CML 174 received today

Well probably I'm too picky or I shouldn't expect everything for this reasonably priced monitor, but I've got a mixed feeling. Don't get me wrong, games run very smooth like everybody says. I tried Max Payne and WarCraft 3, I felt just like I'm playing them on a CRT. Colors were vivid, too.

Here is the bad part, though. Last week, I happened to order a Dell monitor (same 17" ) for my friend and since I got it this monday I had a lucky chance of comparing it with my new Hitachi. I haven't run a game on the Dell monitor, so I don't know how fast it runs. But I can tell you, text is noticeably sharper on the Dell. Honestly, text on Hitach looks so much blurry compared to the dell. Also, on the Hitach, the screen brightness doesn't seem consistent. Like 1/3 of the screen (from the bottom) is brighter than the top 2/3. I first thought maybe I was paranoid-ing, but, say, when you open a IE window, the grey on the toolbar (at the top of the window) is like 2 times darker than the grey on the status bar. (at the bottom of the window) The difference is so clear that anyone will be able to tell it almost immediately.

So now my question is (to other CML174 owners), is it normal on this monitor? Or should I ask for replacement? Would they accept if I RMA it? It seems like there is no dead pixel on my monitor, though...

i've had mine for a week now, and have not noticed any of these faults, it isnt perfect but as far as i am concerned it is the best monitor available, and certainly the best one i have ever seen by far. get it replaced, it should have 3 years on site so they will pick it up and give you a new one at the same time i expect

This brightness difference is because of the poor viewing angle. The panel specs are 140º, though Hitachi claims better, and w/ that ype of viewing angle, yes it is very normal so that the brightness isn't constant. This is why I would wait for better LCD. As for text, what mode r u running it at, what vid card, res, and is cleartype/ any text smoothing feature running? IMHO, if u don't like something about the monitor, return it. You paid good money for it, so why settle for something that you are unsatisfied with? Wait a little longer and get something better.

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
- Mario Andretti

Lol, not going thru the buy/return stuff again. If they have it in a store I'll take a look at it simply to see how it is, but I'm currently happy w/ my 17" CRT and I'd want something like a 19" LCD anyway.

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
- Mario Andretti

not sure but i think it should be to 60hz

well i got mine on Digital Mode, on my LeadTEK GF4 ti4200, and like i said above, it's outstanding... also, try sitting in your seat/chair how you are very comfortable ... and then adjust the screen so it look perfect, that's what i did and i don't see any problems with shadeing on top or bottom

RIG
Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
Lian-Li PC-60
Lite-On 52X
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GeForce 4 Ti4200 w/vivo 128mb 8x
Hitachi CML174
1 GB Corsair XMS PC3200 Cas2