Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor Review

Currently one of the hottest sizes for a PC display is the 19” range. Dell has a new 19” LCD called the Dell SP1908FP that has a good screen size and bring slots of other features to your desktop for a reasonable price. Read on to find out how well the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor performs.

Gallery

6 images

Benchmarks

Features & Specifications
Like most all of Dell’s displays and HDTV sets, the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor has a very nice looking silver and black design that makes it look good sitting on our desk. The 19” screen size is right in the spot where most consumers draw the line between price and sheer girth. This display is HDCP enabled, so you can use it for watching protected HD DVD or Blu-ray titles, which is a nice feature in a display carrying an MSRP of only $219.

On the back of the display, you get DVI and VGA connection options. The native resolution of the panel is 1024 z 1280 at 75Hz and the dot pitch is 0.294mm. The gray-to-gray response time is good for gaming at 5ms and the brightness is 300 CD/M2 with a contrast ratio of 800:1. Viewing angles are 160 degrees vertically and horizontally. The display also has one upstream USB port and four downstream ports.

Testing & Benchmarks
For testing I connected the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor to my PC via DVI and used it to play some games, watch my favorite Blu-ray flick “Casino Royale” and do some general computer work.

The screen is very bright and offers good contrast when reading documents and working with other media like photos and video. If you are a fan of dual displays, the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor would make for a good dual display set up, though the bezel is a bit thick which will make for more space than some may like between the displays.

During gaming with titles like FEAR and Battlefield 2142, I didn’t notice any issues with performance, no ghosting or smearing of the on screen images. This is expected, it’s been a very long time since I have tested a PC display that had issues with ghosting. I did like the fact that in a display this inexpensive dell added HDCP connectivity. For some it may seem like a waste since the screen is only 19”, and admittedly, HD content is much more appealing to on a large screen HDTV.

However, this display will see duty in all sorts of settings and if you have a loved one heading off to college this fall, the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor makes for an excellent display for a PC that can play HD movies and be used to watch TV with a TV tuner card installed.

General computer work was easy enough to accomplish on the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor. The smaller screen size than some of the other displays I have tested recently mean lots of flipping back and forth between tabs. That said this display would work in places, like dorm rooms, where a 30” beast of a display might not fit.

When watching “Casino Royale” on the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor I was impressed by the performance of the display. It showed nice blacks, not as nice as the higher-end Dell’s like the 30” 3007WFP-HC I normally use, but considering the price gap that’s to be expected. Skin tones looked great and colors were rich and vibrant with plenty of brightness in the display. This is a great display for someone with small available space and big needs, Dell has wrapped many features into a PC display that is very affordable and performs very well.

This price doesn’t get you the best display stand though, the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor has to make due with only adjustment for display tilt up and down. There is no height adjustment or adjustment for rotation left and right short of turning the entire display on the stand. Height adjustment is really the only thing lacking from this display that it really needs.

Verdict

Conclusion

Pros

• HDCP enabled for protected content
• Four USB ports for connecting other peripherals

Cons

• Display stand lacks adjustment

Verdict
At a price of $219 you get a lot of display for your dollar here with HDCP capability and the ability to play games and watch movies the Dell SP1908FP 19” LCD Monitor that will be great for PC users wanting a moderately size LCD display, that can pull duty for more than just displaying web pages. The only real downside will be the lack of adjustability in the display stand, which I suspect taller users will feel most. Overall, this display is a good buy and works very well.

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