m4400, 1440x900 LED display is 6bit?

I've noticed a lot if dithering in gradients on my screen, especially in grays - and after Googling the problem with LED displays in general, it seems that my screen is 6 bit as opposed to 8 bit. That's about 264k possible colors vs 16.7mil colors - a big difference! I even think that this was a risk when buying a laptop of this class.

The screen is identified as an SEC, which I think is Samsung, but the nVidia drivers say it's a Seiko.

Has anyone else noticed this about their displays? Or did I get a bad/poor quality one?

 

About all LCD's are 6-bit panel (especially on laptops)
If you want 8-bit panel, you need to go with IPS/PVA and such LCD panel, which a LOT more. But then you will complain that every time you watch a video you see colors blending, even when you move your mouse as response rate is bad, unless you pay even more, and even then.

8-bit TN LCD panel does exists, but TN panel color accuracy is so bad that it's kinda a waist of money, in my opinion.

The only solution to this LCD problem, is to wait for OLED screens. Currently OLED screens are reserved for mobile device such as the coming up Zune HD, and some high end phones (not iPhone/iTouch). This technology is still fairly new. The problem that is currently faced is having the machinery to produce high amounts of these screen for large displays with the lowest failure/problem rate, and also to have it in higher resolution and more precise (for large screens). I read something about lifespan problem... but I think it's fixed as it's being used in mobile devices.

 

The RGB LED screen are pretty accurate...you do need to calibrate it but that goes for every screen as far as i'm concerned.

 

A 6-bit panel cannot be "accurate". You cannot magically add missing colors. That is why there is dithering in gradients.

 

You're not going to find a much better screen for a notebook. Best thing you can do if you need accurate color is get a nice LCD and connect it to your notebook.

 

True, it won't be as good as a nice S-IPS or H-IPS screen but for laptops they are pretty accurate. Even the 2CCFL i have has some really good colors. I use it next to a S-PVA screen and they're close enough in colour representation....that said, if it's really colour critical work i'd always check on a well calibrated external screen.