The LG 34UM95 is annoying

[tempestuous]

I just got an LG 34UM95. Everyone raves about this monitor, but the only point I'm stuck on so far with it is a bit of infuriating behavior it has been exhibiting.

Every time I turn the monitor on, wake it from power-saving mode, or switch from one input to another (e.g. switching from HDMI to DisplayPort), every window on my Windows desktop is shoved into the upper left corner, as if the resolution had been changed. I'm running the recommended 3440 x 1440 resolution.

I have a laptop running Win7 connected via a DisplayPort-to-HDMI conversion cable (connected to the 34UM95's HDMI input), and a Win8.1 PC connected to the 34UM95's DisplayPort input the usual way.

The resolution-change-every-window-moved behavior happens on the laptop and on Win8.1. I don't think the laptop's connection has anything to do with this, because as I mentioned, it happens even when I'm using my PC, the monitor goes to sleep, and I move the mouse to wake it up.

As you can probably imagine, this is extremely irritating to deal with constantly.

Any idea how to stop this behavior? I'm going to ship this bloody monitor back if not.

 

[Skott]

Have you read the HF thread dedicated to this monitor? If I'm not mistaken there is a post explaining how to fix it. I remember some posts about that.

 

[tempestuous]

I'm guessing you are referring to this thread. Thank you. There are several others who report the same problem in that thread. It also led me to (what I thought was) a fix, which is here.

Edit: Well, nope, that wasn't a fix. It was a some-of-the-time fix. The window rearranging nonsense persists, although only at seemingly random circumstances. It's about 75% better than it was, though.

 

[tempestuous]

Thanks, but this issue is not caused by LG's Split Screen software.

I have a new DisplayPort KVM switch on order, so hopefully that helps.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

Thanks, but this issue is not caused by LG's Split Screen software.

I have a new DisplayPort KVM switch on order, so hopefully that helps.

Any update on how the KVM worked for you? Which one did you get? I've been looking at picking up the same display, but with it's one displayport input I'll need a KVM.

 

[tempestuous]

Any update on how the KVM worked for you? Which one did you get? I've been looking at picking up the same display, but with it's one displayport input I'll need a KVM.

The unfortunate truth is that since the 34UM95 was designed for 3440 x 1440 resolution at 60 Hz, it's not compatible with standard and commonly available DisplayPort KVM switches. I only found two semi-affordable (though still highly expensive) options.

The least expensive--and the one I opted for--was the High Sec Labs K502-SH (their US distributor is Smart-AVI). I paid $468 USD for the K502. (Unfortunately, the K502 is not available at Amazon.com.)

The next one in line (as far as my consideration goes) was the Belkin F1DN102P. This one is available at Amazon.com and is somewhat over $700 (big jump in price!). If you glance at the web page I just linked to, you know as much about the F1DN102P as I do.

The K502 works fine. Switching from one host to the other takes 3 seconds, or a tiny bit more, with the 34UM95. Note that the K502 comes with a power supply, but nothing else (i.e. no cables). Also, the K502 requires two USB 2.0 "Type A to B" cables. The corresponding USB 3.0 cables will not work, because the plug is different. The K502 will not accept USB 3.0 cables.

The K502 is ugly. It doesn't look quite as bad as it does in pictures, but it won't be winning any beauty contests, either.

The thing that bothers me most (besides having to shell out so damned much money) is that the secure KVM switch blocks all but basic mouse/keyboard functionality. I really mean this. When my Logitech MX-518 mouse is connected through the K502, the Logitech Gaming Software doesn't detect it. I don't use the profiles in LGS, but I do use LGS to map the middle mouse button to the double click function, so this is an issue for me.

Also, the volume and media controls on my keyboard don't function when connected through the K502. And get this: Even the caps lock and num lock lights don't work! This is by design, and I'm not complaining. These secure KVM switches are designed to block everything other than core keyboard/mouse functionality. (I did inquire with High Sec Labs, and a representative did confirm that all this is expected behavior.)

I will probably be hooking my keyboard/mouse up to a separate USB switch to get around this. (So the K502 will go from being a "KVM switch" to a "V switch".) I just can't stand my keyboard and mouse not working the way I'm used to. Another thing with having my Logitech G710+ keyboard connected through the K502 is that the keyboard stays lit up even when both host systems are turned off, as long as the K502 has power. This won't be a problem with a USB switch. (The lights can be turned of manually, but I don't need the added hassle.)

I know I can plug each host computer into the 34UM95 and use the monitor's controller to switch inputs. I did this for about a week, and I can't stand it. It's a hassle to flip that controller, wait for the monitor to respond, flip it over this way and the other, navigate the menus... I hate it.

I'm guessing that eventually, regular KVM switches will be offered that support 3440 x 1440 @ 60 Hz. But I'm not a patient man.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

Bummer, you just verified what my searching has been turning up. I really wanted to purchase that display, but losing all current KVM capabilities isn't an option.

I know I can plug each host computer into the 34UM95 and use the monitor's controller to switch inputs. I did this for about a week, and I can't stand it. It's a hassle to flip that controller, wait for the monitor to respond, flip it over this way and the other, navigate the menus... I hate it.

Isn't there only one input, the displayport, on the 34UM95 that supports the full native resolution? I was thinking I could use my current KVM for just the keyboard/mouse, but that would have me moving the displayport cable from pc to pc, if I could just change the input on the display I might be able to deal with it.

 

[tempestuous]

I know you can't get full spec if you use the HDMI port of the 34UM95; I'm not sure about the Thunderbolt ports though. (It would have been nice of them to include more than 1 DP input, no?)

 

[InfiniteLurker]

I've never looked into Thunderbolt before, but the little reading I have done points to it being backwards compatible with mini Displayport. Does that mean I could use the mini Displayport outputs of my various PCs to drive the 34UM95 via the Thunderbolt inputs?

Also, according to this piece of a review from the LG site, it looks like you can use the monitor as a KVM:

The big thing for cross-platform users is the rear I/O. It is a REAL THUNDERBOLT DOCK and KVM switch all in one! I have my late 2013 MBP (GTX 750) retina connected to one of the back TB ports. Thunderbolt and ONLY thunderbolt. No other USB or audio, nothing. JUST the TB cable. I have the uplink USB cable connected from the display to my PC tower (I am a gamer also so I have a megaton PC). I then have only one keyboard and one mouse plugged into the "in" USB ports on the rear of the display. It's its own KVM switch. It works flawlessly!!! If you do this, you will need to go to LG's website and download the ASmedia USB controller driver for it or your PC will have a tantrum and shut down all your input devices via USB. So get that driver installed first then go for it. All I have to do is use the display's menu to switch back and forth between my mac and PC and the I/O does the magic. It recognizes when you are using one or the other and switches the keyboard and mouse input respectively.

 

[tempestuous]

I looked into using the Thunderbolt input of the 34UM95, because my work laptop's docking station has a mini DP jack (though not a Thunderbolt jack). However, I'm pretty sure this won't work. I believe it would only work if the host had a Thunderbolt output and the monitor had a mini DP input (or, of course, a Thunderbolt input).

I've read that guy's raving about the "KVM switch" he claims is built into the monitor, but the claim is a bit off-base. One device has to support Thunderbolt, the other uses USB/HDMI or USB/DP.

 

[lavaheadache]

I have the monitor and don't experience the behavior. I'm willing to bet it's a windows issue more than a monitor one.

 

[tempestuous]

I have the monitor and don't experience the behavior. I'm willing to bet it's a windows issue more than a monitor one.

Those are unrelated statements, but I tend to agree, although it's not necessarily a black and white issue. It could be both something screwy about Windows and something screwy being done by the monitor that exacerbates the issue. In my searches, I found people complaining about the same problem with multi-monitor setups. Changes to the Windows registry do help mitigate the problem.

I found several other people in the HF thread mentioned above who mentioned they had it happen with the 34UM95:

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