The DreamColor bashing continues ...
I have the HP LP2480zx monitor. It is a wonderful display that has a true 30 bit panel (10bits/color) and a 12 bit LUT. http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/s...5/c01668595.pdf
It was not my intention to ‘bash’ the DreamColor monitor, I had read that it used an 8-bit LG panel though, so it seemed like whether or not you could send it 10-bit data was fairly inconsequential, especially when virtually no software supports a greater than 8-bit output, even if the OS can do it.
There have been video cards capable of outputting 10 bits/channel for some time now. The limit has been with operating systems and output connections. A 10 bit per channel signal can be transmitted via the HDMI and Display Port connectors on the DreamColor monitor.
I know that HDMI and DisplayPort are capable of transmitting greater than 8-bit data, but I didn't realise there were any cards that actually
could. I would be very happy if updating to Windows 7 means I can output 10/16-bit colour from my HDMI 1.3-equipped PC. (my LCoS projector has native 10-bit panels, for example)
I did have a look around, but couldn't find any evidence of people outputting greater than 8-bit on Windows 7, or available graphics cards that can do it, just articles stating that Microsoft have claimed they will support it.
It does look like the upcoming 5800 series from ATi
will support ‘Deep Color’ output though, as it is listed in their specifications. (Deep Color = greater than 8-bit 4:4:4 colour)
I would recommend the DreamColor monitor and the HP DreamColor Advanced Profiling Solution which contains an Xrite i1 Display 2 custom filtered for the extremely wide gamut of the DreamColor monitor with software allowing the calibration to be written to the monitors LUT.
I would second this recommendation if he plans on getting one. As I mentioned above, a spectro is generally more accurate than a colorimeter, but a colorimeter ‘tuned’ for a specific display is preferable to a spectro. (at least, preferable to ‘inexpensive’ consumer spectros)