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Problem with dual Dell 2408WFP monitors
Hi, hope this is the right forum. I think it is a monitor issue rather than a driver issue.
I have a Dell Dimension 8400, a couple of years old now, with a Radeon X800 video card that has VGA and DVI-D outputs. I'd previously run dual Dell 20" flatscreens from it, one (left hand monitor) connected to the VGA ouptut, the other (right hand monitor) connected to the DVI-D output. The right hand monitor also has a VGA connection to a server so if I need to view the screen of the server I can do so by changing the source.
That setup worked perfectly.
I've just changed the monitors to dual Dell 2408WFP (highly recommended if anybody is considering one) in exactly the same configuration as before however am having some problems.
When I switch the monitors on in the morning the left hand monitor tends to not detect the VGA input. Similarly if I change the input on the right hand monitor (to view the desktop of the server) the left hand monitor goes blank as if it's detecting that the right hand monitor input is changing. The left hand is still on VGA but says it detects no signal.
In both cases to restore the left hand monitor picture (remember I've not changed the source on the left hand monitor) I have to go into Display Properties > Settings and then uncheck and recheck 'Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor' (i.e. basically something to make the 'Apply' button active) and then drag the left hand monitor (identified as 2) to the left of the right hand monitor (identified as number 1).
It's a bit of a pain having to do that every time I change source on the right hand monitor. And setup-wise this is exactly as it was, it's just the screens that have been changed.
Has anybody experienced this?
Thanks,
Simon
Message Edited by simonrl on 06-26-2008 11:20 AM
Message Edited by simonrl on 06-26-2008 11:22 AM
Wish I'd looked at this thread sooner...
So, you have a machine hooked up by DVI. The computer goes to sleep, and the monitor shuts down. Then when you wake the computer, the monitor doesn't? Right?
That could explain a lot. I've been getting that behaviour with my Mac Pro and a 2408, but I assumed it was a problem with the computer not waking from sleep properly. Maybe the computer is waking but the screen isn't.
However, turning the screen off and back on again doesn't seem to be helping. The screen goes straight back into power-save.
I'll look a bit more closely at this and try to figure out what's going on.
Overall, I'm getting more and more unhappy with my 2408. Small text is difficult to read due to this "halo" effect, it's rather idiosyncratic with colour rendering, and now it seems it may not wake from powersave properly. It wasn't purchased from Dell, but from another online retailer here in the UK (you can probably guess who... seeing as they have great prices on the 2408).
Anyone know what Dell's policy on returns is if the monitor wasn't purchased from them? I assume my argument is with the retailer and not Dell, but if it's not "suitable for the purpose for which it was purchased"...
Thanks for the repsonses to this :smileyhappy:
Since I originally posted I've changed my PC to a XPS420 with an ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics card. The two 2408WFP monitors are now both connected by DVI.
This has fixed the problem with the secondary monitor shutting down.But I'm still finding the primary and secondary monitors are switching themselves over. Primary is the one on the right, seconday to the left so in the Windows Display Settings it goes 2 1 left to right. I find if the computer goes to sleep or I restart this changes over to 1 2, meaning I have pretty much every time I come to the PC open the Display Settings, move the monitors about and move my desktop icons around. A pain in the neck - and not what I'd expect from a new PC and two new monitors.
Is this likely to be a display adapter, Windows or monitor issue?Thanks!
Simon
bcr5784
7 Posts
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Posted June 28th, 2008 06:00
A number of people have had trouble with Monitors not coming out of Standby on the DVI input (but not VGA as far as I am aware)- and revision A01 of the monitor firmware is intended to fix that. I have that problem - and I suspect it is due to the fact on my monitor DDC/CI doesn't appear to work on DVI (or HDMI).
It may be that there is a timing issue with DDC/CI, rather than totally missing functionality, and so similar symptoms may appear on VGA, depending on the graphics card or driver.
It may be worth downloading SoftMCCS and seeing what it reports (it's free and a useful utility anyway)