Dell U2713HM buzzing noise

xy16644 · 28 Oct 2012 at 22:20

On Friday I took delivery of my Dell U2713HM monitor from OCUK. It was all going well until I noticed that when I have certain windows open the monitor makes a buzzing noise. I noticed someone else had this issue on the Dell forum but after they tried doing a factory reset etc there weren't anymore posts from Dell.

Is this normal for a monitor costing this much? I find it really annoying having to listen to this buzzing noise in the background. Its not constant either so the loudness of the buzzing changes depending on what windows I have open! Certain white backgrounds and a particular spreadsheet of mine make it buzz everytime. In the spreadsheet if I minimise it then the buzzing goes away...restore the windows (maximise) and the buzzing starts again! I tried connecting the monitors power plug into another socket on the wall and this made no difference. Before I had it plugged into a power strip.

Is the monitor faulty? Any ideas or help anyone can offer? This monitors fantastic but this buzzing noise is a pain!

I'm running Windows 7 Pro 64bit and I am using Displayport for the connection to the Intel HD 4000 graphics card on the PC.

xy16644 · 29 Oct 2012 at 22:12

Thanks for all the replies!

I have not tried any other interfaces on the monitor yet. My motherboard only has HDMI and Displayport. I have only tried Displayport so far. I am trying to find an HDMI cable so that I can test this connection.

This evening I plugged my new computer and monitor into the new APC surge protector I bought to protect my equipment. This did not help with the buzzing noise.

Its such a shame as this monitor is mind blowingly good. I've never experienced image quality like this before.

I'm still not sure if I can tolerate the constant buzzing noise which varies depending on what I am viewing.

I did try doing a factory reset on the monitor but this made no difference at all.

The other strange thing is, when I turn the desktop on and I'm in the BIOS screen (or at the BIOS logo when the machine initially comes on) there is zero buzzing...but as soon as the Windows desktop appears the buzzing starts.

Also, when changing between a spreadsheet, email and some website the buzzing has varying degrees of "buzziness". Its so odd. I can't believe this is normal for such a high end (and expensive) monitor!

xy16644 · 29 Oct 2012 at 22:18

Could it be the Displayport cable itself that causes this buzzing noise? I did order a value OCUK cable with the monitor:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-071-OK

xy16644 · 30 Oct 2012 at 07:32

Diagro said:
Direct from hazro

The high pitch noise originates from the T-CON board and is common on 30" monitors (regardless of brand). LGs policy is if it is >38dB, it can be claimed for under warranty - but this is under normal use and not when an all white background is constantly used. No 2 panels are ever the same and in many studios where we have fitted +200 monitors, some buzz more than others. It is not a defect - more of a nuisance.

What is Dells policy regarding this? How does one know its louder than 38dB if you don't have sound measuring equipment?

xy16644 · 30 Oct 2012 at 12:39

I tried this:

http://davidvielmetter.com/tricks/howto-stop-lcd-from-making-humming-noise/

and it made no difference whatsoever.

xy16644 · 30 Oct 2012 at 13:08

No speakers built into this monitor...

Turning up the brightness to 100% did nothing for the buzzing. Nor did reducung the gamma.

xy16644 · 30 Oct 2012 at 21:03

Hi All

Heres the latest I tried this evening:

1) I used the HDMI port on the monitor to my laptop. This still resulted in a buzzing noise when opening spreadsheets, browsing websites etc

2) I tried a different power cord to the monitor and plugged it into a different socket in the wall. This made no difference and the buzzing continued.

3) I tried changing the refresh rate from 59hz to 60hz. This also made no difference.

4) I also tried adjusting the brightness in the Intel drivers screen but this didn't help either.

I'm out of ideas now and will be contacting OCUK support to request a replacement (I've only had it since Friday last week). I can't believe this is normal for such a high end (and expensive) monitor to make such a buzzing noise of various loudness.

At work someone next to me has two Dell 24" monitors (not sure the exact model) and neither of them make this buzzing noise. I put my ear right up to each monitor and neither made the buzzing noise. I have a 20" Dell at work and it doesn't make any buzzing sound either.

xy16644 · 30 Oct 2012 at 22:03

I have no way of knowing if its 38dB or not...

xy16644 · 31 Oct 2012 at 20:09

Thanks again for all the replies.

What I find so odd is how the buzzing intensity varies. For example, I can be reading an email in Thunderbird and theres pretty much no noise and then I'll select another email and the buzzing will start. Same goes for websites, spreadsheets, documents. In other words, the buzzing is intermittent and the noise level varies.

I listened quite carefully to a work colleagues dual 24" Dell monitor setup today and there was zero buzzing coming from either monitor. And that was with my ear on the top of the monitor! At home when the buzzing starts on certain screens I can hear it from the other side of the room!

Sigh.

xy16644 · 2 Nov 2012 at 21:59

I've got an RMA number and OCUK are picking up the monitor on Monday.

In the meantime I need to connect a loan 19" monitor:

HP Compaq LA1951g

to the HDMI port on my desktop. The monitor has a DVI-D connection. From what I can tell it is a dual link DVI-D (I think) connector.

The question is, do I buy a single link DVI-D to HDMI cable or a dual link DVI-D to HDMI cable?

This is just so I can temporarily use the HP monitor while my Dell monitor is at OCUK.

Thanks for any help!

xy16644 · 4 Nov 2012 at 17:02

Greetings falcon26!

OCUK are picking up my monitor tomorrow to test it. I will let everyone know how it goes. Its such a shame, the quality of this monitor is mind blowingly good!

xy16644 · 22 Nov 2012 at 07:37

Maccy said:
xy16644 I'm going to put you in touch with a good lad, 5UB on the forums, who will look after you and sort this out.

Thanks, I appreciate it. Does he work for OCUK?

I see my complaint post has been deleted...

xy16644 · 22 Nov 2012 at 12:58

5UB said:
xy16644, so I can help you are you able to make a new thread in the Customer Service section with the issues and current issues you are having. And please also include your order number for the product. And explain the things you are not happy with. Feel free to be blunt and to the point, once I know the full details I can look into what I can do to help you.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=116

Hi 5UB

I will create the new thread tonight when I return from work. If my original post can be emailed to me that would be great. I can use that as a template rather than start from scratch.

xy16644 · 22 Nov 2012 at 21:30

I have created the new post at:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=23223455#post23223455

Its a copy and paste of my original complaint plus a bit more.

xy16644 · 12 Dec 2012 at 21:39

Hi Everyone

I'd just like to let everyone know that OCUK have fully refunded me for the Dell monitor I returned to them (all the money is in my account as of today). They also refunded the "testing" fee they charged to my credit card. Its taken about 6 or so weeks but at least the issue was (finally) resolved and I was able to speak to someone who helped me through all the frustrations I had when dealing with this experience (thanks Bailey!).

I'm still without a monitor though for my new desktop I have built. I've been thinking of getting the Viewsonic VP2770-LED. Does this monitor buzz? Anyone care to comment?