Asus PA248Q vs PA249Q - Worth it?

So I'm looking to replace my Dell 2407 WFP that I got many years ago with a new 24" IPS ... been EXTREMELY frustrated with calibration and prints lately, just can never seem to get anything consistent. Have a Spyder4 Pro, Huey Pro, just never could get a good print match. The stupid DVI wont let you set Contrast. I'm convinced its my monitor. I re-ran the calibration, changed some of the levels of RGB colors, and COMPLETELY screwed up my display. Had to re-calibrate like 3 times till I got it back close to what it was. I've just had it.

So in reading some posts and other reviews, the Asus PA248Qseems pretty awesome at $270/Amazon with rebate. Its replacement PA249Qlooks like was recently released, and is pretty hefty at $472. The specs look almost identical.

I'm willing to spend the $ if it's worth it for the newer model, but I just cant justify other monitors at $600+ price vs. something like this (saving $ for other filters). Most important to me is calibration for photography, so the pre-calibration really interests me. I don't play games at all.

So anyone had both? It looks like the brightness went up a little, it's an AH-IPS vs. just IPS, 10-bit vs. 8-bit, and 1 more preset. Is double the cash worth it? I'll very likely keep the Dell as a second, considering it was free . Thanks!

Doug

If you really need accurate color then Eizo/NEC are the way to go.

Thanks Tim, but as I said, I'm trying to stay around $500, which is why I'm not going 27 ro 30". There's no way I can afford a $1k+ monitor even if I wanted it no matter what it does. I'm not a pro photog yet, but I want a great quality IPS 24" that I can trust.

I use a 23" Dell IPS monitor calibrated with Spyder 4 express. My prints looks very similar to my monitor. If you're having no luck perhaps you need to get someone in to guide you, rather than just buying a new monitor.