[dante21]

While i’m making up my mind (yes, i’m one of those people who gets overwhelmed and takes ages to make a decision), i wanted to thank you for your kind replies and for your patience

Your links to the products don’t take me directly to them on Amazon (Amazon.es in this case, since it is the closest to me. Would order from the UK, but you know…Brexit), but instead to a page with multiple monitors of that brand

So i’m gonna Paypal you instead. It’s not much, but it is with good will

[PCM2]

I appreciate the kind words and support. 🙂

[dante21]

I still don’t fully understand the relation between color depth and number of colours a monitor supports

For example, the Dell S2722QC (and the older model) has 1.07 billion colours and 8bit+FRC

The Gigabyte M27Q supports 16 million colours and also 8bit + FRC

What does that difference mean in practing, since none of them have true 10bit?

[PCM2]

It means absolutely nothing unless the content is specifically 10-bit, as I covered in my previous reply. For games under SDR, they’re 8-bit and 10-bit isn’t used or useful. For HDR content 10-bit is always used – how that is achieved varies between monitors but the end result is much the same. There are 3 ways that ’10-bit’ can be achieved on a monitor:

– Via the panel. This is often the specified bit-depth, so on the M27Q that is 8-bit without dithering. On the S2722QC that’s 8-bit + FRC dithering (=10-bit). This has to be specifically selected in the graphics driver (not possible on consoles) for SDR and is automatically used for HDR if bandwidth allows it to be. If you select 10-bit in the graphics driver and the content is 8-bit, it confers no advantage.

– Via dithering on the scaler. This is very similar to panel dithering and allows models with 8-bit panels, like the M27Q, to run 10-bit with the same conditions attached as with panel dithering.

– Via dithering on the GPU or ‘graphics chip’. This is used where there isn’t enough bandwidth to support panel or scaler dithering. Usually reserved for HDR and not selectable for SDR. It works very well and is visually very similar to monitor-side dithering.

Again, this means nothing to your experience in games because they’re 8-bit anyway. Except under HDR, where 10-bit will be used and however it is achieved will look as it should.

[dante21]

So the Dell doesn’t actually have 1.07 billion colours just by itself, like a true 10bit panel would.

I think i get it now

[PCM2]

8-bit + FRC is still 10-bit and on the S2722QC that is entirely achieved on the panel. Hence you can still call what it uses a 10-bit panel. The only difference between that and a ‘true 10-bit’ model is that true 10-bit models wouldn’t use any dithering to get there. Dithering on an 8-bit + FRC model (however it is achieved) is extremely common compared to ‘true 10-bit’ and the difference it actually makes is difficult to detect. Because it’s very finely controlled. That isn’t always the case for 6-bit + FRC monitors, which people usually have (or should have) in mind when thinking about dithering and possible negative effects. I appreciate some people prefer ‘true 10-bit’ and that dithering isn’t used regardless of how well-implemented that dithering may be, however.

[dante21]

Alright

Just ordered the Dell S2721QS, since it’s almost like its successor and i can just buy a cheap USB hub

Saved 100€

Hope i don’t regret not buying the BenQ EX2780Q or the Gigabyte M27Q ahah

Let’s see how big of a difference does it make compared to my Samsung 1080p VA

[PCM2]

Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

[dante21]

Got any tips or recommendations on how to get the best out of it?

[PCM2]

Just the same sort of advice I’d give in the calibration section of the S2722QC review. But you need to make changes according to your own preferences and unit. It’s definitely not one size fits all with these things – even if considering the same model, which you’re not in this case. Don’t be tempted to change contrast, as usual for monitors the default setting is optimal – but do have a play with brightness. Also start with a low setting there, try to get used to it and increase it gradually. People can often cope with a lower brightness level than they think once their eyes adjust. That can benefit you in reducing ‘IPS glow’, reduce power consumption plus heat output and (provided it’s suitable for your room conditions) potentially aid viewing comfort. And definitely stick to the ‘Normal’ response time settins, unless you really don’t mind overshoot.

[dante21]

“*10-bit can be selected in the graphics driver when using a DP signal at any refresh rate, up to the native resolution. 10-bit and 12-bit can be selected when using HDMI at up to 30Hz for the native resolution. Or at up to 60Hz for lower resolutions such as WQHD and Full HD. 12-bit includes an additional 2-bit dithering stage added by the monitors scaler”

Dell review

This means no 10bit at 4K60 through HDMI?

[PCM2]

Correct, due to bandwidth limitations no scaler or panel dithering is added so no 10-bit for SDR. And from the HDR section:

“The HDR10 pipeline makes use of 10-bits per colour channel, which is supported on the monitor via 8-bit + FRC for DP with the monitor handling the dithering. 8-bit + GPU dithering is used via HDMI at 60Hz, for bandwidth reasons. We’ve carefully observed a range of content (including fine gradients) on a broad range of monitors where 10-bit is supported monitor side (usually 8-bit + FRC) and where the GPU handles the dithering under HDR. Including comparisons with a given model where the monitor handles the dithering at some refresh rates and the GPU handles it at others. Regardless of the method used to achieve the ’10-bit’ colour signal, the visual output at the end of it all is very similar…”

[dante21]

How much worse is the HDR10 on this one compared to other models with Display HDR 400?

[PCM2]

DisplayHDR 400 has incredibly loose certification criteria. I’d actually say HDR on the S2722QC is better than some models with VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, but that’s really not saying much. It exceeds the minimum (400 cd/m²) luminance specification for DisplayHDR 400 and has a wider gamut than some models that are specified as DisplayHDR 400 such as the XB253Q GP. The EX2780Q and M27Q offer a superior colour gamut, though. I’d advise reading through the HDR sections of the reviews and perhaps watch the relevant sections of video reviews, as I explain in quite some detail exactly what you should expect from the monitors in that respect.

[dante21]

Got it

Biggest difference is not resolution, as i thought it would be

It’s the responsiveness and lack of smearing. Be gone, dark evil

Colors look more vibrant too, everything looks more colorful.

HDR modes are all awful, in my opinion. It’s like just a yellowish filter that makes everything look pale

Now, i had a HDMI to optical out splitter, but it only supported 1080p
The new one i want to buy mentions Hdcp 2.2, but the PS5 says 2.3

Will it make a difference, going from Hdcp 2.3 to 2.2?

Another thing: the back plastic panel had like some little imperfections on one spot. At least i think that’s what it is. It’s not scratched

https://i.postimg.cc/VNHFLhtV/IMG-20220505-152125.jpg

Think this is reason enough to return it?

[PCM2]

Glad you’re enjoying the S2722QC‘s cousin (S2721QS), overall. HDCP and splitters etc. really aren’t my area, but with HDCP it’s a handshake thing rather than something that affects quality – it will either get a signal or won’t based on that. As for the marks on the rear, have you tried rubbing them with a damp cloth? If they persist then I guess it’s up to you whether you’d want to return the monitor for that reason or not. If the rear just faces the wall and you feel you can just forget about the issue then I’d just keep hold of it.

[dante21]

yeah, i tried

actually, it had more. some have come off, others didn’t. it’s not a huge deal, just a minor gripe.

[PCM2]

It appears that 1440p support is finally coming to the PS5. Currently being beta tested – https://blog.playstation.com/2022/07/28/ps5-beta-introduces-1440p-support-gamelists-and-more/.

Edit: Now officially supported.

[dante21]

well, a welcome feature, but too late for me

how does 1440p look on a 27″ 4k? Also, wonder if supersampling is worth it over 4K

[PCM2]

Supersampling, resolution scaling or ‘4K’ downsamping is never a substitute for an actual higher resolution and pixel density. But it can certainly give a crisper and more detailed look vs. the native resolution of the screen – sort of like having a very strong level of anti-aliasing not just at the edges but throughout the image. As for 1440p on a 27″ ‘4K’ monitor, it depends on the monitor – we cover this in the ‘interpolation and upscaling’ section of our reviews. If the monitor has good flexibility with its sharpness control it usually works pretty well. 🙂

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