Video playback quality on T400 is poor

On my T400 (has integrated graphics card), but has INTEL CORE 2 DUO PRO P8600. I noticed the video playback quality is rather poor. Whether it is DVD playback or youtube (HQ or HD), the video quality of the darker colors such as the blacks and grays is choppy (sort of "staticy" ) especially when it is in full screen. I have the high nit screen and digital pictures look absolutely beautiful and is very vibrant. I am not really sure why the video playback quality is so poor.

I have another older sony vaio (same 1280 x 800 resolution) which also has an integrated graphics card and that laptop has no problems in terms of video playback.

I actually just received my t400 about two weeks ago, but I am thinking that maybe lenovo just doesn't install high quality screens (even with the high nit option). Has anyone else noticed this? What about the people with the discrete video card? Or is their a simple fix that I am not aware of?

 

The Grey to Grey pixel response time on your LCD is too high, and contrast ratio to low, which is why it produces this sort of problem in your LCD. It is nothing to do with the graphics card or CPU>

 

Is their a way to change the gray to gray response time and contrast?

Thanks!

 

Not again ... why is it that Lenovo is so expensive and puts crap screens on their machines? If a 4 yr old laptop plays better video than a brand new Lenovo what's there to say ? even business laptops need to be able what a simple netbook can do. I have watched some 20 normal DVD movies on a cheap netbook without any problems but time and again I read about video playback problems here unless it seems you are in luck and have a LG panel on your Lenovo. The bosses at Lenovo must have some great end year bonuses by using sub standard LCDs LOL !

 

no this is a physical property of the LCD...nothing you can change.

 

Unfortunately because it's a machine made for business use, i.e. e-mail, powerpoint, and word for which crappy screens are fine. I guess that's the tradeoff for being able to stand on your laptop and bang it around.

You can make it look somewhat better by making sure you are using the Lenovo display driver and you have calibrated your screen.

 

For future reference, I'd be interested to know which thinkpad models to stay away from and which ones currently have decent screens....

 

It's like rolling a dice. The OP probably didn't have much luck even though most screens are decent enough.

 

the x200t has a decent screen
one of the w models also does, supposedly
all others have poor quality screens

 

The w700's WUXGA 400nit screen?

 

Supposedly the W500 and T500's WSXGA+ CCFL backlight are pretty good. I happen to love my WXGA+ LED panel in my T400, but then again I got lucky and got a LG panel.

 

Yup - I find no faults with my T500's CCFL WSXGA+ screen, except that it would be great if it were brighter.

The X200t is supposed to have an excellent LED-backlit S-PVA screen, and the W700's 400-nit WUXGA screen is supposed to be high quality as well.

 

you may want to check your power scheme setting as well... my t400 has pretty lousy video playback when it is on battery power and maximum battery life, for instance.