Dell monitor assistance request

tmp1777 · 2 Jan 2014 at 15:29

Hello, I hope I am posting in the correct place!

I am writing in the hope someone can shed light on a few little issues I am experiencing with my new Dell 29" 2560x1080 monitor purchased from Overclockers (great service by the way).

Generally I am very very pleased with it (I'm thinking of getting another one), I've only ever had 15" laptop screens before, but the following I'm wondering about:

1. I have two laptops and a PS3 connected to the monitor. One laptop is HDMI to HDMI, the other is DP to the monitor's mini-DP. Both work fine. The PS3 however is not getting recognised. I am using an HDMI/DP cable. So I'm plugging the HDMI side into the PS3 and the other side of the cable into the monitor's "DP In" port. But the monitor is not detecting this cable at all. Should this work? I know the cable works ok as I've used it from DP port in one of my laptops to my TV's HDMI. The PS3 works ok as HDMI to the monitor's HDMI works fine. What am I missing? And if the cable is not technically sufficient is there any other way of incorporating the PS3 without having to unplug the HDMI cable form my laptop and into the PS3 every time I want to use the PS3??

2. Sometimes the monitor goes all green. I can still see the images but everything is green! Switching the monitor off then on again brings everything back to normal. Is this anything to worry about, a portend?

3. Sometimes, and it seems to be only in video (YouTube, media player movie, etc) the image seems to dip in brightness. Its difficult to describe, not enough to be a problem, and I don't think happens when the video is playing. Its really when I first start the video, or if I stop it and minimize the media window the image brightens, or restart it again and maximise the image brightness dips again. Is this just the monitor finding a suitable playing mode or something?

Ok that's all lol. Thank you for reading and if you've got any ideas I would really appreciate the learning. All the best for 2014

cypto · 2 Jan 2014 at 18:06

Hi there alright lets have a crack at this

1) First of all there are two Display Ports on the Dell monitors, 1 is an input the other however is for daisy chaining two dell monitors together so you only have 1 input on your pc but 2 displays.

So there is only 1 display port input not two. Since the other is for daisy chaining only.

If you can get a HDMI to DVI adapter or Display port to DVI you can then connect one of the laptops via...

Laptop (display port/hdmi/mini display port) -------> (DVI adapter) ---> Dell monitor.

2) From the sounds of it this is the input color format. If you go into the menu and go under color settings you should see input color format. It sounds like the display is just not reconising the change of format sometimes.

If you switch the color input format and it looks green like you described this will be culprit. However if it isn't then unfortunately I have no idea.

3) Not sure exactly what your are experiencing here and hard to judge without an image or video of it happening.

Teal · 2 Jan 2014 at 19:01

The other problem you may be up against is that you can't go from HDMI to DisplayPort with a passive cable.

Those cables are intended to connect a DisplayPort output to an HDMI input, not the other way around.

PCM2 · 2 Jan 2014 at 19:14

Seems Crypto and Teal have addressed some of your questions. Regarding the brightness fluctuations when viewing video:

1) Go to 'Other Settings' on the monitor OSD and ensure 'Energy Smart' is disabled.

2) The more likely culprit --> Go to 'Display Settings' on the monitor OSD and ensure 'Smart Video Enhance' is disabled.

tmp1777 · 2 Jan 2014 at 22:10

Amazing stuff folks thanks very much.

1. Ok, would the "Neet 3-port HDMI switch" work for me here? Seems like a great solution. If I'm going to buy an adapter or something then why not this.... oh and I have 3 Display Ports (DP in, mini-DP in, and DP out)

2. I changed to YPbPr and indeed all went green. Fine again on the return to RGB. I've no idea what that means but it doesn't sound like something is broken so I am happy to leave it at that

3. Smart Video Enhance was indeed the culprit...

Cheers

tmp1777 · 2 Jan 2014 at 22:42

There was one other thing, again no big deal.

Its just that I have to max out my laptop's system volume and media player volume controls (itunes, Zoom Player) now that my Creative Labs speakers are connected to the monitor. The speakers' volume knob needs to be at least two thirds the way now too, and they're pretty good and powerful speakers I think.

If I connect to the laptop there was never any need to max out and the speaker knob would only ever need to be one third to half way. If I could have that latter scenario I would but with the HDMI it doesn't seem to work that way and besides it more convenient with the different display inputs to connect the speakers to the monitor. Is this max out normal? I'm wondering if there is a volume control somewhere that I've missed. I can get by but it would be nice to have a bit more range available audio wise...