qb74

B140QAN02.0 (60hz)

My post above mentioned the panel model along with link to measurements of it prior to removing the backlight (backlight removal process from here). I am using the controller with the 0.5 mm pitch 40 pin cable version connected to the laptop panel. Plug and play from there using a usb-c to full size display port cable. Using an incandescent maglite flashlight as backlight, I measure Ra value of 80 and the spectrum below. I don know if it supports overdrive tuning. The controller board has printed on it "DP-EDP V8.3". This board should work with better and higher refresh rate panels but the one I'm using was pulled from my T480 laptop so was convenient for testing.

async

Now that is true dedication to DIY especially making the enclosure! Doesn't look "diy". Right now, I have the screen simply mounted to a plastic sheet with a thick bottom bezel part to have space to attach the board and to prevent the panel electronics and ribbon cables from flexing.

Sourcing panels is definitely hit or miss but reddit, panelook, and just searching on replacement panels using their model names or combining name of the laptop + "replacement panel" as search terms has been helpful. This started as simply trying to find better internal display for T480. Some things I've learned:

  • The various types of internal lcd panel cables for the T480 do not fit this driver board. This why I bought the version of the board with included cable. They seem to be custom for the laptop motherboard but look like they fit.
  • You have to make sure pin sizes and pin count match obviously. The current 40 pin board's cable does not fit FHD display panels which uses 30 pin connector. I know pin adapters exist. Haven't tried them and heard they are unreliable.
  • I've read about some incompatibilities with low power IGZO displays.
  • The framework pc community can be helpful for DIY.

I'm currently looking at this monitor - 40inch 5K monitor 120hz. It's flicker free. https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-ultrasharp-40-curved-thunderbolt-hub-monitor-u4025qw/apd/210-bmdp/monitors-monitor-accessories

But I have 2 concerns before buying it for tests:

Any suggestions? I Also can't find any info about this new method of A-FRC.

Some observations with 32" UltraGear™ OLED Dual Mode 4K UHD 240Hz for whoever is considering it on Mac.

Somewhat starting to like it, and after a ton of adjustments I don't really get much eye strain, but it's pretty far from perfect. The WOLED pixel layout is fine, but absolutely not perfect.

  • Running at true retina will end up as a giant sized UI due to the 32" size, that looks like 1080p. Worthless for coding and surfing the web.
  • Running scaled resolutions will add a ton of artifacts that can be pretty annoying, unless the PPI is higher. If someone has a fix for it I really want it. I've searched for it previously in the Stillcolor thread. Strange outlines/visual artefacts in UI elements when using a scaled resolution | MacRumors Forums
  • M1 Max can only run 144 hz with an USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 cable. HDMI is not an option. Supposedly M2 Max can do 240.
  • I never want to use anything less than 144 hz again. It's way better. However I do think for certain screens that are a bit smudgy it doesn't really matter with 60hz. I would guess that having zero blur with a low refresh rate is worse than having a really good monitor with low refresh rate. At least for me this monitor requires using an app like MOS to have proper smooth scrolling. Choppy scrolling at high HZ seems rather painful tbh.
  • On the display it is possible to display DSC (Display Stream Compression). Doing so limits the refresh rate to 120. Supposedly DSC doesn't introduce artifacts. Didn't test enough, so I stuck with 144.
  • HDR is only available up to the scaled resolution that looks like 1440p or something, as well as the native non retina ones.
  • With BetterDisplay you can add scaled resolutions at any size, however anything above 160% scaling will limit the screen to 95hz. Probably requires too much processing power, as the image sent to the monitor is the same.
  • The anti-reflective coating is supposedly good, but I just see a bunch of grainy reflections.
  • Obviously the lack of blurring, true blacks and everything is exceptional.

Right now I would actually like some 3:2 monitors with high refresh rate. I think 32" isn't really an option as things get blurry pretty fast, and keeping it closer ends up with excessive head movement.

    Tested quite a bit. There is massive flicker on grays. Even with adaptive sync turned off, and at all refresh rates, and all color modes. Variable refresh rate is not selected in Mac either. Not sure if it affects HDMI.

    Somehow the image seems much more pleasant with DP 1.2 instead of DP 1.4 or DP 1.4(DSC). Tried all with the same color profile, as 60 hz. No idea tbh. Didn't find a quick way to check if Mac uses something else to process the signal for the old standard.

    Anyway, I'm not keeping this.

      async ohh, I returned this monitor after an hour I got it lol. It gave me craziest eye strain in a while after just 10 minutes, and till the end of the day I was done 🙁

      I keep DSC off and run at 120hz using DP on 4k 27 inch LG 27gp95r-b which still gives me strain. It is also nano ips. So-called Next generation of display technology. Not sure these approaches have improved consideration for eye health and many seem to be not viable for other reasons.

      Some new stuff even mentions more dithering:

      From tftcentral

      This is a new feature for META 2.0. Detail Enhancer technology which “helps articulate subtle differences in natural brightness through pixel dimming for both light and dark areas to achieve richer image expression. Using dithering technology for every pattern position based on OLED pixel dimming technology it enhances colour accuracy and apparently also widens colour gamut. This allows the delivery of images with full-range HDR detail, accurately representing objects with distinct colours, true to the creator’s original intent.”

        photon78s Does it use PWM? As I see its utilizing FRC. Did you try using 8bit only mode with BetterDisplay ?

          madmozg

          This is what I measured at both 0% and 100% brightness on white background. The flicker is very subtle as I need to use 20dB or more gain on the detector to measure this. Not the worse but not the best. My T480 B140QAN02.0 panel is better in this department.

          I don't have mac anymore to test the new version software.

          photon78s
          Have you experimented with QDEF backlight LCD's? Or perhaps even WOLED / QD-OLED? (you probably know it's flaws, just mentioned them for the sake of it)

            qb74

            Not yet. If I do, I will do my usual testing (oscilloscope, flicker, microscope pixel videos, color spectrum, polarization) and post.

            4 days later
            5 days later

            Hey guys, I've just received a new monitor to test Dell U4025QW. It's a 40'' 5K display 8bit + FRC. Its not using mini-LED, looks like it's a dc-dimming mostly. 8bit + FRC tho. Going to do some tests, hopefully betterdisplay will help me with FRC. Let me know if you would like me to test anything specific.

              async

              I can't find any flicker yet. I will post results today/tomorrow. Initial impression is interesting, 8bit forced with BetterDisplay, but I still feel some weird tension in my back of the head, and after an hour of using this monitor I feel like my eyes are tired. I didn't test this monitor with my microscope yet. But I want to mention how good this monitor is 🙁 Colors are fantastic, 120hz, coding and color grading is amazing. Text is crisp. Tried to play few games and its really good, well you can't play CSGO on pro level haha, but its good if you want to spent some time with your friends and also you need a pretty good PC for it.

              Quick update on Dell U4025QW connected with:

              • Macbook Pro M3: At first it felt fine, but after a while it started to give an eye strain. Tried with BetterDisplay 8/10bit. Nothing helps.
              • Macbook 2019 Intel: I tried in the evening next day after MBP M3 and it was totally fine, not eye strain at all. But next day it started to give me slight eye strain and then headaches. Tried with BetterDisplay 8/10bit, nothing changed. Tried to disable font smooth, will test more.
              • Windows 11 3070 Ti: Still gives me similar eye strain as Intel macbook, I'm able to work/play for few hours but then I want to give my eyes some rest and small headaches are coming as well. Slept bad during the night because of that. I didn't use any specific apps to disable dithering, just regular nvidia settings to force 8bit.

              I did testing with opple, there is no flicker at all. Solid backlight at any brightness and at any color or grayscale.

              With microscope I was able to detect dithering with MBP M3 connected on darker gray color. On bright colors its very hard to notice any dithering with 120/240fps. Dithering is present no matter if betterdisplay set to 8 or 10 bit.

              If someone could share any good method how to disable dithering on Win11, that would be awesome, so I can test it.

              After using this monitor for 3 days, I feel some tiredness at the back of my eyes, tired nape and small headaches.

                madmozg Try to disable variable refresh rate to see if that fixes the flickering. Also if you didn't check all the settings then it might be overdrive or similar. At that resolution / framerate it no doubt uses display stream compression. No idea if DSC is as lossless as they say, but I guess there is no way around it.

                a month later

                Returned Dell U4025QW after a month of testing. Conclusion:

                • Works fine with my 3070 Ti and latest Win11 version. Set nvidia to 8bit and had no issues with basic windows stuff.
                • BetterDisplay was not able to help with Intel macs to use 8bit on this monitor. Everytime i switch to 8bit with edid monitor still was showing 30bpc.
                • BetterDisplay was indeed switching from 10bit to 8bit with Mac mini M2 and Macbook Pro M3, but I still had eyestrain because mac silicons are still sending dithered signal or pixel inversion, and its even more aggressive than intel macs. On dell monitor it was showing 24bpc.

                Great monitor if you are working on windows PC. No PWM at all, its like an old dc dimming, I think it black panel LED or something like that. Blacks are really good, I also played some games on it, it was great. But my main work is on mac so to keep this expensive monitor just to run PC I didn't want to.

                I ended up with the glossy version of the Apple Pro Display XDR without the grainy nano texture. The clarity without any screen covering is insanely good with the high DPI, true 10bit and really high SDR brightness. I've mostly adapted again to the MBP M1 Max and the and iPhone 14 Pro Max now, and this display is definitely waaay better than those. I'll see if it stays this nice, but so far so good.

                I decided to not research any eye strain while using this screen, not take any measurements, and not play around with any settings unless strictly needed, as I really want it to work and there obviously is some psychological component to all this as well. Currently running stock settings / profile with just Stillcolor.

                There are very few tests of this display anywhere, and few places to actually see it in action. Few or no eye strain reports as well. For those that have the option and can handle the financials I'll advice taking a look at it. The second hand price isn't too bad. In my opinion it is nothing like the Studio Display that just felt like a Macbook.

                  dev