Sharp Monitor out of wack
May 3, 2010 10:27 AM Subscribe
Older LCD monitor looks Horrible on new Dell Optiplex? I have a Sharp LCD monitor (LLm17w1u), which works great on my old computer, but looks like crap on my new one. I have tried every combination of settings, (Yes, all the different resolutions, color settings etc.) but still has a VERY pixilated look. It works but, heres an example, (Notice the bookmark bar words?) http://tinypic.com/r/160q15e/5. I think I need a driver, but sharp doesn't have one (Sharp Japan had one but didn't work) and every google link just makes me download a worthless program that donsn't end up doing anything. Can anyone help? Thanks so much.
-Kyle
Response by poster: Not a "new" computer, just new to me.
posted by Benzle at 10:33 AM on May 3, 2010
posted by Benzle at 10:33 AM on May 3, 2010
Your screenshot does not look pixelated (this makes sense).
Does your entire screen look pixelated, or only text?
Based on my google search your monitor has a native resolution of 1280 x 768. What happens when you set your computer's output to this resolution?
posted by reeddavid at 10:34 AM on May 3, 2010
Does your entire screen look pixelated, or only text?
Based on my google search your monitor has a native resolution of 1280 x 768. What happens when you set your computer's output to this resolution?
posted by reeddavid at 10:34 AM on May 3, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you, not a font issue, just tried it, same thing, thanks though
posted by Benzle at 10:35 AM on May 3, 2010
posted by Benzle at 10:35 AM on May 3, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you Burhanistan, but,
Sharp doesn't have one (Sharp Japan had one but didn't work) and every google link just makes me download a worthless program that donsn't end up doing anything.
Windows didn't have anything either.
posted by Benzle at 10:37 AM on May 3, 2010
Sharp doesn't have one (Sharp Japan had one but didn't work) and every google link just makes me download a worthless program that donsn't end up doing anything.
Windows didn't have anything either.
posted by Benzle at 10:37 AM on May 3, 2010
Response by poster: http://tinypic.com/r/2cxepfl/5
at 1280 x 768
posted by Benzle at 10:39 AM on May 3, 2010
at 1280 x 768
posted by Benzle at 10:39 AM on May 3, 2010
Your image (http://tinypic.com/r/2cxepfl/5) shows the computer set at 1024 x 768. Try 1280 x 768.
posted by reeddavid at 10:43 AM on May 3, 2010
posted by reeddavid at 10:43 AM on May 3, 2010
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/step1.aspx
That should be the solution for your problem.
I think Safari would fix it handily by itself, as well.
This isn't a resolution issue, it's a font rendering issue.
posted by circular at 10:45 AM on May 3, 2010
That should be the solution for your problem.
I think Safari would fix it handily by itself, as well.
This isn't a resolution issue, it's a font rendering issue.
posted by circular at 10:45 AM on May 3, 2010
Screencaps will not work. They are capturing the pixels the computer is sending, not what the monitor is displaying. You would have to take a picture with a digital camera for us to see anything.
Also, the dialog in your second link shows 1024x768, not 1280x768, which would certainly cause poor horizontal scaling.
posted by SpookyFish at 10:47 AM on May 3, 2010
Also, the dialog in your second link shows 1024x768, not 1280x768, which would certainly cause poor horizontal scaling.
posted by SpookyFish at 10:47 AM on May 3, 2010
1280x768 is a fairly non standard resolution. You may need to download a tool like Powerstrip to set that resolution.
posted by wongcorgi at 11:04 AM on May 3, 2010
posted by wongcorgi at 11:04 AM on May 3, 2010
If Windows XP isn't offering 1280x768 as a resolution choice, you're probably using the generic video card driver and would benefit from installing the specific driver for the card you have. Sometimes this is as easy as going into the Device Manager, telling it to update the display driver and letting it search Windows Update; sometimes you need to visit your computer manufacturer's support website and download and install a display (video) driver.
Monitor drivers in XP are by and large a waste of time - all they supply is branding.
posted by flabdablet at 11:15 AM on May 3, 2010
Monitor drivers in XP are by and large a waste of time - all they supply is branding.
posted by flabdablet at 11:15 AM on May 3, 2010
Response by poster: My Display Properties, Settings, only seem to allow for 1280 x 1024, or 1024 x 768 (higher and lower too but nothing in between. Anyone know hoe to force it into the magic, 1280 x 768? Thanks
posted by Benzle at 11:16 AM on May 3, 2010
posted by Benzle at 11:16 AM on May 3, 2010
Response by poster: Ohh, ok, "powerstrip", ill try it. thanks
posted by Benzle at 11:18 AM on May 3, 2010
posted by Benzle at 11:18 AM on May 3, 2010
flabdablet is right; you most likely need to update the video card driver for your new PC.
posted by reptile at 11:20 AM on May 3, 2010
posted by reptile at 11:20 AM on May 3, 2010
Response by poster: sometimes you need to visit your computer manufacturer's support website and download and install a display (video) driver.
From flabdablet
(Re)Downloaded Dell's video driver, no change.
PowerStrip Reccomendation
Even PowerStrip does not seem to allow for those settings? anyone know how I can force this resolution?
posted by Benzle at 11:33 AM on May 3, 2010
From flabdablet
(Re)Downloaded Dell's video driver, no change.
PowerStrip Reccomendation
Even PowerStrip does not seem to allow for those settings? anyone know how I can force this resolution?
posted by Benzle at 11:33 AM on May 3, 2010
I went through this same problem a few years ago, and wound up having to buy a PCI graphics controller card for ~$20. They mount easily on the motherboard and will give you a new place to plug your monitor in on the back of the computer. The (likely integrated*) graphics controller** on your motherboard*** is probably outdated, maybe even from before the dominance of widescreen/LCD monitors (that was the case for me), so it won't have the capability to set the resolution to the monitor's native configuration. Updating the hardware inside the Optiplex with a PCI grahpics controller card should give you the option for the correct resolution if you can't get a software solution to work.
* Actually a part of the big huge motherboard inside the computer.
** The thing your monitor plugs into, that sends it signals, etc.
*** The large gnarly bit of electronics that takes up most of the space inside your computer.
Before you go out and buy one, though, open up the panel on the Optiplex and make sure there's an open PCI slot on the motherboard.
posted by carsonb at 12:30 PM on May 3, 2010
* Actually a part of the big huge motherboard inside the computer.
** The thing your monitor plugs into, that sends it signals, etc.
*** The large gnarly bit of electronics that takes up most of the space inside your computer.
Before you go out and buy one, though, open up the panel on the Optiplex and make sure there's an open PCI slot on the motherboard.
posted by carsonb at 12:30 PM on May 3, 2010
Searching for the correct driver unfortunately ends up mostly on trap pages hawking their virus scan and driver update software; even on sharpusa.com the model seems unknown. The only page I could find that still has a non-suspicious download is Sharp Japan (scroll down to "Crisia". This driver will probably work, but I have no idea how much Japanese you'll need.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 12:38 PM on May 3, 2010
posted by PontifexPrimus at 12:38 PM on May 3, 2010
Rereading I see that the Optiplex is new, but it could very well have come with a cheap, possibly old integrated graphics controller that just can't display the resolution you want. Any PCIe**** graphics controller card you find in a store or online these days should be capable of displaying your monitor's native resolution.
**** Since the Optiplex is new, you probably need a PCI express or PCI-e card. My mistake earlier recommending a PCI card.
posted by carsonb at 12:42 PM on May 3, 2010
**** Since the Optiplex is new, you probably need a PCI express or PCI-e card. My mistake earlier recommending a PCI card.
posted by carsonb at 12:42 PM on May 3, 2010
If I remember correctly, you need to go into the advanced area of the graphics properties and uncheck a box that says something like "only show resolutions my monitor can display". Once unchecked, you should be able to see the right resolution.
Another option would be to go into device manager, go into view and select "show hidden devices" (Or deselect "hide hidden devices") and delete everything under the monitors branch of the tree. Reboot and it should refind the monitor correctly.
Or, right click on the monitor (no doubt "generic plug and play monitor") and update the driver to something like "generic widescreen monitor")
posted by gjc at 4:13 PM on May 3, 2010
Another option would be to go into device manager, go into view and select "show hidden devices" (Or deselect "hide hidden devices") and delete everything under the monitors branch of the tree. Reboot and it should refind the monitor correctly.
Or, right click on the monitor (no doubt "generic plug and play monitor") and update the driver to something like "generic widescreen monitor")
posted by gjc at 4:13 PM on May 3, 2010
Neither buying a new card nor updating drivers will do anything.
The problem is that your GPU can't detect monitor resolutions over VGA connections (unlike DVI), and 1280x768 is not a default windows resolution.
I had the same problem on my 1366x768 TV and was able to get it to work over VGA w/ Powerstrip.
Here is a thread where someone who seemed to get 1280x768 with powerstrip. DSUB = VGA.
posted by wongcorgi at 5:40 PM on May 3, 2010
The problem is that your GPU can't detect monitor resolutions over VGA connections (unlike DVI), and 1280x768 is not a default windows resolution.
I had the same problem on my 1366x768 TV and was able to get it to work over VGA w/ Powerstrip.
Here is a thread where someone who seemed to get 1280x768 with powerstrip. DSUB = VGA.
posted by wongcorgi at 5:40 PM on May 3, 2010
The problem is that your GPU can't detect monitor resolutions over VGA connections (unlike DVI), and 1280x768 is not a default windows resolution.
Most VGA monitors and GPUs support DDC for reading the monitor characteristics just like DVI. The GPU may be able to detect the required resolution but unable to display it.
posted by JackFlash at 6:37 PM on May 3, 2010
Most VGA monitors and GPUs support DDC for reading the monitor characteristics just like DVI. The GPU may be able to detect the required resolution but unable to display it.
posted by JackFlash at 6:37 PM on May 3, 2010
The usual cause for this kind of thing is that the graphics driver does collect the monitor's list of resolutions via DDC, and the onboard display controller (aka GPU) will support the required native resolution, but that the graphics driver simply doesn't know how to program the GPU for any widescreen resolutions at all.
If the onboard display controller is from SiS, you're probably out of luck - for those SiS-based motherboards that I've seen have this issue, I've never found an updated SiS Windows driver that works. If it's Intel, the issue is probably that the driver Dell makes available is ancient, and the current Intel graphics driver from the Intel support site will probably work. So which model of Optiplex do you have?
Also: you can find out whether your hardware is in fact capable of doing the right thing by booting off a current Ubuntu live CD, which usually sets up the display controller to drive the monitor at its native resolution by default regardless of which chipset it's based on.
posted by flabdablet at 7:32 PM on May 3, 2010
If the onboard display controller is from SiS, you're probably out of luck - for those SiS-based motherboards that I've seen have this issue, I've never found an updated SiS Windows driver that works. If it's Intel, the issue is probably that the driver Dell makes available is ancient, and the current Intel graphics driver from the Intel support site will probably work. So which model of Optiplex do you have?
Also: you can find out whether your hardware is in fact capable of doing the right thing by booting off a current Ubuntu live CD, which usually sets up the display controller to drive the monitor at its native resolution by default regardless of which chipset it's based on.
posted by flabdablet at 7:32 PM on May 3, 2010
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posted by sageleaf at 10:30 AM on May 3, 2010