Weirdness with Dell S2009W monitor

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Level 1

9 points

Weirdness with Dell S2009W monitor

I just bought a new (refurbished) Mac Mini (2GHz, 1GB RAM). It's the new model with mini-display port and mini-DVI video outputs. I bought a Dell S2009W and tried to connect it via DVI and it just tells me that the monitor is going to sleep mode and it never displays the mac desktop (and I can connect via screen sharing, so I know the mini is working properly).

To see if it was the DVI cable or connector on the monitor, I plugged it into my MacBook Pro and it works fine as a second monitor (no mini-DVI to DVI adapter needed) at the monitor's native 1600 x 900 resolution.

I had a mini-DVI to VGA adapter, so I tried it with that and it displays the mac desktop just fine 1600 x 900, but it won't go into sleep mode when the mini goes to sleep. I'm left with a message that says "No VGA signal" or something like that. Fortunately, it moves around the screen, so I don't have to worry about burn-in, but I'd like the display to go into sleep mode.

One more thing... when I connect to the mini via screen sharing, and the monitor is plugged in via DVI, I can see only 4 resolutions: 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, and 1680x1050, but no 1600x900.

What gives? Is something wrong with my mini-DVI to DVI adapter that came with my mini? (It was a refurb, after all.) Or does the mini not have enough memory to drive the 1600 x 900 resolution display with a DVI signal???

15" MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.7), My other mac is a PM G4 1.25

Posted on Aug 2, 2009 9:00 PM

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Answer 1

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Aug 3, 2009 8:46 AM in response to Wardoggie

So with the mini hooked up to the Dell using the DVI adapter, and then by using screen sharing to observe and control the mini's output, have you tried selecting all those available resolutions in the list, e.g. 800x600, 1024x768, etc.? And if so, do any of them produce an output on the Dell? If the answer is no, then likely it is a bad adapter.

The difference between how the MBP is reacting to the monitor and how the new mini is reacting to the monitor could have to do with hardware differences (HDCP capability) and also the level of the OS. By chance, is the MBP running an OS prior to 10.5.7? Because since the application of 10.5.7, Macs have been reacting very differently to 16:9 aspect displays. If either the Mac or the display in question do not support HDCP, which is a type of encryption meant to protect high-definition digital content from piracy, then the Mac and display will not play nice together and display 16:9 formats digitally. At least that seems to be what is going on. That may have something to do with what you are seeing in the various configurations you have tested.

Not sure about sleep mode. So when the Dell starts displaying "No VGA signal" are you saying from that point it never times out to a blank screen and sleep state? It just displays that message indefinitely no matter how long you wait? Could that be a setting on the Dell?

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Answer 2

Wardoggie Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 3, 2009 10:31 AM in response to BSteely

Thanks for the response. 🙂

I saw nothing on the Dell when I swapped screen resolutions on the mini via screen sharing. I know it had some effect because the size of the desktop I saw in screen sharing changed accordingly.

The Dell claims to support HDCP and both MBP and mini are running 10.5.7.

The sleep mode on the monitor engages when I connect it to the mini via DVI. In fact, it engages instantly and won't display anything at all. I can't get it out of sleep mode. I tested sleep mode when the dell as connected to my MBP and it worked.

What I see when the monitor is connected to my mini via VGA is what you suspected: just a blank screen with the message "No VGA cable connected" and the power button glows white. When it goes into sleep mode, it has a different message (something that tells you it's going to sleep), then the screen goes dark and the power button glows amber.

The DVI cable adapter is my first suspect too, but the fact that neither connection works flawlessly, and the fact that my mini was a refurb, makes me wonder if the video circuitry on the mini is the problem. I have the cable adapter with me, so will try to get some time at the nearby Apple Store Genius Bar to figure this out.

Thanks again for responding. This is really confusing and frustrating.

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Answer 3

Aug 5, 2009 2:50 PM in response to Wardoggie

Hey
I have the same setup and the same problem. What's going on is that the mini refuses to recognise the Dell's 1600x900 resolution as valid, and so it is outputting at a different resolution (at a different Hz) which the Dell can't handle. It's stupid through and through.
Maybe 10.5.8 has solved this, I dunno yet and can't experiment at the moment.

However, in the meantime you'll have to get SwitchResX... ( http://www.madrau.com/SRX3/index.html) and create a new resolution. It has a trial period, so you can see if it suits you. As I say, maybe 10.5.8 solves this issue.

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Answer 4

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Aug 5, 2009 5:37 PM in response to zap branagan

About 10.5.8, per Apple's notes:

+What's included in this update:+
+*Resolves an issue in which certain resolutions might not appear in the Display pane in System Preferences.+

That sounds encouraging.

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Answer 5

Wardoggie Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 7, 2009 7:32 AM in response to zap branagan

Well, 10.5.8 didn't do the trick. I also downloaded and installed SwitchResX and it didn't automatically help. Since I can't see anything when using DVI, do I have to create a resolution while in VGA? I guess I could also use screen sharing to configure it remotely while connected via DVI. Pls tell me more about how you used SwitchResX to solve your problem.

Thanks,
Warren

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Answer 6

Wardoggie Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 8, 2009 5:59 PM in response to Wardoggie

Well, I still don't know why my Dell won't sleep in VGA mode, but after dragging the monitor, cables, adapters and mini to an Apple store for testing, the mini-DVI to DVI connector that came with my refurb'd Mac mini turned out to be bad. I'm a little miffed that the guy at the first Apple store I went to with just the adapter wouldn't test it for me or swap it out for a new one, which would have solved my problem days ago. I also wish they had a VGA monitor at this Apple store so I could've tested that adapter too, but at least I now have a monitor that sleeps when it's supposed to!

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Answer 7

Sep 28, 2009 3:27 PM in response to Wardoggie

Sorry, didn't see your question there.

When you DL switchres, you have to go to the Custom pane, and make a resolution for 1600 x 900 and then restart. It's not too difficult, and it has to be VGA...

Unfortunately Snow Leopard hasn't provided a solution to this problem either.

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