Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP

Unlike most 30in panels, Dell's latest TFT isn't designed to be an LCD TV. Its native resolution is a colossal 2,560 x 1,600, compared to the usual 1,280 x 768 of LCD TVs, or 1,280 x 1,024 of 17in and 19in monitors.

This means some graphics cards won't be able to handle it, as you'll need a card with a dual-link DVI output. It's worth splashing out on an upgrade, though, as the 3007WFP not only provides a fantastic boost to any productivity applications, but also performed admirably in our technical tests. Contrast was nearly perfect - all but the most demanding of users will be pleased with the level of detail available. In practice, our test photos were extremely crisp too, making the 3007WFP more than good enough for serious amateurs. At the other end of the scale, just the last four shades of white out of a scale of 255 shades were impossible to see on a background of pure white. Our colour-handling tests were also excellent: with our 256-scale RGB colour ramps, we spotted just the tiniest amount of banding, but colour uniformity was superb.

In everyday use, we had no complaints about the Dell's quality. The panel has a response time of 11ms grey-to-grey, and it's a superb choice for big-screen gaming, providing you can find a graphics card that will play games at 2,560 x 1,600 without stuttering. Colours are vibrant without being oversaturated, and we spotted plenty of detail in both light and dark areas of images. Viewing angles are also good, lending this panel added attraction for watching movies.

There's also a memory card reader for all the major formats built into the side, as well as a four-port USB hub. The 3007WFP is even HDCP compliant, so you'll be able to use Windows Vista and its high-definition video features.

While the 3007WFP isn't cheap, it's easily the best-value 30in high-resolution panel we've seen. A pair of tiled 19in monitors will provide similar screen real estate for around half the price, but if you've got the space and the cash the 3007WFP is an incredibly desirable purchase.

Author: Dave Stevenson