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Dell shows a misleading image quality picture to flog graphics cards
TIN BOX FLOGGER Dell has been caught offering misleading advice on the image quality produced by 'standard' and 'high-end' graphics cards.
As part of Dell's 'Help Me Choose" website on graphics cards, the firm shows two seemingly identical monitors displaying the same image. The image on one of the monitors connected to a "standard graphics card" appears to have muted colours and be out of focus, while the second monitor connected to a "high-end graphics card" has a sharper image with higher colour saturation.
While the drastic image difference is woefully misleading, curiously Dell's textual description of integrated and discrete graphics, albeit simplistic, is on the mark.
Dell's summary of integrated graphics, which the firm claims is a "basic solution", says, "While integrated graphics are capable of processing some 3D images, the shared resources can sometimes prevent them from delivering an optimal experience."
As for Dell's summary of discrete graphics cards, which the firm labels as a "Mid-range to high-end solution", it said, "Because this solution does not burden the CPU and system memory, overall system performance is likely to be significantly better with discrete graphics when running applications that use complex images."
Although many computer enthusiasts might be unhappy at the lack of detail, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with Dell's summary of integrated and discrete graphics cards. The problem is with the graphical representation, which the firm knows is what consumers will remember.
Assuming Dell is showing two identical monitors connected by the same interface using the same colour profile, then it is incredibly unlikely that a 'standard graphics card' - which Dell does not define - could produce such low image quality compared to a 'high-end graphics card' - another term that Dell does not define.
Image qualities from GPU vendors such as AMD, Intel and Nvidia do vary but are usually only discernable in games with high-levels of anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering being applied. Neither would apply in the image of a Windows desktop that is displayed on both monitors in Dell's images.
Dell was unable to provide us with comment regarding its "Help me choose" graphics card advice by press time. µ
Tags: Dell
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This is probably the result of some marketing MBA that doesn't understand a thing about computers. Someone probably told them that they needed a picture that showed the graphics on a better card would be sharper and cleaner. They provided this picture not realizing the true difference. Now what's harder, Dell to say that they made a poor ethical judgement in marketing pictures or that they made poor judgement in who they hire.
Best way for them to do it would be two screen shots from the same game with the same view. One with no frill turned on, no FAA and low res. textures. The other with everything turned on. The results would be accurate, and also a truly representative difference of what occurs between on-board and discrete graphics.
EVERYWHERE GRRL WOULD HELP...
I can't say this for sure but intel graphics renders font in awful way - using the same monitor and old t43 renders way better text (less visible on pictures) than when using new HP 8440p with "great" intel hd chip. The problem can't be corrected with clear type etc (basically the edges of folnts are purple/washed out). VGA or DVI. It almost seems like drivers used some ugly compression or dithering. Some people comlained on headache after using new systems. Has anyone else noticed this?
I don't think Dell was "bad" for attempting to visually represent GPU quality.
For example, Intel's integrated graphics are obviously not as good as a graphics solution from Nvidia or AMD, but how can that be portrayed in anything but a moving image?
I think Dell was not attempting to mislead. They are just trying to illustrate a difficult-to-illustrate point about graphics quality.