HDMI monitor, detected as television, causing problems

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Level 1

35 points

HDMI monitor, detected as television, causing problems

I have an Acer H233H monitor that is connected to a 2010 mini via HDMI. In display preferences it is detected as a television. This is causing problems with some games. The games will only let me choose 50hz refresh rates, when the desktop is running at 60hz just fine. Is there a way to force my monitor to be detected as a monitor instead of a TV, so that I can choose from proper resolutions instead of 1080p?

Mac mini 2010, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 15, 2010 9:01 PM

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Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,651 points

Sep 16, 2010 8:42 AM in response to HotShot

The monitor sends a signal to identify itself to the device to which it is attached, the EDID. So it appears that your monitor is telling the Mac what it is. The Mac can only go by what it is told.

What does the user guide that came with the monitor say regarding the refresh rate. Can the monitor even use 50hz?

Dah•veed

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Answer 2

HotShot Author

Level 1

35 points

Sep 16, 2010 8:47 AM in response to Dah•veed

Yes. Under Windows I can choose between 50hz or 60hz, both for the desktop and in the Windows versions of the games that are giving me the problem. Using the 50hz setting anywhere gives you very fine flicker that is horrible on the eyes, which is why being unable to specify 60hz is such a problem.

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,651 points

Sep 16, 2010 8:51 AM in response to HotShot

To me you appear to contradict yourself. In you first post you say your only choice is 60hz. In this second post you say that you are unable to choose 60hz.

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Answer 4

HotShot Author

Level 1

35 points

Sep 16, 2010 8:54 AM in response to Dah•veed

On the desktop, as in inside of Display, in System Preferences, I can choose 1080p, then I can choose NTSC, which is 60hz. But inside of any fullscreen game that gives you a choice of resolutions I can only select 50hz at 1920x1080, not 60hz like I need.

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Answer 5

Star1

Level 2

465 points

Sep 16, 2010 12:12 PM in response to HotShot

Hi Mike,
the LCD monitors shouldn't be running at anything else than 60Hz frequency (or very close to it {like 59.5}.

Message was edited by: Star1

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Answer 6

Mr.C UK

Level 2

410 points

Sep 17, 2010 5:40 AM in response to HotShot

It's quite baffling actually as it is a monitor not a TV. According to Acer's site it is capable of resolutions up to 1920x1080 at 75Hz. It should be detected as a monitor and it should allow you to choose a higher refresh rate then 50Hz.

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Answer 7

HotShot Author

Level 1

35 points

Sep 18, 2010 3:17 PM in response to HotShot

No way to fix it that I could see. I ended up having to use the HDMI to DVI-D adapter. So much for native HDMI.

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Answer 8

HotShot Author

Level 1

35 points

Sep 19, 2010 6:55 AM in response to HotShot

And now when I go to wake it up I get static. I have to sleep it and wake it up again to get picture.

This is spectacular.

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