Running a PC with LCD tv (LG26LX2r)

bigbilly50

bigbilly50

bigbilly50

Associate
Joined
2 Nov 2005
Posts
596
Location
Fife
Hi there,
received my LG26LX2R today and its gorgeous ! However, I have a problem : -

Basically, the TV does not seem to be recognised by my PC (I have an Nvidia 6800GT). Ive tried connecting it with the DVI to DVI cable and the VGA to DVI cable that came with the TV - same results with both - goes into power saving mode (as if there was no signal I think). When the PC is booting I get no picture and same again once in Windows. (btw I have the monitor driver set as 'Plug & Play')

I HAVE been able to get output to the TV by doing the following - switching on my PC with my old monitor connected (Samsung 930bf via DVI), once in windows I then take the DVI cable from the monitor and it put it in the TV - I now get a picture!! I can even change the resolution to 1360*768 and it looks gorgeous. (I fired up Call of Duty 2 and it was amazing). Strangely, once I have done this,if I check the Nvidia control panel it states 'digital monitor disconnected' and 'my flat screen display has a maximum resolution of 0x0'
Now getting a picture is all well and good, however, as soon as I reboot my PC Im back to sqare one - the TV goes back to power save mode... (the only way to get a picture back is to reboot my PC with the old monitor connected again....).

Does anyone have any experience of this ? Main reason I bought this TV was for its PC PQ so desperate to get it sorted.

Cheers !
 
I have the 32 inch version, all I did was press input then went down to DVI PC. Then Menu , screen , xga mode ,1366x768. Auto config, to set. I then set tv screen to my Primary monitor. with the resolution 1366x768.

That with a radeon x800.
 
Cheers for the reply - once im back in front of it I'll do some testing with different cables / settings etc. I cant see any good reason for it not working.

Im just a bit worried thats there is nothing being displayed on boot up (no drivers involved at this point).

I'll see if I can update the firmware on my 6800 too.
 
The LG is simply awesome for PC picture quality. Great choice matey. Now lets get to the bottom of your problem...

First of all please do the following for me:

1. Update to the latest version of the Nvidia drivers from their website.
2. Turn off your PC and connect up the LG with a DVI to DVI cable.
3. Turn on the LG and with the input button scroll down to DVI mode. Then press 'right' if you need to until DVI-PC is selected.
4. Turn on your PC and if all goes well set the res in windows to 1360x768. (If you want 1368x768 then change it in the TV's menu under the XGA section and then change the windows setting to match)

When you turn on your PC you should be able to see your BIOS screen and bootup like you would on a normal PC monitor. It sounds to me like you are not choosing DVI-PC mode (as opposed to DVI-DTV mode) on the TV's input menu.

Report back here when you have tried the above exactly and let me know what happened and we'll take it from there. :)

EDIT: Do you have any 3rd party screen adjustment software like powerstrip running? If so uninstall it first.
 
Last edited:
Hey GordyR,
big thanks to you for recommending this TV in the 1st place on other threads - you were right , its a cracker !

Made some progress on this last night - using the VGA to DVI cable I am now getting the TV to display an analogue signal (even the DOS crap on start up). Not sure why its working now, but it is ! Ive set both TV and PC to 1360*768 and the picture quality is fantastic. Fired up Call Of Duty 2 / Quake 4 and F.E.A.R at this resolution and WOW ! Cant wait to get some RTS games like Dawn Of War and Generals going in widescreen...
Nvidia control panel is now recognising the Tv as a LG32LXR (whch is close enough for me !)

Unfortunately, Ive had no luck on the DVI front.

TV is set to DVI-PC.
Nothing like power strip installed
Am using the DVI cable that came with TV but have also tried different cable.
Have tried updating the firmware on my graphics card.
Have tried cold booting with the 26LX2R as the only output.
Tried booting with dual monitors (26LX2R - DVI / Samsung 930bf - VGA... only the Samsung displays)
Have tried using the NVidia control panel to detect displays to no avail (latest drivers installed)
Xbox360 working fine with Joytech VGA cable and VGA-DVI converter.

As I mentioned, the only success Ive had in getting this TV to display via DVI is by booting up with my Samsung 930bf connected to DVI / once in windows, unplug the 930bf and connect the 26LX2R (stops working on reboot tho - doesnt even display the start up messages.)

Will try your step-by-step instructions tonight (will also reinstall graphics card before I do this).

My gut feeling is that everything is working fine, just that my 6800GT is being picky about recognising certain digital signals - perhaps conflicting with previous hardware (altho I just made a fresh reinstall of WinXp pro last week). Im sure there is a way to get it to work.... perhaps if nothing else works I could try and get hold of a DVI-HDMI converter.

Have to say though, even if DVI to DVI never works, Im still very happy with my purchase - Ive been a bit down on PC gaming recently but this TV has really taken it to another level for me. (altho my 360 will still be getting equal attention!)
 
Plenty of threads of another forum about this, apparently it's a problem with earlier firmware versions.
 
Windle said:
Plenty of threads of another forum about this, apparently it's a problem with earlier firmware versions.
Click to expand...

I thought the only issue with the earlier firmwares was with HDCP through the HDMI port? You could be right though, I'll have to do a little hunting around.

EDIT: Ok i've done some hunting around and can't find any mention of issues with the DVI port at all let alone issues due to firmware. Are sure you're not confusing this with the HDMI-HDCP issue that was on the old sets?


This is extremely weird Bigbilly and right now has me stumped. If you're getting a picture through VGA-DVI you should absolutely be getting one through DVI-DVI. So far, for everyone I know with the TV it was a simple as plugging it in and turning it on. It certainly does sound like its possibly video card related but I thought the 6800GT's were pretty good in that regard. (7800 GTX here)

I'll try to do some digging and see if I can come up with a solution matey.
 
Last edited:
Cheers Gordy,
yeah, I was sure that the firmware problem was just related to the HDCP/HDMI issue.

This IS a strange one although Ive noticed a recent thread over at AV - couple of users with different LG sets with similar problems. (VGA fine / DVI - not)

Will have a further tinker tonight but like I said, wont be the end of the world if I cant get it to work - Im a happy bunny anyhow.
 
Quotes from those threads Gordy...

Edit :- Looks like i was wrong about the firmware being the problem though.

"Hi guys,

Ive been trying to connect my PC upto the Tv via the DVI ports etc, and I cannot get it to display at all! the Tv keeps going into DPM mode.
the Nvidia programs can see the Tv and even have the correct name of it etc, but the TV just wont show anything.
Ive gone into the Bios on the motherboard of the PC and turned off the DPMS mode all to no avail!

Can anyone shed any light onto my problem?
Another query, is that in the hardware manager (xp prof by the way) it just shows the TV as a Defalt Monitor, and I tried to search for a driver for the actual tv (just in case) but found nothing!
Does the TV come with a CD with drivers on ir anything? (see below for reason in asking etc)

Also, do you get a DVI cable with the TV when you buy it? reason I ask is that we got the last one Curry's had in stock and was the ex display one (got it cheap) but didnt get any DVI cable or anything (just the remote control and the manual which actually says about the included DVI cable!)

Hope you can help, as its driving me NUTS!

Thanks in advance

Mark."

"Ok, seems that I 'MAY' have found the problem but at the mo not been able to test!

In the manual, it refers to using a DVI-D cable, (which is the cable i borrowed) and upon reading on the net, found that DVI-D is digital ONLY.
Now, reading more in the manual, it states about gfx cards may have problems if they DONT output analogue signals..hmmmmm does it make you think too that the manual has made a **** up in translation somewhere?
IF they say analogue for the gfx card, then they SHOULD mean either DVI-A or DVI-I for the cable and NOT DVI-D!!!!!

I need to get hold of a DVI-I cable to test so if any of you have one and this TV, any chance of letting us know it does work etc (or even a DVI-A)

Hope if im correct, it will hopfully stop other people wasting hours with thier PC trying to get the TV to show something on the screen!"

"I got a DVI cable today and it almost worked , it showed the DOS stuff and the windows loading screen but as soon as my gfx card loaded in the drivers just as windows started it went into te DMP mode again!
Read on the ATI site that I tihnk they still have slight issues with the DVI port drivers on thier radion cards, so im still stuck lol.

I did get a VGA - DVI connector with the gfx card and plugging the vga cable into that and then the DVI end into the TV it worked perfectly, great picture in 1024x768 and also in 1360x768.
Just hope that ATI get themselves sorted and get the drivers for their cards working properly with the DVI.

Might still see about popping into Curry's and seeing if I should have got a cable with mine and see if that makes any difference but I doubt it as it does look like a driver issue with my card as the gfx card recognises the TV properly, its just not displaying it!

You did well getting one at that price, ours 'sort of' only cost us about £450 as we had a voucher for £350 from the insurance they sell at currys coz our old TV kept going wrong so we gave em some jip and got it written off and vouchers with it still been under the extended guarantee! hehehe..."

"Just want to add that I have the same problem here but with an LG 26LX2R.
Works fine with the supplied DVI to VGA cable.
But with DVI to DVI the screen just goes into bloomin' 'power saving mode'

This is with an NVIDIA 6800GT card.

Btw it still looks absolutely fantastic through VGA."
 
Thanks Windle... Thats very interesting and not something I have come accross before.

It sounds like an issue with the video cards. I actually have a second PC with a 6800GT in it so i'll give that a try later and get back to you.
 
Right... I just tried my 26LX2R with a different PC that had a 6800GT installed in the hope of emulating your problem.

I plugged in the DVI cable, switched the LG to DVI-PC and turned on the computer. It worked flawlessly. The only thing I am doing different to you is using the DVI-DVI cable that was already plugged in to the other PC rather than the one that came with the LG itself.

This is really bugging me now lol. Have you tried the LG DVI-DVI cable with your old monitor? Perhaps the cable that came with the LG is faulty itself?

Try any other DVI-DVI cables that you have lying around but remember to plug them in before turning your PC on. This is important.
 
Oh i just found the thread that you quoted Windle...

It seems the user was using an LG RZ32LZ50 TV which is an older model than the 26/32LX2R. The only person to have the same problem with the LX2R model is "bigbilly50" himself. :p

I really think either you are doing something wrong mate or your cable is faulty. I haven't been able to find anyone else with a similar problem with the 26LX2r. :(
 
Last edited:
I think I have 3 DVI to DVI cables kicking about, will give them a blast later on tonight.

Kind of frustrating.... Im sure Im not doing anything daft - my Samsung 930bf works just fine through DVI.

Cheers for the input guys
 
bigbilly50 said:
I think I have 3 DVI to DVI cables kicking about, will give them a blast later on tonight.

Kind of frustrating.... Im sure Im not doing anything daft - my Samsung 930bf works just fine through DVI.

Cheers for the input guys
Click to expand...

The only thing I can think of that you might be doing wrong is switching the cables while the PC is already on. You need to connect it up and then turn on the PC so that the video card detects the TV upon bootup.

If I have my old 19" TFT plugged in and working, then I unplug the DVI cable and plug it into my LG 26LX2R, mine too goes in to powersave mode. What you have to do is then restart your PC and it detects it all fine.

Lol hope that makes some sense. :p
 
Last edited:
Makes perfect sense mate - I will make sure my PC has been powered down for a good while before booting up with the DVI connected.

At least my 'worst case scenario' is that I will have to make do with the glorious analogue picture that this TV is displaying :)
 
bigbilly50 said:
Makes perfect sense mate - I will make sure my PC has been powered down for a good while before booting up with the DVI connected.

At least my 'worst case scenario' is that I will have to make do with the glorious analogue picture that this TV is displaying :)
Click to expand...

Lol yeah, to be perfectly honest you will hardly notice a difference. The display is beautiful over VGA. It's just the principle of it... It should work. Things like that wind me up. :)
 
Mana said:
do u guys get any ghosting in any games with this lcd-tv?
Click to expand...

With the 8ms GTG response time i believe it has.. and GordyR already informing me about the matter of ghosting. No.. there is no ghosting. This screen is my next purchase.
 
No Joy last night :(

Spent hours on it too with different DVI cables with no result. Even took out my gfx card / put it back in / left PC off for half an hour / booted with DVI-DVI connected - no picture.

Really annoying me now - Im well sick of looking at the 'Power Saving Mode' meassage !

Going to give it a break for a while - spending too much time messing about with cables and not enough time enjoying my TV thru VGA (plus Im leaving today for a long weekend).

May try some of the other firmwares that are available for 6800GT's.
Alternatively, if I can get hold of another gfx card with DVI output then I will try this.

My only other idea now is to buy a DVI-HDMI adapter to see if the issue also exists over the HDMI port. These are only about a tenner.

Also I have emailed LG detailing my problem, hopefully they will have an idea. The only email address I could find was [email protected].

Thanks again for the help and suggestions
 
Mana said:
do u guys get any ghosting in any games with this lcd-tv?
Click to expand...

None that I can see at all. As gord stated the screen has an 8ms response time and is as good as any LCD monitor in that regard. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom