pityr
asked on
computers not to bright
my display has suddenly became darker. I still get all the colors but it looks like i'm wearing sunglasses. i don't thinks it's the monitor because i have a TV tuner card that completely bypasses the video card and it still looks fine, that could be because i can control the brightness with the software.
i have tried everything in windows 98 i know of such as tinkering with display properties, reinstalling the latest video drivers, reinstalling dx6, updating the cards bios, and reinstalling the card in a new slot.the brightness controls only do so much. i wonder if it has anything to do with the monitors cable in the back, it runs directly into the back and cannot be disconnected. it was loose and causeing the monitor's picture to flutter on the sides if positioned wrong.
changing resolutions and color depth doesn't help.
i was running at 1024x768 32 bit 87i mhz
4 meg matrox mystique
Pixie monitor
zoltrix just tv tuner
apmtron tx 2 mb
any suggestion?
i have tried everything in windows 98 i know of such as tinkering with display properties, reinstalling the latest video drivers, reinstalling dx6, updating the cards bios, and reinstalling the card in a new slot.the brightness controls only do so much. i wonder if it has anything to do with the monitors cable in the back, it runs directly into the back and cannot be disconnected. it was loose and causeing the monitor's picture to flutter on the sides if positioned wrong.
changing resolutions and color depth doesn't help.
i was running at 1024x768 32 bit 87i mhz
4 meg matrox mystique
Pixie monitor
zoltrix just tv tuner
apmtron tx 2 mb
any suggestion?
Yes the cable as you mention is the factor of it. this cable you said is connected direclty and cant be disconnected. the effect you talk has the problem. I would suggest you to get a replacement for the cable.this cable has to be changed from a tech place. or call the manufacturer for the warranty. this video card carries warranties for 3 yrs or 5 yrs and they should let you get a replacement.
pityr,
If you find the proposed "answer" doesn't solve your problem, please reject it.
I don't think the monitor cable will affect brightness, unless it becomes completely disconnected.
More likely, it would affect one or more of the colors (RGB) which would fail to display properly.
I think the trouble is with your video card's output.
Is it possible to substitute with another "known-good" as a test?
Regards,
Ralph
If you find the proposed "answer" doesn't solve your problem, please reject it.
I don't think the monitor cable will affect brightness, unless it becomes completely disconnected.
More likely, it would affect one or more of the colors (RGB) which would fail to display properly.
I think the trouble is with your video card's output.
Is it possible to substitute with another "known-good" as a test?
Regards,
Ralph
Yes is the cable of the Monitor, if you move it and it change colors then It is. IT should give that kind of problems. change the cable of the Monitor.
Do you suppose the cable is "moving" when viewing a bright display using the TV card?
I have worked with video and I have seen this with IBM and other Monitors.
ok ralph, read this:
"i wonder if it has anything to do with the monitors cable in the back, it runs directly into the back and cannot be disconnected. it was loose and causeing the monitor's picture to flutter on the sides if positioned wrong. hanging resolutions and color depth doesn't help."
" i was running at 1024x768 32 bit 87i mhz " <<== you cant run this resolution in a TV Ralph. the maximum is 800x600 in any TV. this is a Monitor resolution. the highest refresh rate that a TV goes is to 75 Mhz. so dont assume it to be a TV running at that high which it will not display at all. The only one capable in the future to handle it is HDTV
there is some out there but. they cost 1000 buck above at least.
Are we talking about a HDTV here? maybe it should be clear. well from what I read above is a Pixie Monitor. not a TV.
also the problem is not related to the TV Card to tune in the monitor Channels of cable. this is the cable of the monitor. I had this before, I know what I am talking about.
maybe somebody who has experience this before should make a comment as well.
ok ralph, read this:
"i wonder if it has anything to do with the monitors cable in the back, it runs directly into the back and cannot be disconnected. it was loose and causeing the monitor's picture to flutter on the sides if positioned wrong. hanging resolutions and color depth doesn't help."
" i was running at 1024x768 32 bit 87i mhz " <<== you cant run this resolution in a TV Ralph. the maximum is 800x600 in any TV. this is a Monitor resolution. the highest refresh rate that a TV goes is to 75 Mhz. so dont assume it to be a TV running at that high which it will not display at all. The only one capable in the future to handle it is HDTV
there is some out there but. they cost 1000 buck above at least.
Are we talking about a HDTV here? maybe it should be clear. well from what I read above is a Pixie Monitor. not a TV.
also the problem is not related to the TV Card to tune in the monitor Channels of cable. this is the cable of the monitor. I had this before, I know what I am talking about.
maybe somebody who has experience this before should make a comment as well.
;p Happy new year. ;p
istal, I don't assume anything.
I also do not need to be reminded of specifications for television in this thread.
There is no way you're going to defend such an "answer" for this question. Your words remain to speak for themselves.
I still maintain that the brightness problem cannot be caused by the cable since the monitor is known to display correctly with use of a different signal source.
pityr, we need some feedback from you.
Ralph
I also do not need to be reminded of specifications for television in this thread.
There is no way you're going to defend such an "answer" for this question. Your words remain to speak for themselves.
I still maintain that the brightness problem cannot be caused by the cable since the monitor is known to display correctly with use of a different signal source.
pityr, we need some feedback from you.
Ralph
ASKER
Ok
the problem is not thet the color is off, it is that the display is too dark and i have the brightness up all the way. The tuner card has a y cable that plugs into the video out on the video card and into the tuner card out. then those cables come together into one socket that the monitor plugs into. the tuner card doens't turn off the video card it just bypasses it at the plug so it sets it's own refresh rate.
i have changed the refresh on my monitor to 75 mhz. no luck.
i don't have another video card to test it with. as soon as i am done responding here i will test it with another computer. since i can adjust the tuner card's brightness i don't know if it is affected or not. I'm going to look into the warranty on the Mystique and i know that the warranty on the monitor is good still but i would have to send it to another state to get it fixed under it.
when i wiggled the cable in the back of the monitor before, the picture edges would flutter and sometimes the picture would compress into the middle of the screen. i would loose about 25% on the left and right side. the top and bottom would remain unchanged. i would have to wiggle the cable a little more to get it to come back to normal. about the time that it stopped doing this (the cable in the back is still loose but it doesn't give me any picture flutter or jumpiness) the color went dim. also i had just installed DX6. i have reinstalled DX5 but it didn't help so i went back to DX6.
hope this helps
the problem is not thet the color is off, it is that the display is too dark and i have the brightness up all the way. The tuner card has a y cable that plugs into the video out on the video card and into the tuner card out. then those cables come together into one socket that the monitor plugs into. the tuner card doens't turn off the video card it just bypasses it at the plug so it sets it's own refresh rate.
i have changed the refresh on my monitor to 75 mhz. no luck.
i don't have another video card to test it with. as soon as i am done responding here i will test it with another computer. since i can adjust the tuner card's brightness i don't know if it is affected or not. I'm going to look into the warranty on the Mystique and i know that the warranty on the monitor is good still but i would have to send it to another state to get it fixed under it.
when i wiggled the cable in the back of the monitor before, the picture edges would flutter and sometimes the picture would compress into the middle of the screen. i would loose about 25% on the left and right side. the top and bottom would remain unchanged. i would have to wiggle the cable a little more to get it to come back to normal. about the time that it stopped doing this (the cable in the back is still loose but it doesn't give me any picture flutter or jumpiness) the color went dim. also i had just installed DX6. i have reinstalled DX5 but it didn't help so i went back to DX6.
hope this helps
I would suggest you taking it to the tech shop. you can end up with a more serious problem if you do not fix it. and later on you will be buying a new monitor if it continues like that because that damage the TUBe of the Image. and it is not good. also, I would say the color of the Tv Channels has to do with the Signal from the receiving cable. that this image look poor right. then, you need to get a different cable.
please reject the answer if it is not correct then. so somebody can post an answer when we can find it that be correct.
ASKER
the monitor is fine. when i plugged it into the other computer i had no problems with the brightness in fact i turned it down a bit. it seems that it is the video card. i have already contacted Matrox as to how to go about getting a replacement. rmarotta u can resubmit for the points. thank u both for your help.
pityr,
I didn't think the monitor was at fault here because you said it would give a proper display under certain conditions.
As long as you know about the loose cord at the back of the monitor, chances are that it won't cause more trouble if left undisturbed. I did that with my own monitor once because I was too lazy to repair the cord....... :)
To narrow down your problem a little closer, try plugging the monitor directly into the video card.
Let me know before we close this question, as there are other possible causes for this problem.
Ralph
I didn't think the monitor was at fault here because you said it would give a proper display under certain conditions.
As long as you know about the loose cord at the back of the monitor, chances are that it won't cause more trouble if left undisturbed. I did that with my own monitor once because I was too lazy to repair the cord....... :)
To narrow down your problem a little closer, try plugging the monitor directly into the video card.
Let me know before we close this question, as there are other possible causes for this problem.
Ralph
To pityr.
This may save you having to replace hardware which is the last thing you probably want to do.
With all the twiddling you have done, you may have partially unseated the card.
Remove the card an put it back in another slot and check to see that it goes in flat and firm.
Have you installed the Matrox display utility.
( i forgot its exact name but it may be Powerdesk)
It installs with the complete Matrox display driver "MGA setup" program.
There are options to select screen control over rides and monitor setups.
You may like to have a look at this web page for a util that might help you though your problems.
There is a program here called "powerstrip" that will control video card visual items like gamma, contrast, brightness.
http://www.entechtaiwan.com/
Netmage
This may save you having to replace hardware which is the last thing you probably want to do.
With all the twiddling you have done, you may have partially unseated the card.
Remove the card an put it back in another slot and check to see that it goes in flat and firm.
Have you installed the Matrox display utility.
( i forgot its exact name but it may be Powerdesk)
It installs with the complete Matrox display driver "MGA setup" program.
There are options to select screen control over rides and monitor setups.
You may like to have a look at this web page for a util that might help you though your problems.
There is a program here called "powerstrip" that will control video card visual items like gamma, contrast, brightness.
http://www.entechtaiwan.com/
Netmage
Try lowering the resolution to 640 X 480,and the refresh rate to 60HZ - just as a test.
Or boot to Safe Mode.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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*WARNING BECAREFUL IF YOU GET ELECTROSHOCKED* If we do not here from you then we know. :(. the worst happened. You need be grounded. and have the Ambulance phone near. :(. that is extremely Dangerous if you do not have experience.
I strongly suggest you don't do that unless you are experienced with television repair.
That fact is that you won't need to make any adjustments inside if the monitor displays proper brightness with a good signal.
Have you tried without the TV card yet?
Ralph
That fact is that you won't need to make any adjustments inside if the monitor displays proper brightness with a good signal.
Have you tried without the TV card yet?
Ralph
To kayton.
Are you looking for a legal case against you.
If pityr makes one mistake he could be dead and thats it.
You have no idea of his/her physical condition.
High Voltage lingers within tv systems for much longer than you think and is stored in areas that someone with no expereince will easily find by accident and i'm not talking about mains voltage either.
The adjustments you ask for require power on.
Here you are asking for a live voltage test?!
One of the brighness controls is located right near an area of most danger and not knowing how to adjust this risks damage to other componnents.
Netmage.
Hmm, reading through the other comments, looks like i'm not the only one with a finger on the panic button.
Are you looking for a legal case against you.
If pityr makes one mistake he could be dead and thats it.
You have no idea of his/her physical condition.
High Voltage lingers within tv systems for much longer than you think and is stored in areas that someone with no expereince will easily find by accident and i'm not talking about mains voltage either.
The adjustments you ask for require power on.
Here you are asking for a live voltage test?!
One of the brighness controls is located right near an area of most danger and not knowing how to adjust this risks damage to other componnents.
Netmage.
Hmm, reading through the other comments, looks like i'm not the only one with a finger on the panic button.
I think that you are all worrying too much. I have adjusted hundreds of monitors and also teach a class at the local junior high school. I have the kids adjust the monitors (under supervision, of course). We've never even had a hangnail! You just need to be careful, not paranoid!
I agree with Kayton.
So where is the legal disclaimer in E-Exchange for you.
I'd hate to think that this question was left open because the person with the problem had an accident.
The adjustment you are talking about if taken too far can let the smoke out of the monitor if you don't know what you are doing.
Besides, it's an unnecessary adjustment.......
Please let's not argue much, if somebody wants to argue go to customer service post a 0 question and then, call the people and then talk it over outside here.
Let's try to keep it within the professional margin.
It is my opinion.
Let's try to keep it within the professional margin.
It is my opinion.
To istal.
yeah ok, no more arguement.
As this question has been answered, i must point out a few possible problems with the answer.
I must point out that this problem happened as a one off thing. If this adjustment did work and the monitor was tried on another computer, there is a chance of doing some damage.
On many monitors there are many adjustments that augment the control by the digital control switches.
The Flyback is one of the most expensive parts of the the monitor and can have more than 2 controls on it. The effect of over driving voltage to this can cause items like the Power transistors leading to the flyback to have reduced life.
What I am trying really say is in the end unless you can predict the outcome prior to fidling with the switches, leave it alone.
Netmage
yeah ok, no more arguement.
As this question has been answered, i must point out a few possible problems with the answer.
I must point out that this problem happened as a one off thing. If this adjustment did work and the monitor was tried on another computer, there is a chance of doing some damage.
On many monitors there are many adjustments that augment the control by the digital control switches.
The Flyback is one of the most expensive parts of the the monitor and can have more than 2 controls on it. The effect of over driving voltage to this can cause items like the Power transistors leading to the flyback to have reduced life.
What I am trying really say is in the end unless you can predict the outcome prior to fidling with the switches, leave it alone.
Netmage
ASKER
i'm not dead. I'm in the middle of moving and haven't had time to read my email or even get on the internet. i'm going to try tweaking the inside of the monitor. i have a grounding strap that plugs into the wall outlet and decent medical insurance. i have dealt with the insides of stereo equipment before but ot a tv. i'll get back to u soon, if i can :)
Please re-read my comment of Sunday, December 27 1998 - 03:59PM
Regards,
Ralph
Regards,
Ralph
ASKER
it wasn't as hard as you all made it out to be. the two screws were right on the backside for the most part alone. the hardest part was getting the case back on right. thanks to all of u for your help!
ASKER