Gateway FPD2485W: 24" LCD Beauty or Beast?
by Jarred Walton on February 22, 2007 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
Specifications
From the previous page, it's probably apparent that manufacturer specifications don't necessarily mean a whole lot. In some cases, the numbers appear to be purely for marketing purposes, and the importance and accuracy of the quoted figures are often suspect. Before we get to our measured values, however, let's take a look at the manufacturer specifications.
The FPD2485W is a 24" LCD, and many of the features are similar to competing models. As expected, the native resolution is 1920x1200, and most of the other specifications are similar to other recent 24" LCDs. Brightness, contrast ratio, pixel response time, and viewing angle are what we'd expect to find in a good-quality LCD, but we will wait until we do some actual testing to say whether it meets the specifications are not.
One of the nice aspects of this LCD is that you get a variety of connections. Dell's 24" LCD nearly matches the FPD2485W in terms of input possibilities, but Gateway goes one better by including two component video inputs. HDCP support is also included for the DVI input, which is one of the problems people face with older LCDs. While the display is clearly designed to function as a computer display first, it is also fully capable of functioning as a 1080i HDTV (as well as a 720p HDTV), although you will need to provide your own speakers or purchase the optional speaker bar.
1080p support is present if you use the DVI or VGA ports, but the component video appears to be limited to 1080i support. Users hoping to hook up an Xbox 360 to this display will likely be disappointed with the lack of 1080p support over component video, but at least they can still use a VGA adapter. PS3 users on the other hand would want to use an HDMI to DVI adapter to get 1080p support; the problem with using the DVI port that way is that it's more likely you would want to have your computer using the DVI input.
The LCD panel is an S-PVA active matrix TFT, which is again similar to what many other 24 inch LCDs are using. There aren't all that many LCD panel manufacturers, so the display manufacturers will often use the same base panel. Backlighting and signal processing can still utilize different components, however, which can affect various aspects of the display. The Gateway FPD2485W uses a Faroudja DCDi signal processor, which is one of the more respected brands.
One area that is definitely important to a lot of people when looking at LCDs is the warranty/replacement policy. Unfortunately, here the Gateway LCD doesn't fare as well. It comes standard with a one-year limited warranty with the option to purchase a two-year extended warranty (three years total) for an additional $30. That warranty will cover problems with the backlight and panel up to a point. What the warranty doesn't cover to a large extent is stuck pixels. While it is unusual to get a display with more than one or two stuck pixels these days, there's always a risk, and some companies offer a 30 day guarantee that there will be no pixel defects. Gateway takes a more lenient approach and will only replace panels if there are ten or more total stuck pixels, or three stuck pixels clustered within a one-inch area. For a 24" display, most people could probably live with a few defective pixels provided they aren't in the center of the display; up to eight or nine is quite a lot, and even though $700 isn't a lot to pay for a large LCD, anyone that purchases such a monitor only to discover several pixel defects is going to be disappointed.
If you're concerned about the warranty/replacement policy, it is also possible to find the Gateway FPD2485W at major electronics chains. By purchasing locally you should be able to either try out a display in person before buying it or else return it immediately if you discover a problem. If you purchase the display direct from Gateway, any repairs will also require you to pay for shipping the LCD back to Gateway. However, it may be possible to get on-site service if you purchase a display along with a Gateway computer. We spoke with customer service a few times regarding this and they could not give a definitive answer, so for now the best way to get local service is going to be purchasing locally.
From the previous page, it's probably apparent that manufacturer specifications don't necessarily mean a whole lot. In some cases, the numbers appear to be purely for marketing purposes, and the importance and accuracy of the quoted figures are often suspect. Before we get to our measured values, however, let's take a look at the manufacturer specifications.
| Gateway FPD2485W Specifications | |
| Video Inputs | Analog (VGA) Digital (DVI with HDCP support) (2) Component Composite S-Video |
| Panel Type | LCD Active Matrix TFT |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.270mm |
| Colors | 16.7 million |
| Brightness | 500 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Response Time | 6ms (gray to gray) |
| Viewable Size | 24" diagonal |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 |
| Viewing Angle | 178 vertical/horizontal |
| Power Consumption | 125W |
| Power Savings | 5W |
| Power Supply | Built-in |
| Screen Treatment | Antiglare |
| Height-Adjustable | Yes |
| Tilt | Yes |
| Rotation | Yes |
| Auto-Rotation | Yes |
| Swivel | No |
| VESA Wall Mounting | 100mmx100mm |
| Dimensions w/ Base (WxHxD) | 22.25"x17.5"x10.5" (lowered) 22.25"x22.5"x10.5" (raised) |
| Weight w/ Stand | 20 lbs |
| Dimensions w/o Base (WxHxD) | 22.25"x15.25"x2.75" |
| Weight w/o Stand | 15 lbs |
| Lamp Life | 50000 Hrs |
| Mtbf (excluding lamp) | 50000 Hrs |
| Approvals | UL, cUL, FCC Class B, NOM,CE, TUV/GS, VCCI, TCO'99 |
| Additional Features | (4) USB 2.0 (USB connection to PC required) |
| Audio | Optional Full-length Speaker Bar (Integrated power connection to main panel) |
| Limited Warranty | 1 year parts/labor 3 year parts/labor extended warranty available |
| Pixel Defect Policy | 10 or more total stuck pixels 3 or more clustered (one inch circle) |
The FPD2485W is a 24" LCD, and many of the features are similar to competing models. As expected, the native resolution is 1920x1200, and most of the other specifications are similar to other recent 24" LCDs. Brightness, contrast ratio, pixel response time, and viewing angle are what we'd expect to find in a good-quality LCD, but we will wait until we do some actual testing to say whether it meets the specifications are not.
One of the nice aspects of this LCD is that you get a variety of connections. Dell's 24" LCD nearly matches the FPD2485W in terms of input possibilities, but Gateway goes one better by including two component video inputs. HDCP support is also included for the DVI input, which is one of the problems people face with older LCDs. While the display is clearly designed to function as a computer display first, it is also fully capable of functioning as a 1080i HDTV (as well as a 720p HDTV), although you will need to provide your own speakers or purchase the optional speaker bar.
1080p support is present if you use the DVI or VGA ports, but the component video appears to be limited to 1080i support. Users hoping to hook up an Xbox 360 to this display will likely be disappointed with the lack of 1080p support over component video, but at least they can still use a VGA adapter. PS3 users on the other hand would want to use an HDMI to DVI adapter to get 1080p support; the problem with using the DVI port that way is that it's more likely you would want to have your computer using the DVI input.
The LCD panel is an S-PVA active matrix TFT, which is again similar to what many other 24 inch LCDs are using. There aren't all that many LCD panel manufacturers, so the display manufacturers will often use the same base panel. Backlighting and signal processing can still utilize different components, however, which can affect various aspects of the display. The Gateway FPD2485W uses a Faroudja DCDi signal processor, which is one of the more respected brands.
One area that is definitely important to a lot of people when looking at LCDs is the warranty/replacement policy. Unfortunately, here the Gateway LCD doesn't fare as well. It comes standard with a one-year limited warranty with the option to purchase a two-year extended warranty (three years total) for an additional $30. That warranty will cover problems with the backlight and panel up to a point. What the warranty doesn't cover to a large extent is stuck pixels. While it is unusual to get a display with more than one or two stuck pixels these days, there's always a risk, and some companies offer a 30 day guarantee that there will be no pixel defects. Gateway takes a more lenient approach and will only replace panels if there are ten or more total stuck pixels, or three stuck pixels clustered within a one-inch area. For a 24" display, most people could probably live with a few defective pixels provided they aren't in the center of the display; up to eight or nine is quite a lot, and even though $700 isn't a lot to pay for a large LCD, anyone that purchases such a monitor only to discover several pixel defects is going to be disappointed.
If you're concerned about the warranty/replacement policy, it is also possible to find the Gateway FPD2485W at major electronics chains. By purchasing locally you should be able to either try out a display in person before buying it or else return it immediately if you discover a problem. If you purchase the display direct from Gateway, any repairs will also require you to pay for shipping the LCD back to Gateway. However, it may be possible to get on-site service if you purchase a display along with a Gateway computer. We spoke with customer service a few times regarding this and they could not give a definitive answer, so for now the best way to get local service is going to be purchasing locally.
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jbr65n - Friday, March 14, 2008 - link
I purchased this monitor 11/2007. In 2/2008, the monitor completely died. I called Gateway and they refused to send me a new monitor. they would only send a refurb. (customer service reps were nasty, arrogant, and rude, when you do not agree with them they hang up on you).The second monitor did not work right out of the box, none of the touch control buttons lit up and they did not work, I had no way to turn the monitor on or off.
They sent a third refurb unit, and again, right out of the box, the backlight kept turning off, I would have to cycle the power several times to get it to come back on and then it would only stay on for a few seconds. Tech support said they would take back the monitor and the speaker bar add-on (since the speaker only worked on this one monitor) and refund my money for both. He transferred me to customer service to process the refund and returns and they changed there mind and said they will not give a refund. When I asked how long this was going to go on, there reply was "until I get a unit the works"
In all fairness, this is a nice monitor, but three bad ones in a row, and there lack of proper customer service, is enough to make anyone think twice!
timelag - Saturday, March 10, 2007 - link
Thanks, Jarred, for the informed review. A selfish request--could you review the current Dell, Apple, and Samsung 23/24" LCDs? A friend is in the market in the next couple months and I am buying before the end of the year. From what little looking I've done, these seem to be the best candidates so far for hobbyist photo work (and movie viewing, game playing, web browsing...).strikeback03 - Monday, March 5, 2007 - link
I purchased this monitor over the weekend at a local Best Buy. Here are my results from calibrating with the Pantone/greatagmacbeth Eye-One Display 2 colorimeter using the Eye-One Match 3.6.1 software.First I calibrated according to their instructions, which include driving the contrast to 100%. I had to go into user color and lower each color channel to 59 (default was 100) to get the brightness down. The brightness meter stated that it was at the target 120 cd/m^2, though the results show differently. Here are the results for the calibration:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...
And here is the validation results as an image of an Excel page. The Eye-One software does not give an easy way to directly export a graph, so colors tested are labeled by both RGB and Lab color values. Dunno how these compare to the values the Monaco Optix package uses, but by it's tests the results were quite good.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...
As the fist image shows though, the colorimeter was doing a lot of adjustment at the dark end of the spectrum, and video suffered from crushed blacks. So I tried changing brightness and contrast until video looked good, then recalibrating. Settings used here were brightness of 76 (with individual color channels still set to 59) and contrast of 60.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...
Much less work is being done to dark colors now, video looks good, and the dE is even lower now:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/strikeback0...
Brightness is still a little higher than recommended, but not much above what turned out following their procedure exactly.
Ferris23 - Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - link
I have this display and love it, but something I like to know about all my displays is how to access the service menu. Usually there are extra options that allow even more fine tuning with color etc...Do you have any connections that would be able to tell you the way to enter a service menu on this display?
Gateway "tech support" has no idea what I am asking and just send me spec sheets or links to what the OSD looks like.
JarredWalton - Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - link
Not sure what more could be done to fine tune the display. If you go to the user settings you can adjust RGB colors, but being an LCD it doesn't really make a difference whether you do that on the LCD or in the Windows drivers. They both end up accomplishing the same thing. I have never looked into "hidden service menus" on any of the LCDs I've used, I'm sorry to say.gandergray - Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - link
Jared:Thank you for the review. I'm very pleased that you will be reviewing monitors again. In your future LCD display reviews, I suggest that you identify the manufacturer and model of LCD panel in the monitor, and continue to identify the manufacturer and model of the signal processing chipset (you did in this review), as in Kristopher's November, 2003 "Dell UltraSharp 2001FP Preview: Gaming LCDs for the Masses" review. Finding information about an LCD monitor's panel and chipset is difficult at best. I suspect that many enthusiasts would often consider the panel type, brand and model when choosing monitors, if that information was readily available. In fact, I frequently read discussions about the merits of S-IPS panels over S-PVA panels. Additionally, would you also alert readers when a monitor manufacturer uses different types of panels in the same monitor, i.e., model. This practice is disconcerting; Consumers simply can't be certain that the specific model that they purchase will have a specific panel. I believe that a vocal outcry would eliminate or substantially reduce this practice.
Gandergray
gandergray - Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - link
My apologies-- Jarred.Googer - Monday, February 26, 2007 - link
Gateway offers a $29 extended three (3) year warranty for the FPD2485W making it the same as the Dell 2407WFP for $40 less.
JarredWalton - Monday, February 26, 2007 - link
The Dell is currently (or was last week) $675 with the three year warranty. The Gateway is $680 + $30 for a 3-year warranty. So right now, the Dell is clearly less expensive. If the price of the Dell goes back up (which is almost certainly will at some point), things change a bit.larciel - Friday, February 23, 2007 - link