Gateway XHD3000
Posted 10/03/07 at 07:42:26 PM | by Katherine Stevenson
When we reviewed 30-inch desktop LCD monitors from Dell, HP, and Samsung back in May 2007, we were left saddened by the large-screen state of affairs. These monstrous widescreens offering unparalleled 2560x1600 resolution seemed like the perfect fit for power users—if not for their inherent limitations. Unlike high-performance desktop LCDs of lesser size, these 30-inch panels lack an internal scaler (and Apple’s 30-inch Cinema Display is no different). The problem is that conventional monitor-scaling technology isn’t powerful enough to drive these screens’ 2560x1600 pixels.
As a consequence, the 30-inch panels are all restricted to a Dual Link DVI interface; they offer no onscreen display options, such as contrast, color, or even color temp adjustments; and if your videocard doesn’t carry high-def copy protection (HDCP) over a Dual Link signal (and most don’t), you’re forced to watch copy-protected high-def content at 1280x800 resolution (half the screens’ native res).
Back in May, we predicted the situation would be remedied in time—we just didn’t expect it to happen so soon, and certainly not by the likes of Gateway. But perhaps it’s precisely because Gateway has fewer resources, and thus a smaller development team and less bureaucracy, that the company was able to see a solution outside the box. That solution is the Silicon Optix HQV Teranex Realta video processing chipset. Capable of performing a trillion operations per second, this video processor has previously been found only in broadcast-industry equipment and high-end home-theater gear, but its pixel-by-pixel algorithmic scaling now serves to make Gateway’s XHD3000 the most flexible 30-inch desktop LCD going.
For starters, the XHD3000 features an array of interface options (see spec box), so you can not only connect to the monitor with a variety of different cables but also have multiple devices hooked up to the screen at once. Then you can switch among, say, your gaming console, laptop, DVD player, cable box, and PC (with each source set at a different resolution) using the onscreen display menu—accessible via touch-sensitive buttons on the monitor’s bezel—or the included remote control. Picture-in-picture functionality gives you access to two content sources simultaneously.
The scaler also makes it possible for you to adjust the screen’s brightness, contrast, and color, regardless of interface. Bundled EZTune software offers similar options, with the aid of step-by-step adjustment and calibration instructions, plus some additional PiP preferences, including the option to make a PiP window invisible when you roll over it with your mouse.
The XHD3000 is unique in yet another respect: It offers decent built-in audio. We’re usually loathe to even mention the presence of a monitor speaker because we don’t want to encourage any reliance on tinny, underpowered audio, but the eight transducers that span the XHD3000’s front-mounted speaker bar are capable of producing fairly rich sound at high volume. It doesn’t deliver the same bass response as a good stand-alone set of speaks, but it’s a worthwhile option if you want to save space on your desktop.
Of course, the meat and potatoes of any display is screen performance, and here, too, Gateway’s on it. The XHD3000’s black looks inky, and a completely dark screen reveals only slight signs of backlight at the corners; grayscale reproduction is strong, showing clear distinction of shades at the extreme light and dark ends; and the picture holds up off-axis.
The screen is capable of playing HDCP-encumbered content at its intended res and the results are impressive. Gaming is also a pleasure on the big widescreen. A powerful PC will let you play at the screen’s native res, but there’s no harm in scaling the res down for a faster frame rate. Either way, the screen’s pixel response keeps apace with the action.
You’d think that with all the extras it offers, the XHD3000 would be more expensive than the competition. In fact, at $1,700 it’s priced lower than 30-inch models from Samsung, HP, and Apple and is only slightly more expensive than Dell’s 30-inch. If you’re after maximum screen real estate and ultimate usability, the XHD3000 is well worth its asking price.
While the major monitor manufacturers were busy churning out the status quo, Gateway was pushing the envelope.
Gateway XHD3000
www.gateway.com
www.gateway.com
Full Bar
Nice, big picture; inputs aplenty; highly versatile.
FUBAR
Big investment; big power brick; gaming can be slow at native res.
| SPECS | ||||
| Native Resolution | 2560x1600 | |||
| Interface | Single and Dual Link DVI, HDMI, Component, Composite, S-Video, VGA, USB 2.0 (six ports), audio inputs for all video inputs | |||
| High-def Support | 1600p, 1080i, 1080p, 720p, 480i, 480p | |||
Comments
Print
Email
sitting on the fence
Submitted by Lonestar166 on Fri, 2008-08-15 12:41
I purchased this monitor the day it became available here in Toronto, Canada. For six months it was a wet dream, a true joy to behold. ( I am gamer geek) Then one day the touch screen failed to respond. I could not turn it on, turn it off, no video input would work. Kudos to Gateway, they went out of their way to replace the monitor. I have had the replacement monitor for two months now, and have had only one issue so far. Once when I turned it off, the backlight did not shut off. I had to unplug the monitor to resolve the issue. I find the sound bar very lacking as a primary source of audio, but a welcome addition to my 4.1 Klipsch speakers. I truly enjoy using this monitor, but holding my breath every day to see if it is going to work properly is a bit tiresome.
Submitted by bmoshier on Mon, 2008-03-31 17:19
I purchased this monitor 4 days ago and have had both joy and pain with it since.
Pro: I love the PIP support, such as sizing the window, moving, and transparency. While there are limits when using 2560x1600 mode, Gateway denotes these limits up front and discusses how to work around them.
The 2560x1600 is wonderful. The color width / saturation could be better (e.g. like the Dell 3008WFP, but you can't have everything).
The multiple input support works very nicely.
The Con, though, are significant, IMHO.
1) Lacks a Media Card Reader as the Dell 3008WFP or 3007WFP provide. (Minor nit)
2) The color width / saturation is not as good as the Dell 3008WFP (which is at 117% of NTSC and shows it). (Moderate)
3) When I boot my Windows XP Pro x64 system, Windows' Plug & Play asks me to provide the "Gateway XHD3000 driver." Contacting Gateway results in talking to people who simply say "monitors don't need drivers." Yet, I keep getting this message whenever Windows scans for new hardware. So, there are two issues: (A) The software issue with the driver and (B) Gateway is unable support this monitor.
After searching on my own, I found USB device drivers for the XHD3000. When I try to install the driver, Windows says it can't find the hardware associated with the software from Gateway. I pointed this out to Gateway support. Their response was to say they don't know what to say.
At this point, I'm at a loss for where to go for help.
Do YOU know someone at GATEWAY who is willing to take ownership of technical support? If so, please, send them my way. (Major / Critical issues)
Overall:
This really seems to be a 21st monitor but the support is almost 1980 Microsoft with no one wanting to take ownership and/or help.
Submitted by DustinFrazier on Thu, 2007-10-18 17:27
I just hooked up this monitor and it has a factory defect. Stay faaaar away from this monitor at all costs. A small circle appears on the right side of the screen and you can see the outline of a phillips head screw poking at the back of the screen. The circle is about the size of a dime. Even the low bass from my small hometheater subwoofer sitting all the way across the room caused this circle to appear. Any kind of pressure, even from its own stand causes this circle to appear and makes it completely unwatchable. Here is a link to another person who is experiencing the same issue. http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....1222863&page=8
He was lucky because Gateway let him do a defective exchange. I wasn't so lucky, Gateway is blaming me for this issue and refusing to take it back as defective meaning I must pay a 15% restocking fee. The tech support manager actually told me my screen was not defective just because a small circle appears whenever my subwoofer makes a sound. The funny part is the other guy's replacement monitor has the same problem. So the whole line of xhd3000s have this defect. I tried other screens in the same place as my xhd3000 and none of them experienced this issue. DO NOT BUY THIS SCREEN.
Submitted by bmoshier on Mon, 2008-03-31 17:24
Dustin,
I agree with you that Gateway support refuses to take any ownership of problems.
While I'm lucky that my screen doesn't have any defects that I have yet to notice. My 200 RMS watt sub-woofer isn't causing a problem. Knock on electrons.
I am having issues with Windows saying it needs a driver for the monitor every time I boot Windows. Gateway support told me to call Dell, then Microsoft. When I asked them to tell me what to tell these other companies, they couldn't. They refused to take responsibility for their own hardware.
Bert.
Submitted by paramedic on Sun, 2007-11-25 13:26
I just purchased 6 of these for a dispatch center and one for myself. Every monitor was flawless and has to be seen to be believed. My personal monitor is used for gaming and it rocks! Built in speakers are fine if you add a nice big subwoofer to the mix.
Submitted by FoamysKing on Fri, 2007-10-05 05:38
ill look into it i actualy live where gateway first opened but i got a friend who works there oh ya 99% of the staff there thinks water cooling is impossible what retards
Submitted by Abstrakt on Sun, 2007-10-07 14:27
lol.. thats because it is impossible, silly :P
Submitted by 808lostboy on Wed, 2007-10-03 23:50
This looks like a killer screen. But when i went to gateway to purchase it, i couldnt. there was no box to check to purchase the item.
MOST COMMENTED ARTICLES
FeaturesExclusive John Carmack Interview, Part 2: Nvidia vs Intel vs ATI
4 NEW COMMENT(S) | 32 TOTAL COMMENTS
FeaturesExclusive: We Build the First Nehalem System. Don't Tell Intel!
1 NEW COMMENT(S) | 26 TOTAL COMMENTS
THIS MONTH's ISSUE 
FEATURE The 2008 Dream MachineHOW TO Build a Custom Windows Restore DiscFIRST LOOK ATI's GeForce KillerHISTORY LESSON We celebrate 10 years of Maximum PC
Technology News
Computer Cooling Fans
Computer Cases
PC Game Controllers
PC Games
Computer Hardware
Headphones
MP3 Players
Stream Video
Computer Mouse
Monitors
Motherboards
NAS Storage
Networking
Laptop Computers
DVD Burner
Digital Cameras
Portable Storage
Computer Accessories
Smartphone
Antivirus Software
Sound Cards
Speakers
Computer Systems
Thumb Drives
Video Cameras
Video Card Reviews
Water Cooling
- Keyboards
© 2008 Future US, Inc. All Rights Reserved.