1801 digital input problem

Question

We have just received a shipment of GX270 with A03 BIOS, nVidia GeForce4 MX400 video cards, and 1801fp monitors. This is a different video card and monitor to previous GX270 workstations we have received, and required a different video driver. The workstations are running Windows XP SP1 and the latest 4.5.0.3 video driver downloaded from the Dell web site. If we use the digital monitor cable to connect the monitor and workstation, then we get video corruption at intermittent intervals (once or twice a week on about 50% of the workstations). The display gets completely filled with a diagonal cross-hatched black and white pattern, and the only way out is to reboot the workstation. It seems to be only the display that's garbaged, as we can still use the keyboard shortcut keys to shut down the workstation in a normal manner, indicating that Windows is still running ok.

On several of the workstations with this problem, I replaced the digital cable with with adapter and analog cable, and the problem has not happened since on those workstations, which would seem to indicate that the problem is with either the digital cable or the digital input on the monitors.

Nick Payne

jteel · Answer

Sounds like Dell is still having problems with their Flat Panel Monitors being used with digital inputs!!! Here is a link to a "LONG" forum debate on this problem that has since been closed for posting but may have some things that would interest you.

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=33792

I think you are headed in the right direction in thinking it may be cable related as many of the posters at the link above purchased a higher quality digital cable and the problem of the monitor going into Power Save mode went away. Like I said, there are many posts to the thread so just be aware of that.

Good Luck
Jeff

Monitors

1801 digital input problem

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