Dark colours are noisy/grainy/dithering/? on new monitor

[Andy69]

So I've had this Benq GL2250HM monitor for quite a while now and decided to get another one for a dual monitor setup, but only GL2250 was available (without the "HM"), so that's what I got. The only difference supposedly is that they both have VGA and DVI-D, but the HM version has HDMI too.

The problem is that the new monitor has visible noise/dithering (idk the proper term) in darker areas and gradients (like in the Lagom LCD test page) aren't smooth or completely b&w. I've tried using a VGA cable and 2 different DVI cables, but it looks the same. I've also tried messing with the color settings in nvidia control panel, brightness/contrast/color in the monitor's OSD, but nothing seems to help. On the HM monitor everything looks perfect.

 

[Solandri]

That monitor (and a lot of cheaper monitors) doesn't have a true 8-bit panel. It's 6-bit + FRC. In FRC, the pixel is rapidly switched between two 6-bit colors to approximate the last 2 bits of color intensity. Some do it better than others. Depending on the monitor and how sensitive your eyes are, this can show up as dithering, gradients, or shimmering.

https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/40e79a6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_rate_control

You can try playing around with the color bit depth and refresh rate, to try to get a more favorable FRC response which isn't as visible. But you can't eliminate the effect entirely without switching to a panel with true 8-bit color depth.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Did you try changing monitor color settings (not in Nvidia control panel, but with monitor buttons) on both monitors to be exactly the same?

Can you post photo of this "noisy/grainy/dithering" image?

 

[Andy69]

That monitor (and a lot of cheaper monitors) doesn't have a true 8-bit panel. It's 6-bit + FRC. In FRC, the pixel is rapidly switched between two 6-bit colors to approximate the last 2 bits of color intensity. Some do it better than others. Depending on the monitor and how sensitive your eyes are, this can show up as dithering, gradients, or shimmering.

https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/40e79a6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_rate_control

You can try playing around with the color bit depth and refresh rate, to try to get a more favorable FRC response which isn't as visible. But you can't eliminate the effect entirely without switching to a panel with true 8-bit color depth.

wouldn't I have the same problem with the other monitor then?

Did you try changing monitor color settings (not in Nvidia control panel, but with monitor buttons) on both monitors to be exactly the same?

Can you post photo of this "noisy/grainy/dithering" image?

i did, but the colors arent the same if you set it to the same numbers, so i eyeballed it to get them close.

new (bad) monitor: https://i.imgur.com/oFWjPfZ.jpg
old (good) monitor: https://i.imgur.com/LpyJBMy.jpg

 

[SkyNetRising]

Color temperature seems different. And old monitor is configured significantly darker.

 

[Andy69]

Color temperature seems different. And old monitor is configured significantly darker.

true, but that's besides the point. the noise is there no matter the color/brightness/contrast settings. the angle and focus when taking the pictures also has its influence.

 

[SkyNetRising]

That's the thing with multiple monitor setup.
If models are not exactly the same, it requires extensive tweaking to get them to display the same colors.

Btw - there's a thing called Senseye 3 technology in your monitor description. Try changing Senseye related settings.

 

[Andy69]

can't find any senseye related settings anywhere