S2440L, flickers, black screen

Hi guntherfurlong,

Please run the built-in diagnostics on LED monitor by following the steps below :

• Ensure that the screen is clean (no dust particles on the surface of the screen).
• Unplug the video cable(s) from the back of the computer or monitor. The monitor then goes into the self-test mode.
• Press and hold Button 1 and Button 4 on the front panel simultaneously for 2 seconds. A gray screen appears.

• Carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.
• Press Button 4 on the front panel again. The color of the screen changes to red.
• Inspect the display for any abnormalities.
• Repeat steps 5 and 6 to inspect the display in green, blue, black, white and text screens.
• The test is complete when the text screen appears. To exit, press Button 4 again.

If you do not detect any screen abnormalities upon using the built-in diagnostic tool, the monitor is functioning properly. You might need to check the video card and computer. You may try updating the video card drivers from Here.

If the issue persists, you may try to connect the system with a VGA cable and see if that helps.

Please reply with the findings. Will take it further from there.

guntherfurlong,

Open the Windows 7 Power Options. Open PCI Express and switch Link State Power Management to Off. Retest and post the results.

Thank for all your replies:

I've done the following:

1. - LED monitor self test
2. - Updated to latest drivers
3. - Link State Power Management is turned OFF

So far the problem still occurs. Quite randomly at times... sometimes once every 3 to 4 hours of non stop usage. Sometimes it happens whilst playing games.

I am using the HDMI cable still but have not tried out to see whether problem occurs with the VGA cable.

My graphics card is pretty new though,  2 weeks old , the NVIDIA GeForce GT 630

Will try to test it out with VGA cables.

Another question: Will speakers placed near the LED monitor cause this problem? ie the magnetic components in the speakers cause this whole screen blackout?

Normal computer speakers are shielded. Regular room speakers would not be shielded.

Just to add on:

After the screen goes black .. when it comes back on ... there will be a about 2 to 3 multiple horizontal white lines seen .... the screen flicker slightly and goes black a couple more time. Then all is well.

I have just changed to a new HDMI cable and the problem is still there.

Hi guntherfurlong,

The speakers will not cause a blackout on LED monitor. My personal observation on this issue is that it occurs if your computer is connected nearby a High voltage device like a refrigerator or an AC and it occurs with HDMI only and not with DVI or VGA. You may try to change the position of the computer or try connecting the computer to a voltage stabilizer and see if the issue persists. Note that the above is purely a personal observation and you might not find the above steps online or documented anywhere. Please share if above is the case or else we will continue troubleshooting further to diagnose the issue.

Please reply with the findings. I would be glad to help you.

Hi there Mr Sundeep.

Just to update on my current woes. I got myself a voltage stabilizer and that didn't solve the problem.

I finallly switched from HDMI cable to the VGA (RGB) cable and the problem is gone.No more screen blackouts at all since I made the switch.

And this is a new HDMI cable. The screen blackout occurs when I connect to the in built HDMI slot on the motherboard and also on the new graphics card HDMI slot.

Question now, is this still a monitor problem or just the motherboard problem. 

Thanks anyways for all your help. 

Hi guntherfurlong,

As the issue persists with a new HDMI cable as well, it might be hardware related. However, I would suggest you to try using the monitor with an alternate system and see if the issue replicates.

If the issue persists, the monitor might need replacement.

Please reply with the findings. Will take it further from there.

I have the same monitor (S2440L) and the same problem.

My PC has been connected to the monitor via VGA for months with no trouble. However, anything connected via HDMI experiences random blank screens that last roughly 1-2 seconds, during which both sound and video drop out. The blank screens occur roughly 1-5 times per hour. I've tried all possible combinations of two HDMI cables and 2 sources (an Xbox and a PC) - the problem persists with each variant. Reducing the resolution of the Xbox to 720p does not resolve the issue.

Is this a hardware malfunction in the monitor? The built-in diagnostic reveals no pixel errors.

I completely switched to the VGA cable. Don't bother using the HDMI. 

Thus far, I have not faced the same problem.

But at times, there are some horizontal while lines, about 2 to 3 of them that appear off and on. But otherwise, no more flickering.

Are you using the monitor for your PC? If so, what are the components? 

I use this monitor for both my PC and Xbox.

The PC connects via VGA and the Xbox via HDMI. I'd like to have them connected in this way so that I don't have to unplug my PC and in order to plug in and play my Xbox (or vice versa). So if this problem is caused by a malfunction of the monitor's HDMI port, I'd like to replace the monitor under warranty so that I can use both functioning ports, rather than only the VGA port.

So I'm here seeking clarity on the cause of the problem. Based on your and my experience, it appears that indeed the monitor's HDMI hardware is to blame for the problem. Do you agree?

My PC (laptop):

MS Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit SP1

Intel CPU U4100 @ 1.3GHz

3.0 GB RAM

Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family

(no graphics card)

I am seeing these issues with HDMI cables that are not fully seating into the monitor and PC HDMI ports. They are not going deep enough into the ports.

Chris, can you suggest a solution to this problem?

Hi, I bought two dell S2440l led's last week and facing same problems with both of them. I tried many different cables but all in vain then someone suggested me to use " Nitho Gaming HDMI Cable 1.4b " and all those on off problems are now gone. Led's are working just fine now.

Hi

I am having the same problem as you using my 2440L. The screen flickers and sometimes it black out for few seconds. I believe this problem for this monitor is not an isolated case because lots of people have complained about the same problem.

I noticed before I installed Dell driver and Dell Monitor management program, this problem does not exist. Granted, I only use it 1 hour after setting it up so theres no way to make sure about this. Anyway I uninstalled both and use the default windows driver (Generic PnP Monitor) and turn off the DDC/DCI function under 'Other Settings' in the monitor setting, and now the flickering lines are mostly gone (sometimes but rarely its there still), but the black out still happen.

After some experiment, it turns out it is related to the house electrical system. Whenever someone flip certain switch in my house (On or Off), the monitor will black out without fail. Im sure this model in particular have some bad earthing or something since I have never experience such problem in any other device or previous Dell monitor that I own. Try it yourself and make people flip switch in your house.

I am waiting for answer from Dell too since this is the 2md time my monitor is replaced (S2320L. totally busted and cannot be turned on) and Dell replace with 2440L as the third replacement. Anyhow Im afraid it will break the monitor sooner or later and I am incline to return it....