Back when I first bought a Rev A02 Dell U2713H in May of 2013, everything worked fine. However, after a few weeks the USB3 interface with the monitor died. I really did not need the USB capability at the time, and the monitor was the best I have seen from Dell after using other large monitors since 2008, I held off calling Dell tech support.  Since then I saw many reports of USB3 failures, with no real cure after many exchanges by Dell tech support.  I did not want to go through the same experience. 

I finally called Dell tech support a few days ago to see if there were any fixes to the short-lived USB3 hub in the U2713H. As usual, the Tech support reps had no information about USB3 fixes. Their advice was to send me a “refurbished” U2713H to see if would work better that the Version A02 I had. I asked the rep to add a note to make sure I was sent a Version 04 or later monitor and to make sure it has everything working including the USB3 interface. 

The “refurbished” U2713H monitor arrived via FedEx overnight . It had been shipped from DecisionOne, in Grove City, OH. It was received in nearly brand new condition! No sign of previous use other than being shipped in a reused box. Looking at the back label, this monitor was manufactured in August of 2013. The original version number was covered over with a small paper label that says “Rev A06” instead of the expected Rev A04 or maybe A05.  

I unpacked it and set it up for testing with my Dell T7600 workstation’s nVidia K5000 video card feeding a Dell 3008WFP and the replacement U2713H with two Display Port cables. Initially my nVidia K5000 saw the U2713H, but it would not allow me to add it as a second monitor.  After spending a while trying different Display Port cables and tests to see if the mini-DP and DVI inputs worked, I found that I had to connect both the nVidia K5000 DVI and Display Port cables at the same time. Then the K5000 recognized three monitors ports, including both the U2713H DVI and Display Port inputs. Then I unchecked the U2713H DVI in the nVidia Control panel leaving the 3008WFP and U2713H DP selections working normally. 

After receiving all the recent complaints about the original U2713H USB3 short-life failures, I believe Dell turned the problems over to DecisionOne to solve. The paper Rev A06 label may indicate that they made a change that corrected the long standing USB3 problem. I was worried about backlight bleeding problems that were reported with the U2713H as well as the U3014 monitor. But there is NO sign of backlight bleeding on this one.  

I will keep an eye on the replacement U2713H to make sure the USB3 problem does not come back.