HP LP3065: A new contender for the 30" throne
by Jarred Walton on March 22, 2007 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
Features, Specifications, and Warranty
As a brief overview of some of the display features and specifications that we will discuss, we again refer back to our earlier Gateway FPD2485W review. How important the individual specifications are is up for debate, and what matters to one person may not matter at all to someone else. We will see how the HP LP3065 stands up to the competition actual testing in a moment, but first here are the manufacturer's specifications.
The only other 30" LCD that we had a chance to review is the Dell 3007WFP. A quick comparison of the features will show that the HP LP3065 is "better" in several areas. However, Dell has released an upgraded 30" LCD, the 3007WFPHC. The HC stands for "High Color" and a new model is supposed to offer an improved color gamut. HP also touts the improved color gamut of their LCD as something that puts it ahead of the competition; while that may have been true of the original 3007WFP, the new model almost certainly uses the same panel as HP's offering. In terms of the panel, then, we can reasonably assume that HP and Dell are now equal, so have to turn to other areas to see how they differ.
The first major difference is in the input options - and in fact this is really the only major difference. Where Dell offers a single dual-link DVI input, HP has chosen to include support for three DVI inputs, all of which are dual-link capable. Selecting among the inputs is accomplished via an "Input" button on the front of the LCD. In practice, this works extremely well, so anyone that has multiple computers that they would like to hook up to this LCD can probably stop reading right now.
The only other difference worth mentioning is that Dell continues to offer their flash memory reader on the side of their 30" LCD, while the HP LCD only offers four USB ports. While we do like the integrated flash memory reader, we need only referred to simple economics to determine which feature adds more value.
A basic flash memory reader can be purchased for around $30, and while that's just one more thing that will sit on your desk taking up space for anyone that needs such a tool it is readily available. Switching among inputs on most displays would be equally cheap, as you could simply purchase an inexpensive KVM switch for around $30-$50. The problem is, inexpensive KVM switches only support VGA connections, and models that handle DVI are quite a bit more expensive. Even a basic two port DVI KVM switch can easily cost over $100, and it will still only support single-link DVI connections. If you want something that supports dual-link DVI, we reviewed the Gefen DVI DL a while back, which still retails for over $400. Essentially providing a three-way dual-link DVI switch with the LP3065 for free, HP clearly has the upper hand when it comes to value added features.
Warranty, customer service, and support are certainly going to be important considerations for anyone looking at spending $1700 on a new LCD. One of the benefits that often comes with purchasing something from a large OEM is improved support options, and again Dell and HP have similar policies. The 30" displays from both companies come with a standard 3-year warranty, with the option to add an additional one or two year extended policy. HP also matches Dell by offering advanced replacement of any failed monitor: they will ship out a new display and you can pack up your old display in the box and send it back to them, minimizing downtime.
Perhaps one of the reasons that HP has been gaining ground on Dell lately is that they have supposedly made a concerted effort to improve their customer service. We found that initial hold times at HP were generally short, rarely coming in at more than a couple minutes - after navigating the computerized menu system, that is, which adds a couple more minutes. When calling for support on the LP3065, however, the quality of the support was a bit more questionable.
Reasoning that some people might have issues with the dual-link requirement, we placed a call on that subject. The display would work on single-link connections, but only in Windows (the BIOS POST and boot sequences had a corrupt display) and then only at up to 1280x800. Obviously, single-link is not recommended and the manual even states that only 2560x1600 resolution is supported, but there are certainly potential buyers that will have no idea what a dual-link DVI connection is and how it differs from single-link.
The support personnel we spoke with apparently were not particularly familiar with the new LP3065, and it took quite a while to get at the answer we had expected (namely, that a dual-link DVI graphics card was required, and what such a card would be). Hopefully, that will improve with time, but we had to jump through far too many hoops - along with a couple transfers to different support departments - before we were able to get someone to explain why the display wasn't working properly on our single-link DVI adapter. Every transfer seemed to again require a few more minutes, and at one point we ended up speaking to the "Television support" department that had no idea what display we were talking about. The secondary hold/transfer times were also far worse than the initial hold times, as it could often take 20 or more minutes to speak to someone after being transferred.
With this being a high-end display, we really expected more from the phone support in terms of routing us to the proper department and helping with our issue. Part of the problem seemed to be that they couldn't understand why anyone would only purchase a display and not an entire PC, and at one point we even had one of the support personnel try to pawn the blame off on the PC and state that we had to contact the PC manufacturer, even though we were experiencing a display output problem related to the LCD. Then there was a call where the support person greeted us, asked for our name, and we never heard anything else (not even hold music) for 30 minutes, at which point we hung up and called back.
On paper at least, HP's support and warranty offerings look very good. You're pretty much guaranteed that you'll be happy with your display when it arrives, and if you're not you can send it back within the first 60 days no questions asked. Outside of the first 60 days, support for defective display products is a bit more nebulous. Other than a zero bright dot policy, we couldn't get a definitive answer on what the pixel defect policy is. It seems that if you complain enough, HP might even replace a panel that has even a single defective pixel - the old "squeaky wheel gets the oil" routine. HP also states that they have high quality assurance standards in place on their LCDs, particularly their 30" models, and they estimate that 99% of them ship without any pixel defects. We can't say for sure how they would handle defective pixels (or how "squeaky" you would have to be), but we didn't have any complaints about the quality of our panel. They just need to improve hold times and support for the display department in general.
Technical support is available either via phone or online support. Phone support is available 24/7, which is one of the advantages of going with a larger business. The smaller companies simply can't afford to provide 24/7 support because they don't have enough customers. A decent amount of information is also available on the web site to help answer questions (including the answer to our dual-link DVI question - or at least part of the answer), but there are definitely people that would prefer to get the answer via telephone, especially those who are less technically inclined. Online chat is also available 24/7, but unfortunately not for displays - you need to have an HP system to get online chat support.
And that, in a nutshell, summarizes our experience with HP's product support: if you have an HP computer system, they are more likely to be able to help out. Luckily, there's not a lot that needs to be done to support displays, and if you're reading this we have probably already covered the major concerns. Make sure you have a dual-link GPU and DVI cable and you should be fine.
As a brief overview of some of the display features and specifications that we will discuss, we again refer back to our earlier Gateway FPD2485W review. How important the individual specifications are is up for debate, and what matters to one person may not matter at all to someone else. We will see how the HP LP3065 stands up to the competition actual testing in a moment, but first here are the manufacturer's specifications.
| HP LP3065 Specifications | |
| Video Inputs | (3) DVI-D Dual-Link (Supports Single-Link DVI for 1280x800 with HDCP) |
| Panel Type | LCD Active Matrix TFT S-IPS |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.250mm |
| Colors | 16.7 million |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m2 (typical) |
| Contrast Ratio | Up to 1000:1 |
| Response Time | 12ms TrTf 8ms (GTG) |
| Viewable Size | 30" diagonal |
| Resolution | 2560x1600 |
| Viewing Angle | 178 vertical/horizontal |
| Power Consumption | 118W typical <176W max |
| Power Savings | <2W |
| Power Supply | Built-in |
| Screen Treatment | Anti-glare and Anti-static |
| Height-Adjustable | Yes - 4 inches |
| Tilt | Yes - 30 degrees back/-5 degrees forward |
| Rotation | No |
| Auto-Rotation | N/A |
| Swivel | Yes - 45 degrees left/right |
| VESA Wall Mounting | 100mm x 100mm |
| Dimensions w/ Base (WxHxD) | 27.2"x19.3"x9.5" (lowered) 27.2"x23.2"x9.5" (raised) |
| Weight w/ Stand | 30.6 lbs |
| Dimensions w/o Base (WxHxD) | 27.2"x17.9"x3.3" |
| Weight w/o Stand | 21.8 lbs |
| Additional Features | (4) USB 2.0 (USB connection to PC required) |
| Audio | Optional Speaker Bar |
| Limited Warranty | 3 year parts/labor warranty standard 1 or 2 year extended warranty available Advanced Replacement policy (North America) |
| Pixel Defect Policy | 0 bright dot standard 60 day 100% satisfaction guarantee |
The only other 30" LCD that we had a chance to review is the Dell 3007WFP. A quick comparison of the features will show that the HP LP3065 is "better" in several areas. However, Dell has released an upgraded 30" LCD, the 3007WFPHC. The HC stands for "High Color" and a new model is supposed to offer an improved color gamut. HP also touts the improved color gamut of their LCD as something that puts it ahead of the competition; while that may have been true of the original 3007WFP, the new model almost certainly uses the same panel as HP's offering. In terms of the panel, then, we can reasonably assume that HP and Dell are now equal, so have to turn to other areas to see how they differ.
The first major difference is in the input options - and in fact this is really the only major difference. Where Dell offers a single dual-link DVI input, HP has chosen to include support for three DVI inputs, all of which are dual-link capable. Selecting among the inputs is accomplished via an "Input" button on the front of the LCD. In practice, this works extremely well, so anyone that has multiple computers that they would like to hook up to this LCD can probably stop reading right now.
The only other difference worth mentioning is that Dell continues to offer their flash memory reader on the side of their 30" LCD, while the HP LCD only offers four USB ports. While we do like the integrated flash memory reader, we need only referred to simple economics to determine which feature adds more value.
A basic flash memory reader can be purchased for around $30, and while that's just one more thing that will sit on your desk taking up space for anyone that needs such a tool it is readily available. Switching among inputs on most displays would be equally cheap, as you could simply purchase an inexpensive KVM switch for around $30-$50. The problem is, inexpensive KVM switches only support VGA connections, and models that handle DVI are quite a bit more expensive. Even a basic two port DVI KVM switch can easily cost over $100, and it will still only support single-link DVI connections. If you want something that supports dual-link DVI, we reviewed the Gefen DVI DL a while back, which still retails for over $400. Essentially providing a three-way dual-link DVI switch with the LP3065 for free, HP clearly has the upper hand when it comes to value added features.
Warranty, customer service, and support are certainly going to be important considerations for anyone looking at spending $1700 on a new LCD. One of the benefits that often comes with purchasing something from a large OEM is improved support options, and again Dell and HP have similar policies. The 30" displays from both companies come with a standard 3-year warranty, with the option to add an additional one or two year extended policy. HP also matches Dell by offering advanced replacement of any failed monitor: they will ship out a new display and you can pack up your old display in the box and send it back to them, minimizing downtime.
Perhaps one of the reasons that HP has been gaining ground on Dell lately is that they have supposedly made a concerted effort to improve their customer service. We found that initial hold times at HP were generally short, rarely coming in at more than a couple minutes - after navigating the computerized menu system, that is, which adds a couple more minutes. When calling for support on the LP3065, however, the quality of the support was a bit more questionable.
Reasoning that some people might have issues with the dual-link requirement, we placed a call on that subject. The display would work on single-link connections, but only in Windows (the BIOS POST and boot sequences had a corrupt display) and then only at up to 1280x800. Obviously, single-link is not recommended and the manual even states that only 2560x1600 resolution is supported, but there are certainly potential buyers that will have no idea what a dual-link DVI connection is and how it differs from single-link.
The support personnel we spoke with apparently were not particularly familiar with the new LP3065, and it took quite a while to get at the answer we had expected (namely, that a dual-link DVI graphics card was required, and what such a card would be). Hopefully, that will improve with time, but we had to jump through far too many hoops - along with a couple transfers to different support departments - before we were able to get someone to explain why the display wasn't working properly on our single-link DVI adapter. Every transfer seemed to again require a few more minutes, and at one point we ended up speaking to the "Television support" department that had no idea what display we were talking about. The secondary hold/transfer times were also far worse than the initial hold times, as it could often take 20 or more minutes to speak to someone after being transferred.
With this being a high-end display, we really expected more from the phone support in terms of routing us to the proper department and helping with our issue. Part of the problem seemed to be that they couldn't understand why anyone would only purchase a display and not an entire PC, and at one point we even had one of the support personnel try to pawn the blame off on the PC and state that we had to contact the PC manufacturer, even though we were experiencing a display output problem related to the LCD. Then there was a call where the support person greeted us, asked for our name, and we never heard anything else (not even hold music) for 30 minutes, at which point we hung up and called back.
On paper at least, HP's support and warranty offerings look very good. You're pretty much guaranteed that you'll be happy with your display when it arrives, and if you're not you can send it back within the first 60 days no questions asked. Outside of the first 60 days, support for defective display products is a bit more nebulous. Other than a zero bright dot policy, we couldn't get a definitive answer on what the pixel defect policy is. It seems that if you complain enough, HP might even replace a panel that has even a single defective pixel - the old "squeaky wheel gets the oil" routine. HP also states that they have high quality assurance standards in place on their LCDs, particularly their 30" models, and they estimate that 99% of them ship without any pixel defects. We can't say for sure how they would handle defective pixels (or how "squeaky" you would have to be), but we didn't have any complaints about the quality of our panel. They just need to improve hold times and support for the display department in general.
Technical support is available either via phone or online support. Phone support is available 24/7, which is one of the advantages of going with a larger business. The smaller companies simply can't afford to provide 24/7 support because they don't have enough customers. A decent amount of information is also available on the web site to help answer questions (including the answer to our dual-link DVI question - or at least part of the answer), but there are definitely people that would prefer to get the answer via telephone, especially those who are less technically inclined. Online chat is also available 24/7, but unfortunately not for displays - you need to have an HP system to get online chat support.
And that, in a nutshell, summarizes our experience with HP's product support: if you have an HP computer system, they are more likely to be able to help out. Luckily, there's not a lot that needs to be done to support displays, and if you're reading this we have probably already covered the major concerns. Make sure you have a dual-link GPU and DVI cable and you should be fine.
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JarredWalton - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
I tried to get one and Apple declined. I think Anand has their original version, but that has been outdated by newer releases. If Apple updates their 30" display again, I will see if they're interested in sending one for review.FXi - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
The brightness is too low. And the benefit (the wider gamut) is harder to gain the advantage of visually than losing the brightness. In fact it is likely the older 3007FP is a better screen in practical use than the 3007FPHC.I'm not talking TV levels here like 500-550 cd/m2, but rather that 400-450 wasn't bad, and as the backlights degrade slowly over time, effectively give a nice lifespan if you aren't using them in bright environments.
The cost of adding a few extra DVI-D inputs is so cheap it's a travesty they weren't included in every 30" model. PIP might be genuinely useful on a screen this size, so there's another area where the scaling and picture circuitry would be useful. In fact, skip the USB bus entirely and at least give me two, or three DVI-D ports instead.
Probably I missed how you approached it but I saw no direct mention of screen uniformity, which has been a bother in earlier 30" models.
I would add the Samsung 305T and XL30 (when it arrives) to show the full gamut of these size screens. A LOT of folks are commenting that the increased color gamut isn't all that noticeable or useful due partially to a lack of good standards on the pc side to utilize that gamut. 120hz is going to happen faster to smaller displays (sorry) because a DVI-D might have enough bandwidth to drive lower res at double the refresh. I'm not perfectly familiary with the overhead needs, but the bandwidth will be there first, not first in larger displays and moving down. This again points to the use of a 32" 1080P 120hz screen utilizing a card that had HDMI 1.3 output as your fastest way of getting to the 120hz goodness if that is what you seek. Otherwise you'll have to wait a few years.
Core things that need to happen to 30" in general:
400-450 brightness
OSD's
Scaling chips and alternate/multiple inputs
LED backlights (as practical - and not for the gamut increased but the better contrast ratio, screen uniformity and lifespan)
Faster and more consistent (better profiled acceleration) TrTf and GtG speeds
Color accuracy and grey accuracy put ahead of gamut changes. Meaning gamut is useful to a small degree, but the end user is going to appreciate careful color filters and lcd pixel (gray) accuracy more than just increased gamut.
Loved reading these article, because you don't just cover the 30's or the newest 2407 but also the older models, so people can see if the "switch up" is worth the $$.
Thanks!
AnnonymousCoward - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
Thanks so much for the review. But I gotta give criticism on the timing, since this is perhaps the best computer display ever, and you waited over 4 months after it came out to review it. Yet when it comes to video cards or CPUs, you review them immediately, sometimes before they're even released! A display is equally important to those components.JarredWalton - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
If you look at our display reviews, you'll notice that we only recently started doing these again. The first recent display review was in late February, and since then we've been trying to grow the display reviews section aggressively. Hopefully we will get future displays around launch time, now that we're recommitted to the section. Not surprisingly, HP wasn't really pushing to get us a 30" LCD for a launch-date review when we hadn't covered any LCDs recently. :)chakarov - Friday, March 23, 2007 - link
In your review you say that there isn't much difference between HP's LP3065 and old Dell 3007 WFP. While this would be very informative for some people a few weeks ago now this information is of no value any more because now Dell is selling only their new model 3007 WFP-HC which is comparative in price to LP3065.Now people should decide between support, design, one or three DVI connectors and price.
JarredWalton - Saturday, March 24, 2007 - link
I thought that was the point I made (second paragraph, page 2) - that the new 3007WFP-HC is basically the same panel as the HP model. It's also why I recommend the HP over the Dell, as the multiple inputs seems like a lot more value added than a flash reader, and the price is now the same. (If you can find the older 3007WFP for less money, that's definitely a good choice as well!)AnnonymousCoward - Saturday, March 24, 2007 - link
chakarov's point is that the late-ness of this review is especially critical because there's apparently not much difference between the LP3065 ($1700) and the original 3007WFP ($1274); but a week ago Dell stopped selling that and now only offers a $1700 30" model. It would have been nice to know there's hardly any difference between 11/1/06 and 3/20/07.But again, thanks for doing the review and it's great =)
Oh btw, the HC can be had for $1430+tax if you buy through Dell's small business outlet.
Sceptor - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
Buy this and use three 19" or 20" LCD's and get surround gaming and multi monitor support for almost the same price...now DVI.http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/th2...">Multi LCD Goodness!!
Just my 2 cents...
AnnonymousCoward - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
Here's 3 more reasons: watching movies, Photoshopping in full screen, and having 1600 vertical pixels to view webpages or write code with.JarredWalton - Thursday, March 22, 2007 - link
There are several reasons to get a single large LCD instead of multiple smaller LCDs. First, panel quality is going to be a factor, although you should be able to find very good quality 19" LCDs. Second, some people just hate having a black "gap" in their display area. Third, widescreen gaming has become more common, but there are still plenty of games that don't properly support widescreen resolutions. Consider DICE's Battlefield series -- all of them -- where they crop the resolution on widescreen outputs. If you were to run Battlefield 2 at 3840x1024 (assuming it would even work at all), you would probably end up with 3840x2880 and the game would crop the top and bottom 928 pixels!Matrox has a list of http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/th2...">supported games, and not surprisingly none of the Battlefield games show up. In fact, there are a whole lot of games that aren't listed. Personal preference obviously plays a part, but I would rather have one large LCD than three smaller LCDs. If you disagree and are interested in surround gaming, by all means consider the Matrox TripleHead2Go.