[Retired] The LCD Thread

[DoctorM]

If you were previously using a CRT, you might want to check your vid card driver's settings for your screen.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: DoctorM
I know it's a bit off topic, but can anyone help with this:
When I boot using the DVI/HDMI cable I get no signal on my screen until Windows is running.
I can connect an analog to get the boot screen and access the BIOS, but I have to disconnect the digital cable to keep my video card happy.

If its anything like my VP2130b, you have to change two things via OSD: Go to Input Select and pick DVI-D (or in your case HDMI). Then go to Setup Menu, Input Priority and tell it to look for DVI-D/HDMI first; this will prevent it from even trying to detect other inputs, because it will look at DVI-D first, find your connection, and move on.

Before I changed these two things, my ViewSonic was erratic with inputs; I only ever used one DVI-D connector and never plugged in any other type or device. Sometimes it would boot right to DVI-D, but on reboot would fail to find it, waste time searching for other inputs, try to run analog, etc. It frequently did not give me video until Windows started.

Once I changed them BOTH, it always went to straight to DVI, never searched for anything else, and always showed the initial BIOS boot screen like a normal monitor.

 

[DoctorM]

Hmm. No this doesn't seem to even automatically detect input. My only option is to pick the input: D-Sub, Video, S-Video, YPbPr or HDMI. There's no priority or autodetect or anything.

As a test I plugged a DVI to VGA converter into my vid card and used the analog cable... I get the POST screen that way. Just not DVI to HDMI.
If cboath had the same problem I'd postulate that HDMI can't carry an analog signal (which I believe is used when a system POSTS) and then switches to digital under Windows.

Edit: Confirmed the monitor to be ok: Tested on another PC with same motherboard but different vid card. POST screen is fine under HDMI. Hmmmm.

 

[DoctorM]

Damn trying to fix the startup problem I've messed up my panel.
Now when my PC is off the panel won't power itself off (I get a blue screen with HDMI No Signal).
If I turn off my screen while the PC is on when I try to turn it back on I get HDMI No Signal (and I have to reboot to get a picture again).

If anyone has technical knowledge that can help me out please PM me since I know this to be off topic.
It's looking like I have to send this back now either way. !&*@#@

 

[Trean]

You could try and call tech support. I mean if you changed a setting technically you should be able to change it back; also there usually is a way restore everything to manufacturer defaults.

I have heard of this problem before, I will try to locate where I saw information on it; and report back.

 

[DoctorM]

Viewsonic=Worst customer service ever.
Ok, so they were there at 11pm at night on a Friday and the guy even spoke English.
Mind you, he NEVER HEARD of the VX2435wm before?!?!
He was absolutely clueless. Large period of dead air over the phone while he tried to figure out what he should suggest.
I asked about a way to reset factory defaults (besides the simple Memory Recall) and he said there wasn't a way (do you buy that?).

He asked me if I still got the Blue Screen and No Signal message when I unplugged it... FROM THE WALL! I'm not kidding, I asked if that was a trick question.
His final answer? The HDMI cable must be bad and putting the monitor into an in between state it can't get out of.
So I should go out and buy a new cable (he didn't offer to send one).

It's not the cable since I can reproduce this with just the monitor and a power cable. Idiot.

It seems to be borked for good.
I can't shut it off (or let it turn itself off) while the PC is running or I'm screwed and need to reboot.
And when I shut down I have to hit the power switch to get it to turn off.

Mind you this all only occurs in DVI/HDMI. Analog works fine.
I guess when TechOnWeb returns Monday I'll RMA it.

If no one can help by then I guess we'll get to see how ToW's customer service is. Sigh.

 

[Trean]

Try ensuring that HDMI is the selected input source. I have read a few things that state the monitor does not have auto input selection therefore if you theoretically have to do it manually.


On another note, TechOnWeb raised their price on the VX. Not by much but they are not hands down the best price anymore. Provantage.com offers pretty much the same price before rebate.

 

[cboath]

It's odd. I had to set HDMI the first time I hooked things up, but only then. It's kept the HDMI setting for me just fine. No problem at all.

It's possible the HDMI cable is part of the problem, i suppose. I've seen threads (possibly this one itself) where people reported issues with panels and replacing the cable actually fixed it. If you can find a cable in your area that isn't too pricey, it might be worth a shot. I'd think it's within the realm of possibility that a digital signal halfway set something to mess it up and until the proper signal can be sent, it can't work itself out. It may sound like it's grasping at straws, but it is possible at least.

What sort of issues do you get if you just used the straight VGA cable?

Also, have you checked the back and/or sides of the panel for a reset button? Kind of like you see on a router or switch? I don't know if such a thing exists, but you'd have to imagine there is some sort or reset method. Kind of a big oversight to not have one. Is it also possible that his reset is in a hidden menu? I see people reporting certain panels show hidden menu's with the right combination that tell them what type of panel they have. If these have that menu, it could be there. That leaves a big question, though. Is there a hidden menu? and if so, how do you get it?

 

[brencat]

Curious if anyone has seen these new 22" TNs from Dell...the 2208, and how they might compare to a Samsung 226bw or 2232. There's two of them -- per the AT article. I see elsewhere that people are already bitching about bad text quality on the SP (the silver one). Wondering if the ultrasharp version is any different?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: DoctorM
Damn trying to fix the startup problem I've messed up my panel.
Now when my PC is off the panel won't power itself off (I get a blue screen with HDMI No Signal).
If I turn off my screen while the PC is on when I try to turn it back on I get HDMI No Signal (and I have to reboot to get a picture again).

If anyone has technical knowledge that can help me out please PM me since I know this to be off topic.
It's looking like I have to send this back now either way. !&*@#@

Sounds like you just messed with the Input preference options in the OSD? Press the Input button and see if you get an image...

This hard reset method worked for my ViewSonic VP930b:

Right after plugging the power cable in, I pressed first (power) and third (contrast) button, holding them down. It will briefly show a message ("All Reset") if it did work. I hope it works for you. It works for the ViewSonic VP930b and might work for the VP730b.

The POST not appearing on digital inputs is a known issue with some video card/monitor combos. What video card do you have?

 

[DoctorM]

The video card is a x850xt platinum edition from Visiontek.

Are you saying you held the buttons while plugging it in or first thing after plugging it in you held the buttons?
(This monitor has 5 buttons: 1, 2, Power, down, up)

 

[DoctorM]

Well this didn't fix my problem (I tried the EEPROM Init), but for future references of people that purchase the VX2435WM:

To get to the Factory Option Menu: Turn off the monitor. Now hold down the Up and Down buttons. Then press and release the Power button (holding the up and down buttons) until the screen comes up.
Your standard menu is now replaced by a service menu that lets you:
Auto Color, EEPROM Init, set the Vcom, Black Level, Offset, Gain, Color Temperature modes, Brightness, Contrast (Current, Max and Min) and an Auto Adjust. There's page 2 is just information only.
To get back to the original menu turn off, and then Press and hold Power until the screen comes back up.

You'd think Viewsonic's tech support would have known about this.

Edit: '2' and Down hit simultaneously while the monitor is on turns DDC/CI on and off.

 

[cboath]

Odd. Cool you figured out the menu's, though. I saved those to a text file just in case.

I have an 8800gt and don't have the hdmi and autodetect issues.

Rereading backup a bit, you say it's fine on the analog input. It's having these issues on the HDMI only. To me it seems to narrow it down to three things.

1. The jack/connection on the monitor itself.

2. The cable

3. The DVI port on your video card.

If you don't want to try anothe cable, i'd try another machine or card before going the RMA route.

 

[DoctorM]

The current problem is when there's no signal the screen stays all blue with 'No Signal'. It won't shut itself off to standby.
Also if I turn off the monitor manually while the PC is on, it won't come back from 'No Signal' to the desktop.
This is all only when the input is set to HDMI. The Analog works just fine.

I can get it to briefly work (tricking it with cable swapping and such), but once the monitor is powered off or unplugged it starts doing this all over again; with or without an HDMI cable even connected to it.
It's definitely something internal that's messed up. I thought it was a borked setting, but it could be the HDMI port itself. Can the EDID get corrupted and do this or does that only effect the info that the PC reads from it?

 

[czajunia]

Hi,
My first post here so HI to everyone.

Does anyone know what is the difference between NEC 20WMGX2 and 20WMGX2Pro? I can't find too many information on the net. They both look the same on the paper but there must be (or at least should be) a difference. The Pro version was launched like half a year after non-Pro according to prad.de. I think that a Pro version doesn't come with a TV tuner but apparently european 20WMGX2 didn't have one either. Apart from that some web sites say that non-Pro is S-IPS and Pro model is AS-IPS. I think that non-Pro has an AS-IPS panel as well, is that correct?
Thank's a lot for your answers!

 

[asintu]

Are there any 24'' monitors able to do 1:1 scaling?

 

[DoctorM]

Vx2435wm does. 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 and Full Screen.

 

[cboath]

Originally posted by: DoctorM
The current problem is when there's no signal the screen stays all blue with 'No Signal'. It won't shut itself off to standby.
Also if I turn off the monitor manually while the PC is on, it won't come back from 'No Signal' to the desktop.
This is all only when the input is set to HDMI. The Analog works just fine.

I can get it to briefly work (tricking it with cable swapping and such), but once the monitor is powered off or unplugged it starts doing this all over again; with or without an HDMI cable even connected to it.
It's definitely something internal that's messed up. I thought it was a borked setting, but it could be the HDMI port itself. Can the EDID get corrupted and do this or does that only effect the info that the PC reads from it?

Call me crazy, but i'd still try it on another machine or video card. If it still happens there, you know it's the monitor or the cable. It's possible your card isn't sending the correct signals through it's DVI port. If you have DVI-VGA adapter, put that on the DVI port of the video card and hook the vga cable to that. If that doesnt work, it'd be the port on the video card at fault. Worst case, you can eliminate the card as a potential issue.

 

[asintu]

Originally posted by: DoctorM
Vx2435wm does. 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 and Full Screen.

that's the only one on the market that currently does that?

 

[DoctorM]

asintu: I'm sure there are others, it's just the one I know.

cboath: I thought I mentioned that I plugged this into another PC and it still does the same thing.

Anyone have other 24" options for asintu?

 

[TripperJoe]

I've been trying to decide on a monitor to buy to replace my old Sony G400 19" CRT. It's been 10 years since I've bought it and it seems to be getting a little blurry on my eyes.

I use my computer for:
-gaming
-movies
-coding

I think 24"s and the 1900 resolutions are too big so I went to the B&M stores and settled on the 22" widescreen.

I just noticed this deal on the dell forums and wondered how it would suit me?

Ultrasharp 2208FWP

$275 Shipped

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: czajunia
Hi,
My first post here so HI to everyone.

Does anyone know what is the difference between NEC 20WMGX2 and 20WMGX2Pro? I can't find too many information on the net. They both look the same on the paper but there must be (or at least should be) a difference. The Pro version was launched like half a year after non-Pro according to prad.de. I think that a Pro version doesn't come with a TV tuner but apparently european 20WMGX2 didn't have one either. Apart from that some web sites say that non-Pro is S-IPS and Pro model is AS-IPS. I think that non-Pro has an AS-IPS panel as well, is that correct?
Thank's a lot for your answers!

There isn't a 20WMGX2 Pro as far as I know. There is:

- 20WMGX2: The "multimedia" version that was sold in North America.

- 20WGX2: The European version, same monitor without the tuner and extra A/V inputs. This one was later updated and renamed the 20WGX2 Pro. Allows scaling on DVI, while the M only allowed scaling on the video inputs.

I don't know about the Pro, but the 20WMGX2 is out of production.

 

[czajunia]

Originally posted by: asintu
Are there any 24'' monitors able to do 1:1 scaling?

Dell 2407WFP and -HC as well
BenQ FP241W (but be careful with early models) and FP241WP

Not 100% sure about LG L245WP but I read somewhere that it offers aspect ratio control with full screen or 1:1 setting - it works only form HDMI or component and apparently there is no 4:3 or 16:9 option.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: asintu
Are there any 24'' monitors able to do 1:1 scaling?

I know the ViewSonic VX2435 and NEC 2470WNX do, and would assume most of ther others do as well. Most manufacturer's websites have PDF user manuals that usually list the OSD options, including scaling.

 

[czajunia]

Originally posted by: Buck Armstrong

There isn't a 20WMGX2 Pro as far as I know. There is:

- 20WMGX2: The "multimedia" version that was sold in North America.

- 20WGX2: The European version, same monitor without the tuner and extra A/V inputs. This one was later updated and renamed the 20WGX2 Pro. Allows scaling on DVI, while the M only allowed scaling on the video inputs.

I don't know about the Pro, but the 20WMGX2 is out of production.

Thank's Buck! I just had a quick look and I think you are right. I must have read somewhere on the web about 20WMGX2Pro and it was meant to be 20WGX2Pro. That's probably why I couldn't find too much information about this. I am so stupid Anyway, so the 20WGX2Pro is essentialy the same as 20WGX2 (doesn't have extra A/V inputs obviously) and allows scaling on DVI but everything else is the same - I am mostly concerned about the panel (and the rest of nice bits about the monitor as well). I was a bit worried that they cut some corners as Dell did with their 2007 panels. Do you know if it offers typical 3 scaling modes (1:1, aspect, and full screen)? Or is it different here?
Thank's again!!!