Dell P2715Q and P2415Q 4K IPS Displays

[BootstrapRadio]

Pretty boring design - but smaller and lighter than my previous U2711.

Easy to setup - running @60Gz from PNY 680GTX (2Gb - unflashed) on a MacPro 5.1 8-code - came supplied with DP and USB cables long enough for my needs.

Running @ native - 3840x2160 - text is small but very usable.

Display quality great - not sure it's quite as good as my MBP but that may be the matt effect at work.

Anyhow, the real reason I picked this up is to get some good screen estate for Xcode development - and here's a screenshot to show what can be displayed (note this isn't even full screen) - I've put the code into normal presentation mode but I think I'd normally use smaller when I've got to grips with things. That storyboard is shown normal size not zoomed out.

Not bad for the price - I think it will make development a little easier.

Hey, looks like the image got thumbnailed (sort of), can you post more fullscreen shots of Xcode at full 4k resolution?

Also, it's been a few weeks since your original post in this thread, any problems with eyestrain from prolong use at that resolution?




I have a 32" 1440p benq monitor on way, debating if I should return it and go 28" 4k. But will only go 4k if that res is actually usable for long term (10hrs/day). I don't see the point of getting 4k then scalling down.

 

[edanuff]

I have a 32" 1440p benq monitor on way, debating if I should return it and go 28" 4k. But will only go 4k if that res is actually usable for long term (10hrs/day). I don't see the point of getting 4k then scalling down.

There are affordable 39" and 40" 4K monitors available now that are meant for people who want to run 4K unscaled. At that size the DPI pixel density is the same as a Thunderbolt Display and will be easy to view for extended periods of time with lots of screen real estate. 27" and 24" 4K monitors and the software support for them is designed with some scaling in mind for best results.

 

[xav8tor]

Another update after more use...

Old news: I didn't address the wake from sleep issue because, after reading over on the Dell forums, it is a hit or miss, yet pervasive issue, not just with this monitor or on Macs alone. Those who have the problem may, or may not, solve the problem by changing menu settings or trying a different port or cable. It wakes fine after up to a few hours, but I did have it freeze up overnight.

Good news: One thing that has hit me is the Retina UI concept. I must say that, with Retina aware/optimized apps, text looks absolutely amazing letting OS X do its thing. For those of you who wear glasses, it is almost exactly like getting a new prescription/lenses after a long time. Things are just ridiculously sharp.

Bad news: Been on the oMP i/o nMP for the last day or so and noticed the "flicker" issue. I haven't seen it on the nMP, but on the oMP with Nvidia, every few minutes the screen will very briefly flash for a split second. Might try swapping cables soon. That has worked for a few people, or I think that is so anyway. Too much troubleshooting and not enough productive use configuring this setup, especially after upgrading to Yosemite for max. 4K support, cloning, new B/U's, tweaking the HORRIBLE Yosemite interface, etc. Unless you go into accessibility and make some slight adjustments, some of the 10.10 UI elements don't have enough contrast IMHO. Gray on gray on gray.

 

[VirtualRain]

I got my two P2715Q delivered and hooked up today.

I'm super impressed. I'm running my primary display in landscape and my secondary in portrait. Using one of these in portrait is borderline insane The vertical real-estate is over the top! It's ideal for editing portrait photos or browsing. The only problem is that it makes the text box which I'm typing this into on MacRumors seem ridiculously small now!

IMG_2635 by Virtual.Rain, on Flickr

Notes/Comments:

The fit and finish is excellent. The flexibility of the stand's adjustments and option for portrait mode makes my old Apple 24" LED displays seem very limited now.

The supplied cables are about 6' long which is plenty long enough for my setup. I'm driving them with my 2013 nMP with D500s and there's no performance issues that I can see.

I was concerned about the AG coating, but that's a total non issue. It's not distracting at all and of course cuts reflections so it might be a really good compromise.

I didn't see any physical defects before lighting them up and I can't see any stuck pixels either.

The included calibration report is very cool. It shows that both displays are extremely well setup across all the tests with Delta E under 1 in all but the left most "Grey1". And there's only a 1% variance in brightness uniformity across the frame.

They looked good out of the box (75 brightness, 75 contrast), but I like mine a bit brighter so I upped brightness to 85. Colours and contrast seem a bit better than my aging 24" Apple LED displays which isn't surprising.

A bit of IPS glow is noticeable on a dark background when off-axis, but these are much better than my old Apple 24" LED displays. Uniformity appears as good as the calibration report suggests.

The displays powered on in "Best for Display" 1920x1080 retina scaled but I quickly tried different scaling options. I'm using a scaled resolution of 3008x1692 (2nd highest option under "Scaled") and I'm impressed how sharp it is. The sharpness is really imperceptible from 2x retina scaling. The detail available with these 4K displays is stunning. Even the tiniest text is still incredibly sharp and this is a whole new world for editing photos.

For xav8tor who was complaining about accessing the native res, it's the right most option under the default scaled settings for me... you don't even need to "Option-click" the Scaled settings (See screen shots below). Option-clicking provides even more choices, like 3200x1800.

Wake from sleep works just fine so far. A cold boot with one in portrait seems to cause some bizarre display corruption issue so I don't see the login prompt. I have to unplug and replug the portrait display on my nMP to correct it and get the login screen to appear normally.

Overall, my first impression is that these are stunning and I can't go back to lower density displays ever again!

One interesting thing that goes against what someone else reported here, is that the display is recognized by OS X as a Dell P2715Q and it even has a colour profile (see screen shots below) which surprised me. Did OS X just create that on the fly or would that have come with a recent OS X update?

 

[xav8tor]

For xav8tor who was complaining about accessing the native res, it's the right most option under the default scaled settings for me... you don't even need to "Option-click" the Scaled settings (See screen shots below). Option-clicking provides even more choices, like 3200x1800.

And I'm still complaining. I have the exact same Mac running the 24 inch on 10.10.1. Best for display is 1080p HiDPI and for scaled, I just get the five buttons going from larger text to more space, the latter being "looks like" 3008x1692. Native rez is nowhere to be found without the option key, then it only appears as a scaled rez.

As I posted above, I get it with whole Retina idea, and like it in Retina optimized apps, but having bought this monitor because it is UHD (3840x2160) for UHD video/graphics, etc. purposes, I expected native resolution to be the default and not to have to hunt it down as a quasi-hidden option in a preference pane that makes no sense being labelled as scaled. Even in Win 8, as screwed up as it still is, at least display prefs behave as one would expect.

Maybe Apple does in fact look at screen size in "deciding" what to default to, and what scaling to offer sans the option key, the point being, native rez is not an option without the option key on the 24, at least on my setup. I've spoken with three different techs at Apple and they can't explain it either, other than, "it is what it is."

 

[VirtualRain]

Maybe Apple does in fact look at screen size in "deciding" what to default to, and what scaling to offer sans the option key, the point being, native rez is not an option without the option key on the 24, at least on my setup. I've spoken with three different techs at Apple and they can't explain it either, other than, "it is what it is."

I guess that's what Apple is doing... 4K at 24" hides the native resolution whereas 4K at 27" makes it more accessible. Strange.

 

[xav8tor]

I guess that's what Apple is doing... 4K at 24" hides the native resolution whereas 4K at 27" makes it more accessible. Strange.

I guess that's it, so I stand corrected on whether size matters! Personally, I'm loving the pixel density and overall, the display itself too. I'm thinking the issues I am having are OS X or AMD driver related. The flicker on my oMP, when I switch over to that one, may be the cable., or GPU compatibility (GTX 670), or Nvidia driver. Not sure. After an hour of further testing, no flicker on the nMP like yours, just the one prolonged wake from sleep problem.

Ref your question above, perhaps the Mac is getting the info from the display via the EDID info?

 

[edanuff]

perhaps the Mac is getting the info from the display via the EDID info?

Yes, the color profile is generated from the color gamma in the EDID, although I think there's also a color profile on the CD that came with the monitor. I haven't loaded that one up, so I don't know if it makes a difference. It appears from the different resolution choices that 24" and 27" users are getting that the Mac is also taking the display size from the EDID into consideration. There must be a DPI calculation that the Mac uses to figure out which options to present.

 

[scott.n]

Has anyone gotten the USB hub to work on this monitor yet? Mine doesn't, plugged into the Inateck USB 3 card on my Mac Pro.

Edited to add: the USB option on the Energy OSD menu is blacked out.

 

[rsneekes]

Has anyone gotten the USB hub to work on this monitor yet? Mine doesn't, plugged into the Inateck USB 3 card on my Mac Pro.

It works for me on a nMP, using it for my keyboard, wacom and the Dell Soundbar.

The only annoyance I have are the resized/repositioned windows when switching the monitor back on or when it resumes from sleep.

 

[scott.n]

It works for me on a nMP, using it for my keyboard, wacom and the Dell Soundbar.

The only annoyance I have are the resized/repositioned windows when switching the monitor back on or when it resumes from sleep.

Thanks for the reply. The hub seems to be working this morning. I've got my webcam plugged in and working, and flash drives, iPhone sync cables, etc are all recognized. The USB menu item is still blacked out, though. Odd.

 

[mcgroarty]

Those of you having issues with the windows moving about when waking from sleep:

1) Which Mac model are you using?
2) Is the Dell monitor the primary, secondary, or only monitor?

Also: Do any of you have configurations that don't have the problem?

So far I've only seen Mac Pro users report the problem in this thread and in https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1757688/

I'd love to use the P2415Q as a secondary display on my retina iMac, but not if I have to use Stay or similar to manage windows.

 

[VirtualRain]

Those of you having issues with the windows moving about when waking from sleep:

1) Which Mac model are you using?
2) Is the Dell monitor the primary, secondary, or only monitor?

Also: Do any of you have configurations that don't have the problem?

So far I've only seen Mac Pro users report the problem in this thread and in https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1757688/

I'd love to use the P2415Q as a secondary display on my retina iMac, but not if I have to use Stay or similar to manage windows.

I don't have the problem with my nMP and the only displays I have are the P2715Q (two).

 

[ra004e]

Those of you having issues with the windows moving about when waking from sleep:

1) Which Mac model are you using?
2) Is the Dell monitor the primary, secondary, or only monitor?

Also: Do any of you have configurations that don't have the problem?

So far I've only seen Mac Pro users report the problem in this thread and in https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1757688/

I'd love to use the P2415Q as a secondary display on my retina iMac, but not if I have to use Stay or similar to manage windows.

I have base 5k riMac, and there are no issues I've experienced with P2415Q as of yet with any configuration or scaled settings I've used. Was using the P2415Q as a secondary monitor before my son relieved me of it. He uses Windows 7 with AMD R280X and did mention the windows all collecting in corner after wake up, so not just an OS X issue with the monitor, as I mentioned this did not happen with 5k riMac.

If you don't mind the AG ( anti-glare ) coating it's an awesome monitor. For me sitting next to the 5k, the DSE ( dirty screen effect ) was too much ( my opinion and preference ). That being said I used the monitor mostly for text, if used for video or image editing then no issue at all. I found that the scaled resolution "looks like 2304x1296" matches riMac’s Best for display setting ( "looks like 2560x1440" ) and is still very usable. My perspective using P2415Q with riMac 5k.

 

[rdav]

Dell P2815Q UHD monitor going for $274. (TN/30Hz).

Dell 28" UHD Monitor P2815Q = $274 (in MS Xmas sale).
http://9to5toys.com/2014/12/16/25-o...e-hp-steam-7-bose-soundlink-fitbits-and-more/

Looks like Dell are clearing out the TN/30Hz models.
Could be a good sign.

The published "Market Value" is $599.
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...&cid=271303&lid=5009339&acd=12309189057360124

 

[mcgroarty]

With the previous Dell 24" 4k display (UP2414Q), it was necessary to enable DisplayPort 1.2 in the menu in order to get 60Hz support. But the monitor then didn't wake from extended sleep properly (eg., after sleeping a few hours) without being manually power cycled. Users had to choose between 30Hz with proper power saving support, or 60Hz and periodically manually power cycling the display. Was that fixed with these models?

Also, these models have mini DisplayPort out for chaining monitors. Has anyone tried a mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable to see if you can run a 1920x1080p display at the end of the chain? Can you do that at 60Hz, or would you have to drop to 30Hz on the Dell display to free the second channel?

 

[AppleDroid]

I don't have the problem with my nMP and the only displays I have are the P2715Q (two).

How is the uniformity? I'm used to my NEC 2690wuxi2 + spectra view for calibration which has been reliable for over 5 years now and after my limited one day use of a 2013 iMac (returned due to massive white shift to warm gray) I'm leery about anything non-NEC now.

 

[xelan]

I'm having a nasty "image memory" effect on my Dell U2713HM. When a window with pure white elements left open intact for about 30 mins then after you close it and open something with a gray background, you can clearly see color shift at the same spot where old white elements were.

Could anyone with P2715Q please verify that you don't have it. I would be very gratefull.

 

[xav8tor]

I'm having a nasty "image memory" effect on my Dell U2713HM. When a window with pure white elements left open intact for about 30 mins then after you close it and open something with a gray background, you can clearly see color shift at the same spot where old white elements were.

Could anyone with P2715Q please verify that you don't have it. I would be very gratefull.

I have the 24 not the 27, but I've had no issue there, and I've looked for it because it's been reported on other Dell monitors. You might want to check out the Dell monitor forum. Here's one thread:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19603856

----------

With the previous Dell 24" 4k display (UP2414Q), it was necessary to enable DisplayPort 1.2 in the menu in order to get 60Hz support. But the monitor then didn't wake from extended sleep properly (eg., after sleeping a few hours) without being manually power cycled. Users had to choose between 30Hz with proper power saving support, or 60Hz and periodically manually power cycling the display. Was that fixed with these models?

Also, these models have mini DisplayPort out for chaining monitors. Has anyone tried a mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable to see if you can run a 1920x1080p display at the end of the chain? Can you do that at 60Hz, or would you have to drop to 30Hz on the Dell display to free the second channel?

I had one failure to wake with the 24 as described in this thread. I just turn it off for now. Even the power button froze. Had to unplug.

Ref chaining, on the nMP, you have three TB Busses, so, not me. Connectivity and normal operation of 4K/UHD is, IMHO, still a little shaky, and I for one wouldn't even want to try it if another port was available, preferably another GPU/bus.


As for window resizing someone asked about, I think I've tracked that down, at least on my setup (nMP D-500, TB display and Dell 24" UHD) to mirror mode where you have a choice when using two monitors on 10.10.1. I can optimize for either the TB or UHD, and the other will respond to that resolution. If I moved things around, sleep, then wake...assuming it wakes up, as I recall, some things moved around on their own. Only happened a couple of times. Since I am rarely running mirror mode, I haven't seen it again.

 

[xelan]

I have the 24 not the 27, but I've had no issue there, and I've looked for it because it's been reported on other Dell monitors. You might want to check out the Dell monitor forum. Here's one thread:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19603856

Thank you! I hope P2715Q doesn't have it as well. I'm going to exchange my U2713HM for P2715Q just want to make sure it doesn't have same flaws.

 

[VirtualRain]

How is the uniformity? I'm used to my NEC 2690wuxi2 + spectra view for calibration which has been reliable for over 5 years now and after my limited one day use of a 2013 iMac (returned due to massive white shift to warm gray) I'm leery about anything non-NEC now.

The factory calibration sheets that came with my displays had uniformity within +/-1% and I believe it. It's very uniform.

----------

With the previous Dell 24" 4k display (UP2414Q), it was necessary to enable DisplayPort 1.2 in the menu in order to get 60Hz support. But the monitor then didn't wake from extended sleep properly (eg., after sleeping a few hours) without being manually power cycled. Users had to choose between 30Hz with proper power saving support, or 60Hz and periodically manually power cycling the display. Was that fixed with these models?

Also, these models have mini DisplayPort out for chaining monitors. Has anyone tried a mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable to see if you can run a 1920x1080p display at the end of the chain? Can you do that at 60Hz, or would you have to drop to 30Hz on the Dell display to free the second channel?

I can't comment on daisy chaining... But that sounds like a recipe for disappointment.

As for sleep issues, I've had no issues with getting the displays to come back after display sleep or computer sleep (either short duration of over night). The displays do take 5-10sec to light up after sleeping (vs my Apple LED displays which lit up instantly) but the do come back as expected.

 

[edanuff]

FYI, I also experience the wake-from-sleep monitor lockup one time as well. It's not the same wake from sleep issue that I've seen with other 4K monitors. In this case, it was the monitors themselves that locked up, the monitor power switches no longer worked and the monitor menu buttons didn't respond. Both monitors were affected at the same time, so I don't know what to make of it. What makes it particularly odd is that I had to unplug and replug the monitors to get them to snap out of it, restarting the computer didn't solve the problem.

 

[miografico]

I'm having a nasty "image memory" effect on my Dell U2713HM. When a window with pure white elements left open intact for about 30 mins then after you close it and open something with a gray background, you can clearly see color shift at the same spot where old white elements were.

Could anyone with P2715Q please verify that you don't have it. I would be very gratefull.

Did you recently purchase the U2713HM? I purchased one at the beginning of December, had image retention problems, sent it back and they sent a replacement monitor that was 100x worse. (That should have never passed QC) Both of mine had a manufacture date of Oct 2014 rev. a00.

I initiated a refund today and bought the P2715Q if this one has any panel defects then I am done with Dell Monitors.

I have my fingers crossed that the P2715Q doesn't give me similar headaches...

 

[xelan]

Did you recently purchase the U2713HM? I purchased one at the beginning of December, had image retention problems, sent it back and they sent a replacement monitor that was 100x worse. (That should have never passed QC) Both of mine had a manufacture date of Oct 2014 rev. a00.

I initiated a refund today and bought the P2715Q if this one has any panel defects then I am done with Dell Monitors.

I have my fingers crossed that the P2715Q doesn't give me similar headaches...

Yep, I purchased it at the beginning of December as well. It was manufactured on Oct 2014 and rev. a00. So I'm going to follow your path and return my U2713HM.
Let me know if you have a better luck with P2715Q when it arrives

 

[AppleDroid]

The factory calibration sheets that came with my displays had uniformity within +/-1% and I believe it. It's very uniform.

Great thanks for taking the time to reply.