Dell 3008WFP 30-inch monitor review roundup

The 3008WFP widescreen LCD, everyone's favorite, 30-inch, DisplayPort-rocking Dell monitor is up for review, and we've got a roundup to prove it. If you'll recall, the behemoth is the first Dell monitor to sport the emerging DisplayPort technology, and it also offers a fairly impressive set of other connectivity options, including dual DVI ports, HDMI, VGA, S-Video, component, and composite. The folks at Hot Hardware weren't totally stoked on the setup process, but loved the screen's performance and flexibility. The cats at Computer Shopper seemed pleased as well, though not head-over-heels in love, particularly with the high price tag and color / grayscale "weakness." CNET Australia had similarly high marks, praising the number of inputs, super-high resolution, and sheer size, though they took issue with the screen's reflectiveness, the need for a high-end graphics card, and gradient handling. Still, none of the minuses stopped them (and Hot Hardware) from bestowing their "Editor's Choice" award on the monitor. Don't take our word for it, though -- hit the links and see for yourself.

Read - Hot Hardware (Editor's Choice)
Read - Computer Shopper (8.0 out of 10)
Read - CNET Australia (8.9 out of 10)

[scott @ Jan 26th 2008 9:55AM]

I am also interested in this monitor and it was mentioned it would take a high end video card to run it. I currently have an ATI 9700 pro with dvi output but it is an AGP card. I am only interested in using the desktop normally with this device and using a ps3 for movies etc until upgrade machine

[scott @ Jan 26th 2008 10:09AM]

After doing some futher reasearch on this monitor I found an interesting article which some of you know about and I did not know as I have recently entered the HD nightmare for using the computer as a home entertainment center. I could not copy the link but a
Google search on "HDCP the graphic card and monitor nightmare" will bring up the link.

[Silverfrog @ Jan 4th 2008 10:10PM]

The need for a high-end graphics card is petty when you consider the monitor itself falls squarely into the luxury tier of pricing. Plus, those who want to sport a 30" monitor more than likely already have a high end graphics card.

[James Cameron @ Jan 5th 2008 1:52AM]

8ms response time. What a freaking joke. Even at 5ms, it ain't pretty at all. I'm a gamer and even at 6ms response time on my 24" Benq, I can see a very noticable ghosting. Now that's why I have dual monitor setup and damn glad that I haven't thrown away my CRT. I still have my 19" CRT viewsonic to play games. If you don't want to get your ass beaten, you better off using a CRT in fast action games.

[Kero @ Jan 5th 2008 3:03AM]

That's because your BenQ is a piece of shit

[Intrepid @ Jan 5th 2008 3:20AM]

I agree. Definately need Quad-SLI :P

And I think that the person impersonating James Cameron, or lucky enough to share his name, needs a newer and better monitor. That's crap.

[James Cameron @ Jan 5th 2008 4:46AM]

LOL@ the idiot KERO. http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/BenQ_FP241WZ_LCD_Monitor_Review.htm

Yeah it's a POS alright. Too bad you don't have one. I guessed you're too stupid to know that not a single LCD out there is anywhere near the response time as a CRT. I guessed you don't own a LCD and have a CRT side by side to know the difference.

[snafle @ Jan 5th 2008 7:31AM]

Dear Mr. Cameron:

If you're pathetic enough to complain that an LCD with a 6 ms response time causes you to fail at games, perhaps you had better give up, go outside and breathe some clean air, since you're always going to suck at games.

Love,
Proud owner of dell 2407, and slavering acolyte to the 3008.

[Andrew @ Jan 5th 2008 12:14PM]

Kero:

BenQ makes some seriously nice LCD displays, especially in the 24" range. The fact that you would just generalize your argument with a statement like that proves you haven't actually looked at them.

[Davor @ Jan 4th 2008 10:15PM]

damn 1999 msrp that is alot and who still uses composite?

[DaMan09 @ Jan 4th 2008 10:49PM]

Nintendo does.

[Kido1986 @ Jan 4th 2008 11:00PM]

@DaMan

Only my NES uses it. My SNES and 64 are on SVideo and my Wii is on Component. Nintendo may just ship their consoles with only a composite cable, but remember thats all the PS3 comes with too.

[BananaBoat @ Jan 4th 2008 11:09PM]

2 grand and it still has the gradient problems that caused me to return my 20" Dell monitor? Are you kidding me? I'd pay more for an apple product, or a gateway/hp/etc etc product before I'd pay for a monitor that can't even properly handle a gradient (color banding....gahhhhh)

[iofthestorm @ Jan 4th 2008 11:54PM]

Umm, don't Apple monitors use the same panels as Dell? I know at least some of them do, anyway.

[BananaBoat @ Jan 5th 2008 12:04AM]

That was the case back when I bought the 20 incher. The difference lies in the build quality and in the quality of the parts used. Same panel, but noone reported any color banding with the Apple product. It could either be due to Apple fanboys being blind to the flaws of any product made by apple, or that apple made a superior product.

[moe @ Jan 5th 2008 12:47AM]

why would anyone want to buy a glossy panel/screen from apple which is already rated worst of that size. don't even get me started on gateway...what a joke. this monitor is made by samsung who only puts out a limited version later for themselves. the banding aside this monitor will out perform any tn panel like your 20" you returned in colour quality and angles. as to the size i hope they release a 2408fpw soon as that would be a treat. 1920x1200 is all anyone really needs, many games will not even display in higher resolutions. with benq dropping the s-pva line and dell refusing to abandon it they are now on top with NEC and now lenovo with their 22" montior. maybe this will be a sign for other companies to slow the tn production as people still want the quality of pva and ips panels.

[Reid Conti @ Jan 5th 2008 1:02AM]

Who rates the Apple displays the worst of their size? AFAIK, Apple displays have generally been considered at or near the top of the consumer-level stuff.

I bought a Dell 2407WFP for my Mac Pro; not because I was saving a couple hundred $, but because I could run component video into the Dell and use it as a second HDTV too. The lack of component video is what has kept me from buying a 30" Dell thus far.

However, the price on this new Dell is a bit steep for me and my 24" works just fine. Also, Dell's menu software is atrociously bad. That said, I'm very pleased with my 24" and would choose it over the Apple again.

[Angelo @ Jan 5th 2008 1:10AM]

Except the Apple displays aren't glossy...

[moe @ Jan 5th 2008 2:18AM]

all the apple displays i have seen are glossy. the 2407 has had bad reviews since it first came out. it was in ways a downgrade from the 2405. my 2405 does have component.

[kL @ Jan 5th 2008 1:57PM]

The new iMac and MacBook 13" are glossy. Apple Cinema Displays are matte. You can choose either one on MacBook Pros.

I have ACD 23" and iMac 24". Both are excellent (glossy/matte is a matter of preference).

[moe @ Jan 5th 2008 3:15PM]

head to head the dell 3007 outperforms the apple in every test. this monitor has better results then the 3007 and will probably be an even bigger improvement over the apple. in game rendering the apple has horrible ghosting effects compared to any of the dell s-ips monitors. the apple only shines in its viewing angles which are on par with dell. only the discontinued 24" benq outshines all of the above in all tests.

i believe the best bang for buck monitor out is the lenovo 22" which is leagues ahead of every other 22" with higher resolution and better color and viewing angles for under 500.00.

[Leroy Vargas @ Feb 12th 2008 11:53AM]

I'm happy with my 24" Dell 2405FPW (well, it has no HDCP support so I can't play Blu-ray via DVI). I once considered upgrading to a 3007WFP, but realized it was too big for my desk and would be very awkward to rotate between portrait and landscape modes. Besides I am happy with 1920x1200, it's still a little better than 1080p! I'll better upgrade to the 2408WFP and leave this 3008WFP alone in my fantasy realm.

[David @ Jan 5th 2008 12:02AM]

I'm still wating for a decent review.
I want to see:

1. the input lag compared to the 3007wfp(HC) and/or a CRT.
2. a picture of the screen displaying an all black image to see backlight uniformity (although it varies from monitor to monitor).
3. how well it scales various input aspect ratios

[Dave @ Jan 5th 2008 1:11AM]

I don't get it. Dell's previous 30" LCDs had fallen to around $1200ish ($1000 from their factory outlet store). What makes these that much better to command an extra $800? Sure, it's got more ports, but $800 worth of ports? Really?

[James Cameron @ Jan 5th 2008 1:42AM]

Only people with cash will buy this. LCD prices usually drop like crazy like in 6months. I wasted $1200 on a 24" Acer and now less then a year it's around $400. Sonofamotherlessgoat! The same with the 30" Samsung just came out like 4months ago and going at $2000. Now it's around $1200. I've learn my lesson.

With the kind of price, you would better off spending on like a 1080p 40" HDTV if you are only playing games, watching movies or surfing the web. Totally worth the investment.

[Dave @ Jan 5th 2008 1:46AM]

Here's the product comparison of their old model & their new model:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productcompare.aspx?c=us&category_id=6761&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&prods=223-4890,222-7175

[moe @ Jan 5th 2008 2:20AM]

24" acer is TN and you were ripped off. s-pva and s-ips never really drops below 600.00.

[Jesper Qvist @ Jan 5th 2008 4:52AM]

There a are slightly big difference on Dell screens... the Ultrasharp models a far better, and considered the best on the market. So if you look at two models there might be a couple of hundreds bucks in difference, but i will pay it and take the ultrasharp!

[Z @ Jan 5th 2008 7:21AM]

This 30" panel sounds fantastic, but 2K is killin' it, especially when you consider what similar LCD-based products (top of the line 40" and 50" LCD TV's) sell for. And yes, I know this Dell isn't a TV and vice versa, and maybe comparing the nature and pricing of the two demands even more attention to supply and demand; but it's interesting to ponder, nonetheless.

Get this panel down to around $1200 (which is still a LOTTA lettuce), and then you'd be talkin'.

[kL @ Jan 5th 2008 2:07PM]

It's not expensive if you look at number of pixels you get. 40" TVs have ridiculously low DPI. It means that you want fit full PDF pages on the TV. You want fit more windows on large TV screen than on 17-19" monitor. On 30" monitor, with 2.5k pixels, you will.

[Z @ Jan 5th 2008 8:55PM]

I know the res is lower on the TV's, but because of tuners and other technologies, there's more that typically goes into a TV than a monitor. They aren't the same, as I mentioned before, but it just has me curious about the cost of components and supply and demand as it relates to the overall prices.

[boe @ Jan 5th 2008 8:10AM]

I'm pretty pleased with the older 30" dell - I would imagine this one is a nice improvement. Nothing is perfect but I got it pretty cheap consider the size so I think it was pretty good bang for the buck which is usually how I pick products.

I'd love for Dell to consider making even larger screens - e.g. 36" or 40".

[deusfaux @ Jan 5th 2008 2:18PM]

$2000 and still can't even handle NTSC/480i/p signals correctly. No scaling options for 4:3 and 16:9 modes.

Everything over those signal types will be distorted. So disappointing.

[Shan @ Jan 5th 2008 8:27PM]

You guys are all complaining about how this costs $1999 and is too much. Well consider yourselves lucky, because for those of us who live in the UK, Dell will charge us probably around £1600 for it - which equates to $3200. Given that the current 3007 model is going for just under £1200 ($2400) on Dells UK site, I would say you have it pretty good when you can buy the 3008 model for less than what it costs me to buy the older 3007 model.

[laptopleon @ Feb 13th 2008 5:52PM]

Exactly. It's now (2/2008) € 1900 on Dell's Dutch site, that would be 2770 USD at current rates.