Dell P2210H DisplayPort Monitor

Testing:

We tested out the Dell P2210H on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS over the course of a few weeks using a variety of different graphics cards and drivers and using DVI as well as the DisplayPort interface. In a future article we will have more information on DisplayPort support on Linux using both open- and closed-source Linux graphics drivers. In fact, that is the reason why we bought this monitor for testing.

Throughout all monitor testing, we did not run into any situations of any hardware or drivers not being able to properly parse the monitor's EDID and each time it properly mode-set to 1920 x 1080 without any problems. When rotating the monitor's display on Linux the rotation does not change automatically, but RandR can be used with supported drivers/hardware for handling the change.

We also had not encountered any dead or defective pixels with this monitor during any part of our testing process. We were pleased with the colors and brightness of the display and its features, but the only area we thought could be slightly better would be with the vertical viewing angle, albeit that isn't too important since the monitor's height on the stand can be easily adjusted. However, that can be a problem if you plan to view the monitor in a portrait mode from either one of the sides. Having the USB 2.0 hub on the monitor itself also proved to be a nuisance if you are frequently rotating the display as longer USB cables are then needed depending upon your setup and any attached cables can be more easily seen depending upon the monitor's orientation.

Conclusion:

At a price of around $200 USD (Amazon.com), the Dell Professional P2210H is priced a bit more expensive than other HD-capable 22-inch LCD displays. However, what makes this Dell monitor different is that it is one of the few to sport a DisplayPort interface for use with newer graphics cards, particularly with the ATI Radeon HD 5000 series and newer FirePro solutions. This monitor is also more flexible than more of the lower-cost displays with its height, pivot, swivel, and rotation support. There is also a USB 2.0 hub integrated into the monitor, but we do not see that as a major selling point and it can be inconvenient having the USB hub built into the panel itself when the monitor can be rotated 90 degrees.

The display itself also was fine and we do not have any complaints about it besides a poor vertical viewing angle. However, the display is just a standard Twisted Nematic (TN) type with nothing special to distinguish it from all of the other monitors on the market. However, if you are just after a modest 22-inch LCD display, particularly one with DisplayPort connectivity, the Dell Professional P2210H is worth considering. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on the state of DisplayPort on Linux.