About your monitor Package contents Your monitor ships with the components shown in the table below. If any component is missing, contact Dell technical support. For more information, see Contact Dell. NOTE: Some items may be optional and may not ship with your monitor.
Page 7
Power cable (varies by country) DisplayPort cable (DisplayPort to DisplayPort) VGA cable (Japan only) USB 3.0 upstream cable (enables the USB ports on the monitor) • Quick Setup Guide • Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information │ About your monitor...
Product features The Dell P2421 monitor has an active matrix, Thin-Film Transistor (TFT), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and LED backlight. The monitor features include: • 61.13 cm (24.1 in.) viewable area (measured diagonally). 1920 x 1200 (16:10) resolution, plus full-screen support for lower resolutions.
Identifying parts and controls Front view Front panel controls Label Description Function buttons (For more information, see Operating the monitor) Power On/Off button (with LED indicator) │ About your monitor...
Stand release button Releases stand from the monitor. Barcode, serial number, and Refer to this label if you need to Service Tag label contact Dell for technical support. Cable-management slot Use to organize cables by inserting them through the slot. │...
Side view Label Description USB 3.0 downstream ports (2) Connect your USB device. NOTE: To use these ports, you must connect the USB cable (shipped with your monitor) to the USB-upstream port on the monitor and to your computer. │ About your monitor...
Bottom view Bottom view without monitor stand Label Description Security lock slot Secures the monitor with security lock (security lock not included). Power connector Connect the power cable (shipped with your monitor). DisplayPort Connect your computer with the DisplayPort cable (shipped with your monitor). HDMI port Connect your computer with the HDMI cable.
Monitor specifications Model P2421 Screen type Active matrix - TFT LCD Panel technology In-Plane Switching Technology Aspect ratio 16:10 Viewable image Diagonal 611.3 mm (24.10 in.) Width (active area) 518.4 mm (20.41 in.) Height (active area) 324.0 mm (12.76 in.) Total area 167961.6 mm...
Height adjustable stand 130 mm Tilt -5° to 21° Swivel -45° to 45° Pivot -90° to 90° Dell Display Manager Easy Arrange and other key features compatibility Security Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately) Resolution specifications Model P2421 Horizontal scan range...
NOTE: Dell monitors are designed to work optimally with the video cables that are shipped with your monitor. As Dell does not have control over the different cable suppliers in the market, the type of material, connector and process used to manufacture these cables, Dell does not guarantee video performance on cables that are not shipped with your Dell monitor.
Page 17
Height (compressed) 370.8 mm (14.60 in.) Width 531.0 mm (20.91 in.) Depth 166.0 mm (6.54 in.) Dimensions (without stand) Height 349.5 mm (13.76 in.) Width 531.0 mm (20.91 in.) Depth 44.1 mm (1.73 in.) Stand dimensions Height (extended) 400.8 mm (15.78 in.) Height (compressed) 353.4 mm (13.91 in.) Width...
Environmental characteristics Model P2421 Compliant standards • ENERGY STAR certified monitor • EPEAT registered where applicable. EPEAT registration varies by country. See www.epeat.net for registration status by country. • RoHS-compliant • TCO certified displays • BFR/PVC free monitor (excluding external cables) •...
Power management modes If you have VESA's DPM™ compliance display card or software installed on your computer, the monitor can automatically reduce its power consumption when not in use. This is referred to as Power Save Mode*. If the computer detects input from the keyboard, mouse, or other input devices, the monitor automatically resumes to function.
NOTE: : Power consumption of On mode as defined in Energy Star 8.0 version. TEC: Total energy consumption in kWh as defined in Energy Star 8.0 version. Pin assignments DisplayPort connector 20-pin side of the connected signal number cable ML3 (n) ML3 (p) ML2 (n) ML2 (p)
Page 21
Re-PWR +3.3 V DP_PWR HDMI connector 19-pin side of the number connected signal cable TMDS DATA 2+ TMDS DATA 2 SHIELD TMDS DATA 2- TMDS DATA 1+ TMDS DATA 1 SHIELD TMDS DATA 1- TMDS DATA 0+ TMDS DATA 0 SHIELD TMDS DATA 0- TMDS CLOCK+ TMDS CLOCK SHIELD...
Page 22
DVI connector 24-pin side of the number connected signal cable TMDS RX2- TMDS RX2+ TMDS Ground Floating Floating DDC Clock DDC Data Floating TMDS RX1- TMDS RX1+ TMDS Ground Floating Floating +5 V/+3.3 V power Self test Hot Plug Detect TMDS RX0- TMDS RX0+ TMDS Ground...
Page 23
VGA connector 15-pin side of the number connected signal cable Video-Red Video-Green Video-Blue Self-test GND-R GND-G GND-B Computer 5 V/3.3 V GND-sync DDC data H-sync V-sync DDC clock │ About your monitor...
Plug and play capability You can install the monitor in any Plug and Play-compatible system. The monitor automatically provides the computer system with its Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) using Display Data Channel (DDC) protocols so that the system can configure itself and optimize the monitor settings.
USB 3.0 upstream connector Pin number 9-pin side of the connector SSTX- SSTX+ SSRX- SSRX+ USB 3.0 downstream connector Pin number 9-pin side of the connector SSRX- SSRX+ SSTX- SSTX+ │ About your monitor...
During the LCD Monitor manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to become fixed in an unchanging state which are hard to see and do not affect the display quality or usability. For more information on Dell Monitor Quality and Pixel Policy, see www.dell.com/support/monitors.
Maintenance guidelines Cleaning your monitor CAUTION: Read and follow the Safety instructions before cleaning the monitor. WARNING: Before cleaning the monitor, unplug the monitor power cable from the electrical outlet. For best practices, follow the instructions in the list below when unpacking, cleaning, or handling your monitor: •...
Setting up the monitor Attaching the stand NOTE: The stand is not installed at the factory when shipped. NOTE: The following instructions are applicable only for attaching the stand that was shipped with your monitor. If you are attaching a stand that you purchased from any other source, follow the set up instructions that were included with the stand.
Page 29
6. Lift the cover, as shown, to access the VESA area for stand assembly. 7. Attach the stand assembly to the monitor. a. Fit the two tabs on the upper part of the stand to the groove on the back of the monitor.
Page 30
8. Place the monitor upright. NOTE: Lift the monitor carefully to prevent it from slipping or falling. 9. Remove the cover from the monitor. │ Setting up the monitor...
WARNING: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the Safety instructions. NOTE: Dell monitors are designed to work optimally with Dell supplied inbox cables. Dell does not guarantee the video quality and performance when using non-Dell cables. NOTE: Route the cables through the cable-management slot before connecting them.
Connecting the USB 3.0 cable After you have completed connecting the VGA/DisplayPort/HDMI/DVI cable, follow the procedures below to connect the USB 3.0 cable to the computer and complete your monitor setup: 1. Connect the upstream USB 3.0 port (cable supplied) to an appropriate USB 3.0 port on your computer.
Removing the monitor stand NOTE: To prevent scratches on the LCD screen when removing the stand, ensure that the monitor is placed on a soft, clean surface. NOTE: The following instructions are applicable only for attaching the stand that was shipped with your monitor. If you are attaching a stand that you purchased from any other source, follow the set up instructions that were included with the stand.
Page 35
3. Use a Phillips crosshead screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the plastic cover. 4. Attach the mounting bracket from the wall mounting kit to the monitor. 5. Mount the monitor on the wall. For more information, see the documentation that shipped with the wall mounting kit.
Operating the monitor Power on the monitor Press the Power button to turn On the monitor. Using the front-panel controls Use the control buttons on the front of the monitor to adjust settings. The following table describes the front-panel buttons: Front-panel button Description Use this button to choose from a list of preset color...
Use the MENU button to launch the On-Screen Display (OSD). See Accessing the menu system. Menu Use this button to exit the OSD main menu. Exit Use the Power button to turn the monitor On and Off. Power The white light indicates the monitor is On and fully (with power light functional.
Using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu Accessing the menu system NOTE: If you change the settings and then either proceed to another menu or exit the OSD menu, the monitor automatically saves those changes. The changes are also saved if you change the settings and then wait for the OSD menu to disappear.
Page 39
Icon Menu and Description Submenus Brightness/ Use this menu to activate Brightness/Contrast Contrast adjustment. Brightness Brightness adjusts the luminance of the backlight. Press the button to increase the brightness and press the button to decrease the brightness (min. 0 / max. 100). Contrast Adjusts the Brightness first, and then adjust the Contrast only if further adjustment is necessary.
Page 40
Auto Adjust Use this menu to activate automatic setup and adjust menu. Auto Adjust allows the monitor to self-adjust to the incoming video signal. After using Auto Adjust, you can further tune your monitor by using the Pixel Clock (Coarse) and Phase (Fine) controls under Display settings.
Page 41
Input Source Use the Input Source menu to select between the different video signals that may be connected to your monitor. Select the VGA input when you are using the VGA connector. Press the button to confirm the selection. DVI-D Select the DVI-D input when you are using the DVI- D connector.
Page 42
Color Use Color to adjust the color setting mode. Preset Modes Allows you to choose from a list of preset color modes. • Standard: Loads the monitor's default color settings. This is the default preset mode. • ComfortView: Decreases the level of blue light emitted from the screen to make viewing more comfortable for your eyes.
Page 43
Preset Modes To reduce the risk of eye strain and neck/arm/ back/shoulder pain from using the monitor for long periods of time, we suggest you to: 1. Set the distance of the screen between 20 to 28 in. (50 - 70 cm) from your eyes. 2.
Page 44
Input Color Allows you to set the video input mode to: Format • RGB: Select this option if your monitor is connected to a computer (or media player) using the VGA, DVI-D, DisplayPort, or HDMI cable. • YPbPr: Select this option if your media player supports only YPbPr output.
Page 45
Display Use the Display menu to adjust images. Aspect Ratio Adjusts the image ratio to Wide 16:10, 4:3, or 5:4. Horizontal to adjust the image left or right (min. 0 Position / max. 100). Vertical to adjust the image up or down (min. 0 Position / max.
Page 46
Sharpness This feature can make the image look sharper or softer. to adjust the sharpness from '0' to '100'. Pixel Clock The Phase and Pixel Clock adjustments allow you to adjust your monitor to your preference. to adjust for best image quality. Phase If satisfactory results are not obtained using the Phase adjustment, use the Pixel Clock (coarse)
Page 47
Menu Select this option to adjust the settings of the OSD, such as, the languages of the OSD, the amount of time the menu remains on screen, and so on. Language Sets the OSD display to one of the eight languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, or Japanese).
Page 48
Lock With the control buttons on the monitor locked, you can prevent people from accessing the controls. It also prevents accidental activation in multiple monitors side-by-side setup. • Menu Buttons: All Menu/function buttons (except the Power button) are locked and not accessible by the user.
Page 49
Personalize Shortcut Key 1 Allows you to choose a feature from Preset Modes, Brightness/Contrast, Auto Adjust, Input Source, Shortcut Key 2 Aspect Ratio, or Rotation and set it as a shortcut key. Power Button Allows you to set the power LED indicator on or off to save energy.
Page 50
Others Select this option to adjust the OSD settings, such as DDC/CI, LCD Conditioning, and so on. Display Info Displays the monitor's current settings. DDC/CI DDC/CI (Display Data Channel/Command Interface) allows your monitor parameters (brightness, color balance, and etc.) to be adjustable via the software on your computer.
Page 51
Service Tag Displays the service tag of your monitor. This string is required when you look for phone support, check your warranty status, update drivers on Dell's website, etc. Reset Others Resets all settings under the Others menu to the factory preset values.
OSD warning message When the monitor does not support a particular resolution mode, you will see the following message: This means that the monitor cannot synchronize with the signal that it is receiving from the computer. See Monitor specifications for the Horizontal and Vertical frequency ranges addressable by this monitor.
Page 53
When the monitor goes into power-save mode, the following message appears: Activate the computer and wake up the monitor to gain access to the OSD. NOTE: The message may be slightly different according to the connected input signal. The OSD functions only in the normal operation mode. If you press any button other than the power button during the Active-off mode, the following message will appear depending on the selected input: Activate the computer and the monitor to gain access to the OSD.
Depending on your computer, complete one of the following procedures: If you have a Dell desktop or portable computer: • Go to https://www.dell.com/support, enter your service tag, and download the latest driver for your graphics card. If you are using a non-Dell computer (portable or desktop): •...
Using the tilt, swivel, and vertical extension NOTE: The following instructions are applicable only for attaching the stand that was shipped with your monitor. If you are attaching a stand that you purchased from any other source, follow the set up instructions that were included with the stand.
Rotating the monitor Before you rotate the monitor, your monitor should be fully vertically extended (Vertical extension) and fully tilted up to avoid hitting the bottom edge of the monitor. Rotate clockwise │ Operating the monitor...
Rotate counterclockwise NOTE: To use the Display Rotation function (Landscape versus Portrait view) with your Dell computer, you require an updated graphics driver that is not included with this monitor. To download the graphics driver, go to www.dell.com/support and see the Download section for Video Drivers for latest driver updates.
After you have rotated your monitor, you need to complete the procedure below to adjust the Rotation Display Settings of your system. NOTE: If you are using the monitor with a non-Dell computer, you need to go the graphics driver website or your computer manufacturer website for information on rotating the 'contents' on your display.
Troubleshooting WARNING: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the Safety instructions. Self-test Your monitor provides a self-test feature that allows you to check whether your monitor is functioning properly. If your monitor and computer are properly connected but the monitor screen remains dark, run the monitor self-test by performing the following steps: 1.
Page 60
4. This box also appears during normal system operation, if the video cable becomes disconnected or damaged. 5. Turn Off your monitor and reconnect the video cable; then turn On both your computer and the monitor. If your monitor screen remains blank after you use the previous procedure, check your video controller and computer, because your monitor is functioning properly.
Built-in diagnostics Your monitor has a built-in diagnostic tool that helps you determine if the screen abnormality you are experiencing is an inherent problem with your monitor, or with your computer and video card. To run the built-in diagnostics: 1. Ensure that the screen is clean (no dust particles on the surface of the screen).
Common problems The following table contains general information about common monitor problems you might encounter and the possible solutions: Common What you Possible solutions symptoms experience No Video/Power No picture • Ensure that the video cable LED off connecting the monitor and the computer is properly connected and secure.
Page 63
• Cycle power On-Off. spots • Pixel that is permanently Off is a natural defect that can occur in LCD technology. • For more information on Dell Monitor Quality and Pixel Policy, see Dell support site at: www.dell.com/ support/monitors. Stuck-on Pixels LCD screen has •...
Page 64
Safety Related Visible signs of • Do not perform any troubleshooting Issues smoke or sparks steps. • Contact Dell immediately. Intermittent Monitor • Ensure that the video cable Problems malfunctions on & connecting the monitor to the computer is connected properly and is secure.
Page 65
Missing Color Picture missing • Perform monitor self-test feature color check. • Ensure that the video cable connecting the monitor to the computer is connected properly and is secure. • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector. Wrong Color Picture color not •...
Product specific problems Common What you Possible solutions symptoms experience Screen image is too Image is centered • Check the Aspect Ratio setting in the small on screen, but Display menu OSD. does not fill entire • Reset the monitor to factory settings. viewing area Cannot adjust the OSD does not...
Universal Serial Bus (USB) specific problems Common What you Possible solutions symptoms experience USB interface is USB peripherals • Check that your monitor is turned On. not working are not working • Reconnect the upstream cable to your computer. • Reconnect the USB peripherals (downstream connector).
For customers in the United States, call 800-WWW-DELL (800-999-3355). NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options.