Introducing the Dell U2412M

For every monitor review that I’ve done for AnandTech so far, I know that as soon as I check the comments there will be a thread with the same theme: “I don’t care about 1080p monitors, I only want 16:10 aspect ratios!” When widescreen displays first came out for desktop LCD monitors, virtually every model was a 16:10 display. The 20” Dell I have on my own desk is 16:10, and almost every vendor made 16:10 panels.

As the price of flat panels dropped and HDTV adoption took over, more and more desktop panels migrated to the HDTV aspect ratio of 16:9. The reasons behind this were easy to understand, as you could produce more displays, reuse panels across PC and TV lines, and have a lower cost across the board to let you sell them for less. Most people were more than happy to pay less for a display than to pay 2-3 times as much for those extra 120 pixels at the bottom of a display. As this happened, 16:10 panels became relegated to higher end models, almost always as IPS panels and often with high end features like AdobeRGB colorspace support and more.

Dell finally decided to address this with their U2412M display that features a 1920x1200 on its 24” panel. The U2412M is also an eIPS panel that is natively 6-bit but uses A-FRC to display 16.7 million colors. Dell has managed to bring this monitor in at $329 and can often be found on sale for under $300, while most other 16:10 24” panels come in at $500 or more. What did Dell have to do to hit this aggressive price point? Let's find out, starting with the specifications overview.

Dell U2412M Specifications
Video Inputs D-sub, DVI, DisplayPort
Panel Type eIPS
Pixel Pitch 0.27 mm
Colors 16.7 Million (6-bit with A-FRC)
Brightness 300 nits
Contrast Ratio 1000:1 (Typical)
Response Time 8ms GTG
Viewable Size 24"
Resolution 1920x1200
Viewing Angle 178 H, 178 V
Backlight LED
Power Consumption (operation) 38W
Power Consumption (standby) Not Listed
Screen Treatment Anti-Glare with Hard Coat 3H
Height-Adjustable Yes, 4.5" of adjustment
Tilt Yes
Pivot Yes
Swivel Yes
VESA Wall Mounting Yes, 100mm VESA
Dimensions w/ Base (WxHxD) 20.22" x 21.89" x 7.10"
Weight 8.73 lbs. without stand
Additional Features 4 port USB Hub, Power Management Software
Limited Warranty 3 Years
Accessories Power Cable, DVI Cable, USB Cable, VGA Cable
Price $329 at Dell.com

The stand with the U2412M is very adjustable, with tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments available to the user. There is a 4-port USB 2.0 hub with two ports on the bottom of the display and two that are more accessible on the side of the display. The one port you might find missing is an HDMI port, but as the HDMI port is trademarked and requires licensing fees, and adds nothing that other ports don’t offer on a display with no speakers, I’m not particularly sad about the loss. Most HDMI transmitter chips are limited to 1920x1080 resolution as well and that would just be another cost that really adds no benefit. DisplayPort is starting to become more and more common now and I’d prefer to see those ports instead.

Dell U2412M Design, OSD, and Viewing Angles
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  • DParadoxx - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - link

    Finally a 16:10 review, but its eIPS.... no thanks.
  • piroroadkill - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - link

    That's what keeps the cost down.

    You knew it was e-IPS before you clicked, I'd wager, and this is just trolling.

    I have a U2410 myself, but that doesn't mean this monitor is bad for the price, by any stretch of the imagnation.
  • DParadoxx - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - link

    I'm not trolling. I'm trying to get reviews of quality monitors.
  • tech6 - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - link

    Try this
    http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews.htm
  • xenol - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - link

    And I want review of quality products, so that my problems reduce to "which 9/10 product do I want?"
  • Death666Angel - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - link

    eIPS is plenty good enough for most (gamers, internet users, occasional movies watchers). I'd wager that IPS or -VA with WCG backlight are only needed for a very small minority. And to say that eIPS cannot be a quality monitor is pretty ignorant as well.
  • toyotabedzrock - Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - link

    Or perhaps you are slightly color blind.

    I hate 6 bit monitors they wash out gradients.
  • ImSpartacus - Thursday, March 1, 2012 - link

    You're spoiled.
  • choirbass - Saturday, March 3, 2012 - link

    To an extent I would have to agree. If you really want better, you really shouldn't have much of a problem with paying however much more to get just that.
  • Earballs - Thursday, March 1, 2012 - link

    Needs to be 120hz to excite the gamer market IMO, but that's just me speaking from my own demographic.

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