ST2420L, input timing is not supported

Question

I have a Dell XPS8500 with a Dell ST2420L monitor. NVidia GeForce GT640 card.

Intermittently I get a message on the monitor -

"The current input timing is not supported by the monitor display. Please change your input to 1900x1080@60Hz or any other monitor listed timing as per monitor specifications"

Computer may work fine for a few days. Next day the problem may occur within 5 minutes. Other times computer may run for a couple of hours before the problem occurs.

I have checked and replaced the cable - problem still occurs.

I have updated the GeForce driver - problem still occurs.

I have reset the monitor settings - problem still occurs.

I have updated to Windows 10 - problem still occurs.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

This seems to occur when you are outputting a certain resolution from your PC video card, then the operating system or video card driver changes the resolution from the monitors native resolution. As to why this occurs, not sure.

* Open Settings
* Click/tap on the Update & security icon
* Click/tap on Recovery on the left side
* Click/tap on Restart now under Advanced startup on the right side
* Look for low-resolution video option or VGA Mode

This allows you to boot into Windows like normal, except with the resolution and refresh rate set to the lowest setting possible. Login as you normally would, then set your resolution to your monitor’s native rate (i.e. the resolution from the original error message). Then restart the PC

Paul1955 · Answer

Thanks for the info – I’ll see how the computer operates in coming days.

2 more related queries –

1) When the problem occurs – how is the best way to shut down the computer – after the message occurs on the screen, the screen goes blank – so it is not possible to use the mouse/cursor to shut down as you cannot see the screen – is there a way to use keystrokes to shut down the computer without the need to view anything on screen? If not, how is the safest way to shutdown the computer in such situations.

2) Not knowing the answer to question 1 above, when the screen problem occurs, to date I have basically had to switch off the power to shutdown the computer. Pressing the on/off button doesn’t seem to work. Then, if I try to switch the computer back on, sometimes the computer starts up fine (as if the original problem never occurred), other times I get 4 beeps, but if I leave the computer for a couple of days, it then seems to magically start up OK again. If the computer wasn’t shut down correctly, does the computer ‘reset’ itself over a specific time period?

Thanks.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

You should just press the XPS 8500 power button once and it should shutdown? Are you saying this does not happen?

Monitors

ST2420L, input timing is not supported

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