[SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

dcbdbis · 2012-09-02 22:19:03

For vision reasons, my main monitor is now a 42" LED. Also makes it a bunch clearer for intricate CAD work (QCad Pro).

I dual boot between Arch (primary os) and Win-7 (gaming OS). When I use the RGB connector, I can adjust the TV's settings to perfection. Then when I dual boot at days end to play a game, the screen remains perfect.

If I connect the TV using the HDMI connector it gets weird. If I am running one os (doesn't matter which), I acn adjust the screen again to perfection. Then when I boot to the other OS, the TV resets itself and I have to readjust the picture all over again. This particular LED does not have the capacity for me to save "profiles"

I am using an NVidia GTX 560 TI.

The TV does not reset itself between power ups as long as I stick with the same OS, it only resets itself when switching OS's.

I am no electronics wizard. I am asking the community if:

a) Is this just the way HDMI operates as a technology and I should stick with DVI ->RGB cables?

or

b) Should I set it up for Windows, and then tweak the xorg.conf file directly in Linux so effectively xorg feeds the monitor in the same way as Windows?

I would appreciate any input,

Sincerely and respectfully,

Dave

PS: I would like the HDMI connectivity becasue I can get a better quality picture through HDMI than I can using a composite signal.

Last edited by dcbdbis (2012-09-09 20:20:40)

Darksoul71 · 2012-09-04 11:21:43

Wow, a 42 monitor...nice

When I use the RGB connector, I can adjust the TV's settings to perfection.
Then when I dual boot at days end to play a game, the screen remains perfect.

To me this indicates that your graphic adapter uses identical settings for VGA under arch as well as under Win7.

Since your monitor re-adjusts when using HDMI there seem to be differences between the parameters used under Win7 versus arch.

a) Is this just the way HDMI operates as a technology and I should stick with DVI ->RGB cables?

No, HDMI usually works fine while the HDMI input of your monitor might support other resolutions than 720p or 1080p.
My 32" Sony Bravia for example also supports 800x600 and 1024x768 for HDMI inputs as well.

b) Should I set it up for Windows, and then tweak the xorg.conf file directly in Linux so effectively xorg
feeds the monitor in the same way as Windows?

That is what I would do: Find out with what parameters Windows drives your monitor (e.g. 60 Hz / 1080p). Then fire up arch
and determine what parameters Xorg uses to drive the monitor. Then adjust your Xorg accordingly.

Sometimes it might be required to manually get the EDID from the monitor and load it inside Xorg with the customedid parameter.

To my limited knowledge the monitor should not re- adjust when you boot up arch unless the resolution gets changed in between.

May be the bootup sequence shows up on your monitor in a different resolution than the native Xorg res and causes the re-adjustment of the moni$

You can use VGA kernel parameters to controll which resolution your boot splashscreen and the console itself has.

HTH,
D$

Last edited by Darksoul71 (2012-09-04 11:22:58)

wonder · 2012-09-04 11:32:02

is it a samsung monitor? if yes, when on your remote press Source, move to hdmi input and press Tools button from your remote control. then select edit and from that list find PC and select it.
now your screen image should be fine. you might need to go back to 16:9 format.

dcbdbis · 2012-09-04 17:31:32

Thanks to all for the replies.

It's an Insignia from Best Buy. Monitor Model = NS-42E440A13

Video Card = Nvidia GTX-560TI

And the res in WIn7 and Arch is identical, 60 Hz, 1920x1080.

I suspect DarkSoul71 may be on the right track, something electronically is different between Win7's signal and xorg's. And I didn't think about the posibility that one was feeding 1080i, vs 1080p....

I've got something to go on and I appreciate the input!

Thanks again, once I get it sorted out, I will come back, post the the fix I had to apply, and tag the post as solved.

Sincerly and respectfully,

Dave

Darksoul71 · 2012-09-06 08:26:13

It could help if you first boot up Windows 7, shut it down and afterwards fire up arch.
If something during the boot process of Linux changes the display settings (e.g. short switching to another resolution) you should see a re-adjusted TV set as soon as you start arch.

masteryod · 2012-09-06 09:30:24

First of all, as wonder said: set TV to PC mode if possible. Disable all video "enhancements", check your menu for any super-duper technology and disable all of them. Check your signal type (TV often treat 1080p/i & 720p/i as a video input from standalone player and post-process it, hence PC mode)

Hmm.... you've got one HDMI plugged into PC and TV and you don't change it right? Maybe signal from Windows differ slightly from Linux signal (because of drivers/xorg or something else or some dumb HDMI identifier ID bit has changed because of some dumb HDCP protocol asinine...) and TV is designed to reset itself if source is changed on particular input? TVs have many inputs, try to set up Windows on HDMI1 and Linux on HDMI2 for example. Plug HDMI cable to HDMI1 input in your TV, boot up Windows, set up display, shutdown. Then plug HDMI cable into HDMI2 input of your TV, boot up and set up display on Linux. Repeat changing cable/boot sequence and check if problem still exist.

dcbdbis · 2012-09-09 20:39:00

I involved both NVidia and Insignia (Best Buy OEM) and we have a solution that I want to share.

My TV has 3 HDMI ports. One for PC mode(HDMI-3), and another that is plain-jane HDMI (HDMI-2), and another that is some form of enhanced HDMI (HDMI-1).

Per the user manual I was using HDMI-3, the one designated for PC's. It is sensitive to any changes in signal. Same is so for HDMI-1.

HDMI-2, is "plane-jane" HDMI, no special effects, etc. The monitor will maintain settings between OS's and this connector isn't sensitive to slight changes in sync frequencies, etc. Basically, the Monitor saves and maintain's my settings, and automatically syncs to whatever is coming down the wire, and does not reset the TV's settings.

Per the user guide, I was using HDMI-1 & 3 as directed, which would have been fine if I didn't dual boot. So I switched to HDMI-2.....and life is perfect!

For the record, the exact model is an Insignia NS-42E440A13 42", 60hz, LED-TV. (not LCD). I know this is splitting hairs as to backlighting technologies...but it's for reference purposes. It's a fine screen and I can honestly give it a definite thumbs up as for quality of picture.

The end solution was a TV/HDMI port selection issue, and not an issue with NVidia drivers in either OS's.

I sincerely appreciate all the posts. Thank You!

Now if any others have an similar issue with their LED's where multiple HDMI ports are installed on the TV...I suggest taking the actual user's guide for the monitor with a grain of salt,....and trying your issue(s) across all ports before getting frustrated.

Thanks again to all!

Sincerely and respectfully,

Dave

Arch Linux

#1 2012-09-02 22:19:03

[SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

#2 2012-09-04 11:21:43

Re: [SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

#3 2012-09-04 11:32:02

Re: [SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

#4 2012-09-04 17:31:32

Re: [SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

#5 2012-09-06 08:26:13

Re: [SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

#6 2012-09-06 09:30:24

Re: [SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

#7 2012-09-09 20:39:00

Re: [SOLVED] 42" LED, HDMI, and dual-boot.

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