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DELL 3008WFP input lag test

G

gkovacs

n00b
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
16
I got fed up with the lack of reliable information on the net about the input lag of the DELL 3008WFP. While some tests claim it has around 50msec of input lag, my own subjective testing never revealed anything perceptible, and I do play fast paced FPS games (like Quake 3 Arena).

To make everything clear, I've decided to do my own testing of the matter.

Tools of the trade
- DELL 3008WFP LCD monitor (A00 revision)
- Philips 109S CRT monitor
- PC with ATI Radeon HD4850 video card
- Canon EOS 350D digital SLR camera

Preparation
In Adobe After Effects I've created a 60fps AVI that had the exact same SMTPE timecode (HH:MM:SS:FF) placed on both sides. The last number is the frame counter, which steps one at every frame. One frame equals 16.67 milliseconds (1000 / 60).

I've hooked up both monitors to the PC side by side (the LCD via DVI, the CRT via DVI-VGA converter), and set their native resolutions at 60Hz each.
Loaded the AVI in Windows Media Player, which was placed on both monitors. Then I pressed play and started shooting.

After some test shots, I've set the camera to 1/80 sec shutter speed. While this is hardly more than the refresh rate, I was unsuccessful shooting the CRT at much higher speeds due to the electron beam only lighting up a narrow slit on the screen.

Testing and data acquisition
I've shot around 36 test shots, equally distributed between the following circumstances (several combinations tested together as well):

- the DELL was used both in it's native resolution (no scaling in effect) and in a low resolution where it's scaler worked (GPU scaling was disabled in ATI CCC)
- both monitors were connected to both outputs of the video card
- both clone mode and extended desktop were used
- Windows Media Player and Media Player Classic Home Cinema were both used (the latter in EVR mode, the filter reported 60fps with 0 dropped frames)

timecode.jpg


After shooting I've looked at every shot in my photo software, and took note of the difference between the frame counters in Excel.
When there was an unclear result (two overlapping numbers due to the shutter speed) I recorded a half value.

Results
My data set comprised of 36 points, with a minimum of 0.5 frame and a maximum of 2.5 frame difference.
Average of the data is 1.625 frame difference. As one frame equals 16.67 milliseconds, the result of the test is:

The average input lag of the DELL 3008WFP monitor is
27.08 msec

This is about one quarter of a tenth of a secoond, half of what other tests claim:
http://www.behardware.com/articles/703/page5.html
 
Very interesting results. Thanks for the test. As you said there is a serious lack in reliable information regarding 30" screens and many of the comments read are subjective, and often biased based on personel experiances.

It will be interested to see the response from the [H] Community
 
I'm in the market for a 30" LCD. Seeing these results (as well as recomendations from other members) has helped clarify my decision in going for a 3008wfp. Thanks for putting in the time and effort for the benefit of the [H] Community. And since you've only been a member for 3 months....Welcome!

Though I'm still a n00bie I vote for STICKY!
 
I've been meaning to ask this for a while. The thing that kind of bugs me about these tests is that it's always done with a static background. I mean everything except the number stays the same so there's not a whole lot for the monitor to process.

I was wondering if you could run a movie or video game in the background (one with lot of action) so that each frame is completely different instead of just the number changing. Is it possible that this would change the results? Thanks.
 
Shouldn't both monitors be run in the same resolution? Ie, 2560x1600 on both? I know this is hard to achieve on a CRT; but I know I got conflicting results when I ran an input lag test on my Eizo SX2761W with the CRT running in a different resolution than the LCD. With both in 1920x1200 I got 21-22ms average, which is in line with what Prad.de got in their test. Pretty dang good for an S-PVA screen, IMO.
 
27ms is pretty darn good for an S-IPS, IMHO.

If only it had better PIP functionality and came with a remote, it would have been near perfect.

But having said that, the 3008WFP is still, according to me, the best A-I-O monitor out there.
 
gkovacs said:
In Adobe After Effects I've created a 60fps AVI that had the exact same SMTPE timecode (HH:MM:SS:FF) placed on both sides. The last number is the frame counter, which steps one at every frame. One frame equals 16.67 milliseconds (1000 / 60).

I've hooked up both monitors to the PC side by side (the LCD via DVI, the CRT via DVI-VGA converter), and set their native resolutions at 60Hz each.
Loaded the AVI in Windows Media Player, which was placed on both monitors. Then I pressed play and started shooting.
Click to expand...

I agree, sometimes published figures differ from what we have at home. I've seen that in my own tests.

But
Before posting your findings in bold and red
why not try one of the regular tools (stopwatch software) widely used for input lag tests?

I've hooked up both monitors to the PC side by side (the LCD via DVI, the CRT via DVI-VGA converter)
Click to expand...

What is "converter"?
 
Last edited:
albovin said:
But why not try one of the regular tools (stopwatch software) widely used for input lag tests?
Click to expand...

I have no idea what you are talking about. I've devised and executed a test I thought would correctly and precisely show input lag compared to a CRT, and it did. For some people, no amount of effort is enough...

What is "converter"?
Click to expand...

I meant VGA cable plugged into a DVI output via dongle.

Whats the matter with you man? Wlhy don't you troll in someone else's thread?
 
Adrgha said:
Shouldn't both monitors be run in the same resolution? Ie, 2560x1600 on both? I know this is hard to achieve on a CRT;
Click to expand...

I did the test with both displays in the same resolution (1280x1024, which is a scaled one for the DELL), as well as in it's native 2560x1600. There was no significant difference in the data between the two modes.

BTW 2560 is not "hard to achieve on a CRT", it's impossible.
 
gkovacs, interesting test methodology. Why don't you give that html stopwatch a try to see if you get the same results? I'm also curious about ChadVader's point that since little on the screen changed, there might not be much to process (although I don't think the processing algorithm works that way). Sorry, but I have to mark you down on the use of "sec", since the SI abbreviation is "s"; it's more concise, "ms" is easier to read, and it's correct.

albovin said:
What is "converter"?
Click to expand...
Try the dictionary. Or google images. If you can't figure out what a "DVI-VGA converter" is, find another forum.
 
I also did a quest to find the "perfect" 30" LCD. I first started with the Gateway 30", but the input lag was just horrendous and I didn't need all of the extra features. Then I tried the Dell 3008-WFP. I returned it because there was significant back light bleed and the input lag to me was still noticeable.

I play competitive CS:Source so even 10-20ms is quite noticeable to me. In fact as so much that I have to use different autoexec.cfg files for slightly different ping ranges on servers.

Even if the 3008-WFP is 27 ms versus the contrary ~50 ms as tested by others, that means it's just been lowered from dreadful to mediocre as far as input lag is concerned.

I finally ended up satisfied with the DoubleSight DS-305W. Quality new 30" H-IPS panel and only 7.5 ms tested input lag.
 
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