when it comes to backlights, but I do expect better than this. I'm sure this will be an awesome monitor a few revs down the line, but it's a bit of a lottery whether you''ll get a good one at the moment.

As you say though, Dell's CS is great and the Distance Selling Regs are on our side, so it's not like anyone will be stuck with a monitor they're not happy with.

Oh yeah, the menu on this monitor is great. Simple to navigate, but with all the options you're likely to need. I like that you can customise 2 of the menu keys as custom shortcuts. As I have a PC and Xbox 360 hooked up to mine, I have the keys set up so I can quickly switch between DVI-D and VGA.

(edited)

Any 2560x1600s at this size?

16/9 kinda annoys me, especially with this size of screen who needs all that horizontal space?

Just got home late and mine was here. Probably should have left it until morning but was excited by the big box and slightly nervous about possible issues so decided to set it up. It's incredible, and a perfect panel with no dead pixels or bleed whatsoever. Am over the moon.

I bet the review units were hand picked though. There is no doubt that the panel itself is top notch mind you. If it weren't for this pesky bleed, I would consider this one of the best purchases I've made via Hot UK Deals.

That's good to know there are decent panels out there, mikeyfive, fingers crossed I receive one with the refurb..

I agree it's a shame that the quality is all over the place with these, hope monitor number 3 works out for you, funksoulbrother!

I'm going to see how much extra they will charge for a U2713H. That has uniformity correction built in. Now that I've used a 27" high res monitor, I really can't go back to a my old 22", lol.

I am going to order 2 of these and an Mac Mini quad core i7 that will work out cheaper than getting the 27" iMac with I7 upgrade.

evilradish

Why is this hot? Shows up for me as £626.40.... which is not far off the … Why is this hot? Shows up for me as £626.40.... which is not far off the norm?Read lessRead more

Apply the coupon: D1JP0M66DHWLVP

charlie12

I am also unsure. Concened about the backlight bleeding and ghosting … I am also unsure. Concened about the backlight bleeding and ghosting reports.I'm wondering if they will bring out a new version (same model, new A0x revision) next year that alleviates these issues. So I could buy now at the offer price, then have it swapped out if a new revision becomes available.Or just wait until next year and see what happens.The offer may be (at least in part) due to the reported issues.Can't decide!Read lessRead more

Same here, the backlight issues really put me off, even though it appears that Dell will replace them, it's just the hassle of going through the whole process, especially after reading K1ller Hornet's issues above. I get the feeling that next year we'll see a number of low-priced ultra-high resolution screens (excluding the Korean imports), so just can't decide whether I should wait or go for it...arrgh!

Ordered with the 40% off and free delivery.

I have a 24" dell 1920x1200 monitor here that I love - especially for the built in CF and SD card readers, but a bit more resolution and a dual monitor setup will be great.

The Monitor is immense to say the least, very happy so far on first fire-up. Windows 8 recognized the screen right from the off but I've done no other driver installs yet.

charlie12

Cool, let us know if you observe any of the reported issues - backlight … Cool, let us know if you observe any of the reported issues - backlight leakage, buzzing noise with a screen full of text, etc...Read lessRead more

Regarding back-light leakage I see none on at dark wallpaper only icon reflection at certain angles i.e. if program icons are around the edges. No humming only my tower fans I can hear... So far so good.

Kentaro

Does it come with a Dual-Link dvi cable?

Yes it does.

Thanks for checking. What is the manufacture date and revision? (A0x)

Mine says Rev A00 on the box with July 2012 else where for when it was built.

(edited)

famousfive

^ Same as above REV 00 and July 2012 Date.Really pleased with mine - … ^ Same as above REV 00 and July 2012 Date.Really pleased with mine - arrived this morning. Didn't appreciate difference between dvi dual adapter and DVI-D ... so in the market for a low profile pci-e card that can run two monitors - firstly this beast and then a std Dell 19' - any suggestions up to £100 - don't need it to run any games so not looking for the earth ...Read lessRead more

AMD 7750 would be sufficient:
scan.co.uk/pro…vi-

Time to test out Dells customer service...monitor is pretty great but I received a bad panel, 2 dead pixels and a cluster of four or five bright pixels! Hope I can get it replaced this week.

EDIT: cross hatching is visible on the lower portion of the monitor and some slight discolouration.
(edited)

Mine just arrived. I checked it for dead/lit pixels, but it's fine. There was some non-uniformity to the backlight, but the brightness was cranked up to 70 out of the box which made that worse. I've turned that down to 40 (which is still a bit too bright actually - need to adjust it properly in a bit) and it's fine.

Overall, I'm very pleased. The actual quality of the panel is much better than my old Dell TN panel. I just need to get used to the size now!

Just spoke to Dell and they will be replacing. They even tried to say a few dead pixels is normal..

For anyone who wants to do screen tests then follow the below streps:

1) unplug all cables from monitor apart from power cable
2) press the 1st and 4th button together
3) press the 4th button to rotate test screens

I actually found some light bleed when i got to the black screen.

I have the same problem with bottom left backlight bleed on mine too, but phoned Dell and they are sending out a replacement. Put through quickly on the phone, no excuses offered just apologies and a replacement, very helpful.

Everybody talking about this bleed got me thinking after a few days now what mine was like after a good look for some. What I did notice is my camera and what my eyes can see are totally different!! I do now see bleed on top left, bottom left and bottom right, but my camera did not pick up all of the bleed in some pictures on my (G S2 phone). I will want to try another panel at this price point but i go away in 2 days for 10 days for xmas and wondered if I can leave it (i.e. calling Dell Care Team) until I return, because no-one will be here to store a replacement for me I trust?

Dodger21

This bleed appears to me to be to do with the panel fitting inside the … This bleed appears to me to be to do with the panel fitting inside the outer cover, if you hold the corner and flex slightly the amount of bleed alters.Read lessRead more

Sure enough pressing the screen changes the amount of bleed, but let go and the normal bleed amount returns.

Here are my pictures of bleed (sat in darkness what my phone cam managed to pick up):

(P.s. my eyes see more than whats in these shots more like the 3rd shot.)

[image missing]

[image missing]

[image missing]

(edited)

My replacement monitor turned up this morning, but unfortunately it's got the same issue - bad bleed from the left side corners. This monitor was also manufactured in July.

I've got it mounted to a monitor arm and if I grab the bezel on both sides and gently twist it just a tiny amount, I can get the bleed to disappear, but as soon as I let go, it goes back to its original shape and the bleed comes back, which backs up what Dodger21 said above.

On another forum, someone else that bought one of these monitors said that when they spoke to Dell's CS, they said that they had identified an issue with these monitors that has been rectified in a later batch. However, when I asked about that yesterday, the guy didn't even respond - he just said "we will send you a new replacement". Perhaps I should have pushed that point a bit more.

I don't know what to do now. Both monitors look great as long as there's not a lot of black on the screen. If I'm watching a movie with black bars top and bottom, or something with a 4:3 aspect ratio so there's black bars at the sides, the bleed is very noticeable. Likewise with games where there are sections where you play at night/in the dark. I shouldn't have to put up with this, but then I'm wondering if I'm just going to keep receiving duds. I don't know whether to just get my money back and buy something else, or wait a few months until the issues with this particular monitor are ironed out.

@mikeyfive - I expect some backlight bleed with any monitor, but it's hard to tell how bad the issue is with photos. Some cameras can make the issue look a lot worse than it actually looks, especially when the photo is taken in low light. Some will make it look better than it looks in real life.

I didn't buy the monitor expecting no backlight bleed as that's just unrealistic, but there is clearly an issue with the panel being twisted/squeezed by the frame, because when you get a monitor with bad yellow bleed it can be fixed by giving the bezel a little twist - it's just unfortunate that it can't be fixed permanently like this.

I certainly don't think that these monitors are exhibiting backlight bleed that's considered normal, because otherwise people would be saying the same things about any monitor - budget or premium. Of the monitors I've used/owned, I've never seen any that have bleed as bad as this and when other monitors do have bleed, it's usually white light around the edge, not yellow bleed that spreads right out from the corner and covers a big chunk of the screen. Therefore, I don't think it's just people being picky - I think there is a genuine issue with the A00 revision of these monitors.

Now that I've tested this new one in the dark, I have to say it's not quite as bad as the first one, but it's still not what I would consider acceptable. I may just keep it and see if I can exchange it further down the line when these issues have been worked out though. I'm not sure what to do yet.

(edited)

i seem to have got lucky with mine as no visible backlight bleed at all

Just testing mine as I'm typing now (on out of the box settings), no dead / bright / defective pixels / sub pixels. very minor, and I mean standard IPS glow backlight bleed in bottom left hand corner, only noticeable when I pull the blinds down and use a black static screen, this bleed has no affect on any other colours than black. No cross hatching. All in all a pretty much perfect screen with a great AG coating, miles better than my old 2007fpw and my U2711 / 3011, the whites are so blindingly white, it's a dream for photo editing.
Manufacture date July 2012 Rev A00.
Very happy, will be keeping this screen 100%.
Thanks again to the OP, best thing I've bought off of HUKD in 2012.

P.S. Has anyone had their TCB cashback track yet?

I've been given a delivery date of Monday... Not expecting much but fingers crossed it'll be a miraculous improvement... Yeah right. No dead / bright pixels would be a nice start... I wake up in a cold sweat thinking about dead ****ing pixels, every monitor / TV / laptop / camera I ever buy seems to have dead pixels.

Oh well, maybe if this one is rubbish they'll offer me a u2711 instead even a u2713h if they're feeling generous. That'd be nice.
I have just bought a new Dell desktop to go with my new (broken) monitor so they should...

Kentaro

Second replacement monitor turned up today and unfortunately it had … Second replacement monitor turned up today and unfortunately it had several dead pixels! Let's go for round 3.The build date is August 2012 this time, the screen still exhibited cross hatching on the lower half of the screen but seemed a little subtler than the first monitor I had received but that's just judging it against memory. Btw, when your replacement arrived did the UPS man also take away the other monitor?Read lessRead more

Sorry to hear about more problems, mine is due to be delivered today via UPS, and no they usually don't pick up at the same time, they gave me a pick up date for the first defective monitor of the 7th January.
Good luck with your next replacement...

What about people who don't have phones capable of showing the dead pixels? I know my phone won't be able too, picture quality far too bad. Guess dell would tell you to screw yourself. I'm STILL waiting for my replacement, its been "shipped" aka in dell's warehouse for 3 business days for whatever reason. I was told I would get it today at the latest by the guy I talked too on the phone to make the replacement and It still hasn't been given to UPS. So I have to wait till Wensday at the least due to new years. Pathetic service tbh, If the new one is faulty also, I'm going to have a hard time asking for another replacement over telling them go screw themselves and give me my money back....

The saga continues.....

I had been dealing with a customer service agent at Dell via email. When I got my third monitor (the scratched one I mentioned a page or two back), I emailed him about it and included the photo of the scratch. I got no reply after a couple of days, so I emailed him twice more. Still no reply. Yesterday I got an email from him saying that he'd been trying to call me. He asked when was a good time to call, so I said between 3 and 5 PM today.

The guy called me today and said that he would have to pass my case on to the customer care department. He said he would put me on hold while he speaks to them, then he would transfer me. I was on hold for about 10 minutes and then I was finally put through. The guy in the customer care department said he would have to put me on hold while he looks at my case, lol, so I was on hold for another 3-4 minutes.

The customer care guy seemed to be concerned about the second replacement monitor being scratched. He said that he was going to contact UPS (the courier) and give them 2 days to respond. He was trying to imply that the monitor that Dell sent out was brand new and that someone from UPS had opened it and must have scratched it. He said that Dell always send brand new, unopened monitors out as replacements, although this does not match up with what the tech support guy said, nor what I've read on forums. I told him that, and he said it sounded "strange". He said that he would call me on Monday next week to let me know what UPS said and to arrange yet another replacement monitor. I said that I believe these monitors to be inherently faulty by design, so while I appreciate the level of customer service, I felt that it was a waste of time to keep sending out the same model/revision of monitor. He said that he was not technically trained and could not comment on that.

I think when he calls on Monday, I'm going to ask for this issues to be escalated. I want to either wait until a new revision of the monitor comes out, then get a replacement, or I am happy to pay the difference between this model and the U2713H assuming that does not suffer from the same problems. This particular make and revision of monitor is a lemon as far as I'm concerned though, and playing the "I hope I get a good one" lottery is just not working.
(edited)

Have you read the TFT Central review of the U2713H, mikey? A quote from it: -

The luminance uniformity of the U2713H was not great sadly. The centre of … The luminance uniformity of the U2713H was not great sadly. The centre of the screen was notably brighter than the edges where the luminance dropped down to 93 cd/m2 minimum in the top left and right hand regions (-28% deviance). Only ~25% of the screen was within 10% deviance of the central point which wasn't great. Given the high cost and market position of this screen we had hoped for me in terms of luminance uniformity.Read lessRead more

It has a uniformity compensation feature, but on that they say: -

The added uniformity compensation feature seemed to do nothing at all … The added uniformity compensation feature seemed to do nothing at all either.Read lessRead more

This is another rev A00 product that may not be ready for prime time.

Wish I ordered one now.

Paid £460 for an ASUS 2560x1400 & it has so many defective pixels.
Now I gotta go through the chore of returning the display and possibly getting a replacement.

Why is it so difficult for me to get a nice high resolution monitor, with height/tilt/rotate adjustment features and have zero pixel defects or dust under the screen for a reasonable price (<£500).
First world problems.

My 4th replacement was a Dec version A01. This was perfect... There is very mild light bleed and unless i look for it then i dont see it.

Dell gave me 4 options:
1) refurb U2711
2) 29" ultra widescreen
3) refund

I asked for the U2713H and they asked me to pay extra £300 which i told them where to go. Instead i said send me the latest revision you have and i got this Dec one.

You should try to ask for that.

No pixel faults. Yes there is still mild crosshatching.

I think its going to be a few more revisions later before they get rid of all issues. But its a damn site well better screen.

Im happy now.. But has been stressful.

We get 3 yrs warranty anyway. When the screen degrades. Just give them a shout for a replacement.

Although we all complain about Dell customer service, at least we get 3 years warranty.

Just a quick up date to say, the cashback came through on this yesterday after lodging a claim with TCB (well it's confirmed anyway).

Claim went in about a week after it was posted as a deal, amount showing is Just over £36

My TCB for this has now become payable.
(edited)

4 months since purchase and nothing from Quidco either.

mikeyfive

Exactly. When you put your claim in you have to put your Dell GBxxxxxx … Exactly. When you put your claim in you have to put your Dell GBxxxxxx order number in so they know we've bought the monitors. Just seems like they pay some and not others. Not really fair is it? We've both spent a fair bit of money on Dell gear.Read lessRead more

Well there may be hope yet.

Had a discussion with one of the Quidco Premium Chat folks that mentioned that the estimated payment date for my claim is 5/5/2013.

It takes 4 months from the date of the claim (which was 14.01.2013) in order for them to pay out.

But obviously subject to change by the retailer.

My Quidco has finally confirmed today - should be paid in the next week or so - I received £33.59.

No luck either on my end. Can't count the number of times I've badgered the quidco support team about it, all they'd say is "soon".

Think we'll get it when the next deal for a newer version/model happens....