Congrats too from this camper on getting a nice panel. I just spent the last few weeks ignoring iMacs due to my frustration with this silly issue, but now I'm sort of thinking it might be time to try again. BTW - the 20" was perfect for me, too.
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Panel Question imac 20'' (2009)
- Thread starter tms568
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Congrats too from this camper on getting a nice panel. I just spent the last few weeks ignoring iMacs due to my frustration with this silly issue, but now I'm sort of thinking it might be time to try again. BTW - the 20" was perfect for me, too.
Thanks for posting. So...did you check the panel numbers on the other iMacs you own? Just out of curiosity, if you have iMacs with different panels, do you see any subjective differences in panel quality? Thanks.
I seriously don't know. How do you tell? What program are you using to find out? Let me know and I will let you know.
Hi, sorry for being late in posting, I didn't realize this thread was still going.
2007 20" iMac
Warranty card details: iMac 20"/2.0GHZ/1GB/250GB/SD/AM/BT
*MA876J/A*
*W873109JX85*
Panel number (from Terminal) LM201WE3_TLF1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 20" iMac
Warranty card details: iMac 20"/2.66GHZ/2GB/320GB/SD/AP/BT
*MB324J/A*
*W881269EZE3*
Panel number (from Terminal) LM201WE3_TLF1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 20" iMac
Warranty card details: iMac 20"/2.66/2GB/320/SD/MSE/KB
*MB417J/A*
*W89069X40TF*
Panel number (from Terminal) M201EW02 VF
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As for noticing any difference in quality between the three panels;
I'm no expert but the 2007 and 2008 models have slightly poorer quality (faded lower/darker upper screen) than the 2009 model.
Looking from the sides all three panels seem to show the same amber darkening effect, though it is a little less obvious on the 2009 model.
Looking straight at the screens, however, I can see no discernable difference.
To sum up; the 2009 (M201EW02 VF) looks somewhat superior, if I use it from a standing or lying position with my head tilted to the far right or left of the computer.
Cheers.
just to sum up:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/content/6bit_8bit.htm#8bit TN
The two models in question on the 2009 models are a AUO panel and a LG. The model number are as follows. M201EW02 VF and a LM201WE3.
Here are the specs for both. Now the VF isn't listed. But I am going to list all the AUO 2009 models in production. On the ifixit.com teardown article it states that the panel that they had four back lights, and a production date of 2009.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iMac-20-Inch/658/2
Most likely the "VF" is actually the "C" model. Notice that all the AUO panels are all 8-bit. What the 'VF' stands for as opposed to the "C' I don't know, maybe it is Apple specific.
Most likely the "VF" is actually the "C" model. Notice that all the AUO panels are all 8-bit. What the 'VF' stands for as opposed to the "C' I don't know, maybe it is Apple specific. The 'C' probably stands for Color, as in "HiColor Technology". This technology uses improved CCFL and LED backlighting for improved color gamuts. This is just speculation of coarse, but it makes sense, and the specs fit.
http://www.auo.com/auoDEV/technology.php?sec=HiColor
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/en/data/m...br=&cr=&va=&rt=&int=&dim=&pwr=&blt=&wei=&coa=
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/en/data/m...br=&cr=&va=&rt=&int=&dim=&pwr=&blt=&wei=&coa=
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/content/6bit_8bit.htm#8bit TN
The two models in question on the 2009 models are a AUO panel and a LG. The model number are as follows. M201EW02 VF and a LM201WE3.
Here are the specs for both. Now the VF isn't listed. But I am going to list all the AUO 2009 models in production. On the ifixit.com teardown article it states that the panel that they had four back lights, and a production date of 2009.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iMac-20-Inch/658/2
Most likely the "VF" is actually the "C" model. Notice that all the AUO panels are all 8-bit. What the 'VF' stands for as opposed to the "C' I don't know, maybe it is Apple specific.
Most likely the "VF" is actually the "C" model. Notice that all the AUO panels are all 8-bit. What the 'VF' stands for as opposed to the "C' I don't know, maybe it is Apple specific. The 'C' probably stands for Color, as in "HiColor Technology". This technology uses improved CCFL and LED backlighting for improved color gamuts. This is just speculation of coarse, but it makes sense, and the specs fit.
http://www.auo.com/auoDEV/technology.php?sec=HiColor
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/en/data/m...br=&cr=&va=&rt=&int=&dim=&pwr=&blt=&wei=&coa=
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/en/data/m...br=&cr=&va=&rt=&int=&dim=&pwr=&blt=&wei=&coa=
Pure speculation.
You have no idea if this is 6 or 8 bits. Why persist is spreading this rumor. Keep trying to get the facts and then post. I know you have tried, but if you keep digging you may find the answer eventually.
Oh same as me. I guess it is normal. Seems like they turned up the fans on the new ones.
Does your optical drive make a sound every once in awhile like it is activating or "parking" itself?
I usually hear mine once or twice in 30 minutes. And that is with no disc in it. Wife noticed it too so it is not subtle. It last a second or two.
Oh and CR gave the 20" display an "excellent" rating.
How are you coming to that conclusion? Is this even up for debate at this point? Really.
I provided more than enough facts.
Here are all the 2009 panels in production by AUO currently with the model designation M201EW02. As of note, they don't make any other 20.1 panels with a different model number that are TN that are 6-bit. I have given you all the models with the designations of M201EW02. None of which are a 6-bit panel. AUO has not even made a 6bit panel of the 20' variety in over two years.
AUO has been making TN 8-bit panels for awhile now, they even have some that are "out of production' or obsolete. Here are all the AUO 20.1 panels past and present.
http://www.flatpanel-online.com/Displaze_se/Filter/PanelFilter.php?page=1&srt=
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/en/data/m...int=&dim=&pwr=&blt=&wei=&coa=&showobsolete=on
This backs up this sites current production of AUO panels.
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/en/data/m...br=&cr=&va=&rt=&int=&dim=&pwr=&blt=&wei=&coa=
I more than provided enough evidence to back up my claims. Your ignoring the facts when you have no facts to back up your own.
Find me a M201EW02 6-bit panel. Anywhere. Better yet, find me a 20.1 AUO panel in production that is 6-bit period.
Like I said before I even called AUO. They claimed that they did not "have a 2009 panel that used dithering'. This is their claim and I have no doubt judging on the info provided that they are wrong.
Add to the fact that the ifixit.com teardown had a production year of 2009 and "four back lights'. Same as the " M201EW02 VC' AUO panel.
What is more plausable?
The info I gave above? or
Are you saying that a special AUO panel number with the designation of M201EW02 is a 6-bit panel, even though none exist on AUO's website and or any website for that matter and that Apple would use a inferior panel and not the latest technology for their imacs when a better one is available from AUO. And that AUO would use a outdated technology that they did not use for several years just for Apple? Does that even make sense?
This debate is squashed. Nothing to even debate at this point. If you want a better panel take your chances and get a 2009 imac that has a AUO panel. Get over it bro, the LG panel is 6-bit the AUO is 8-bit. That is just the way it is. You have a 6-bit panel. It is still a good panel. Not as good as a 8-bit panel. No big deal.
Yes and yes. If I am not mistaken the 2009 models also have a improved optical drive. According to this they are twice as fast. This may be the culprit to the noise.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...inum-early-2008-penryn-early-2009-models.html
You can not find your model number right?
You assume that because AUO only listed 8 bit versions in the series that begins with the same numbers as yours that your's must also be 8 bits.
Is this a reasonable assumption? Yes, I think so, and you may very well have an 8 bit panel as you said. But you don't know for sure. Speculation is not a bad thing. It's fun to try to guess at things like this, and you have done a good job digging for evidence, but in the end you should not call it fact until you have proof.
Like I said, pure speculation. There is no debate.
Sounds like rjp is giving you (iamthedudeman) a taste of your own medicine, for in the beginning of this thread you refused to admit it's a TN panel without some kind of hard proof on paper despite my educated guess based on observations and known facts.
And rjp is acting like trip1ex in the beginning of the thread.
I think I noticed this when I was ripping a DVD. It seemed to go faster. I was thinking it was just the faster cpu.
Too bad optical discs on their way out though.
I am thinking of doing away with DVDs. And converting everything to H.264 on my hard drive. Even ordered 2 1 TBs the other day. I'm going to put one in my imac and use the external for backup.
And this goes to show that relying blindly on CR's judgment and recommendations is not always smart, for CR could have happened to obtain the model with the "excellent" AUO panel and there will be 2009 20" customers who end up with the "very good" LG panel.
Just 5 more posts till 200!
The 20 is excellent! At least mine was. And I had the mere 6-bit version;-)
That's the point, isn't it?....which 20" panel is "great/excellent"? For the two panels in question, people on this forum have used adjectives ranging from 'good' to 'gorgeous'. For Average Joe Consumer, of course, one person's good might be another person's gorgeous. But, IMO CR's quality rating change seems to fit people's general descriptions of the LG/AUO panels, even if CR didn't state which panel their test iMac was equipped with.
Just curious - how does one come up with that command string information? Are things like that on Apple support web site? It seems a little complex to have come up with on your own. What was the source? Thanks.
It's the standard UNIX language, familiar to anyone who knows the language. I'm not fluent in it but I got it from someone through googling.
I never refused it being a TN panel, I said I didn't think it was actually did not care if it was, but if it was it was a good one. Look up my post.
We have the model of the panel. The model is a AUO M201EW02 there is no speculation there. The VF does not make it "not' a M201EW02 model panel. The "VF' may stand for something Apple specific, or simply refer to a supplier of a part, but all M201EW02 panels are all 8bit. That is a fact, regardless of what designation it has after the model number. The "VF' as opposed to V8 or VC or V0 does not change the fact that the panel is of the M201EW02 model family.
The is no M201EW02 6-bit panels. They don't exist. AUO has not made a 6-bit panel at 20 inches in over two years. They have obsolete 8bit panels.
RJP is confusing the fact that the "VF' makes it a different panel, which is simply not the case. We don't know how different the VF is opposed to the VC lr V8 or V0 but we do know that they are all M201EW02 AUO panels. And there for 8-bit. Regardless.
As the saying goes "show me the money'. Show me one M201EW02 AUO panel that is 6-bit. Than you might be onto something.