My external display is all fuzzy! What's going on?

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thinkpadhk · #1 Post by **thinkpadhk** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 3:46 am

OK guys...

Now I'm just getting annoyed. So I got some good advice from everyone on how to set up an external display with my T42. But now my eyes are going batty cuz of the fuzzy fonts!

I have a T42 running at 1400x1050, and an external LCD display with native 1280x1024 resolution. So I did the "Extend my Windows Desktop onto this monitor" option so I can use both displays at the same time at their native resolutions. However, my external display is fuzzy as hell! Even though it's running at the native resolution! Can someone tell me how to fix this?

Also, when my screen saver goes on and I log back in, the extended display setting is gone and the external monitor is blank! What the heck is that all about?

Thanks guys.
Henry.

thinkpadhk · #2 Post by **thinkpadhk** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:56 pm

Hey no one has any thoughts on this? I'd sure appreciate some sort of help or advice.

thinkpadhk · #3 Post by **thinkpadhk** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:25 pm

Come on guys... there must be someone out there with an answer to this.

Help a brother out!

scottv · #4 Post by **scottv** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:51 pm

I'm not running both internal and external monitors, just external plugged into the SVGA connector... and yes, it's blurry.

From what I've read in this forum, you need to use DVI to get clear text on an external display.

#5 Post by **BillMorrow** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:33 pm

external should not be fuzzy unless its a crappy CRT..
or you are using a cheap cable..
or both..
if, OTH, it is all good stuff then is it running at the native resolution of the display..?
assuming it is a LCD display and not the above CRT..?!

scottv · #6 Post by **scottv** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:45 pm

morrow wrote:external should not be fuzzy unless its a crappy CRT..
or you are using a cheap cable..
or both..

I'm using a Samsung SyncMaster desktop LCD at it's native 1280x1024 resolution.
When I hook it up to the external output on my 2373, I get no where near the same quality as when it's hooked up to my desktop PC... same monitor, same cable.
I does not seem that my 2373 provides the same clean signal I get from my desktop PC. I'm hoping my new mini-doc DVI gives me back the sharp text I'm used to.

thinkpadhk · #7 Post by **thinkpadhk** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:48 pm

That's exactly the same issue with me.

I have a Samsung 712N and I am running it at it's native resolution of 1280x1024. When it's hooked up to my desktop I get nice crisp text and graphics. When it's hooked to the T42 (Radeon 9600 64MB), I get fuzzy/blurry text and graphics.

Unfortunately my LCD does not have DVI input! Darn.

RCube · #8 Post by **RCube** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:43 pm

I don't think the t4x vga out was deisgned to handle more than 1024x768.
I couldn't believe how blurry everything looked on my 21" lcd running at 1600x1200. And nothing wrong with the cable either, I tested it on a desktop system with analog out and it was fine.

I think you have to use the DVI connection...but thata means I have to buy a dock...so I gave up. hahaha

#9 Post by **BillMorrow** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 12:32 am

I just connected a 1280x1024 display to a T42p..
works just fine..
this display is working just fine..
it is an old IBM 17 inch LCD 1024x1280 display..
appears clear to me..

others have connected 1200x1600 to the DVI port..
but (with the T41p) takes a hack to the driver..

not a dock, a port replicator will do just fine for the DVI out..

muffd · #10 Post by **muffd** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 1:18 am

If using XP Pro, make sure in display properties --> appearance that you don't have clear-type checked. I did that and had the same problems you guys did. After unchecking that option, running at 1280x1024 or 1400x1050 on an external display, everything looks fine:) This is also using a KVM switch and mini-dock.

scottv · #11 Post by **scottv** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:22 am

I just did a few tests with ClearType on and off.
Off does look a bit better, but that's because the fonts are not anti-aliased and are more pixelated. It helps mask the fuzziness from the VGA adaptor.

So yes, it does help, but the fact that you have to turn ClearType off on the external VGA connector just proves that the signal coming out of my T41 is not on par with your typical desktop video card.

I'm going to get a port-replicator just for the DVI output. I already run the Omega display drivers to fix a "color calibration" issue with the original IBM drivers. See this thread for details
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=5181

thinkpadhk · #12 Post by **thinkpadhk** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 3:43 pm

I think I know why there is such a huge degradation in the analog output of the T42. There must be large amounts on noise being coupled into the video card because everything is placed so close together in a laptop. IBM probably has the card located really close to a very noisy source. This noise would only affect the analog signal since digital is more immune to noise.

This also would explain why you don't see this in a desktop computer. All the components are widely spaced in a desktop (relatively speaking) so their is less noise coupling onto the graphics card.

scottv · #13 Post by **scottv** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 1:07 am

scottv wrote: I'm going to get a port-replicator just for the DVI output.

OK, I received my port-replicator and i'm running my monitor through the DVI connector. It works GREAT!

Output quality via the VGA connector leaves much to be desired, but the text quality with DVI output is awesome.

If you don't have DVI output, buy a port replicator and use the DVI output on that. It will save your eyes and probably your brain. Highly Recommended.

Kenn · #14 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 1:34 am

I was at my parent's place over Thanksgiving and hooked the T42 up to a 1280x1024 analog LCD through the DB-15 vga port for the first time. My god, it was fuzzy! It was so bad I had to do a doubletake to make sure 12x10 was native res.

I've used literally dozens of analog and digital LCD displays before, and believe me this output was not normal. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to troubleshoot it other than testing cleartype (I first assumed the monitor used a different RGB striping pattern so I turned off CT, before noticing that the fuzziness was definitely affecting every element on-screen, not just text) and setting to 1024 and 16bit color to test the RAMDAC, but this at least confirms for me that for some units on some external LCD displays, there IS an unmistakable out-of-box problem.

Bummer, but if I ever get a secondary display, it'll be a digital LCD to go through the port rep, so I'm not going to make an issue out of it.

armortec800 · #15 Post by **armortec800** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 3:35 am

The external LCD must be set to the desired native resolution so as to get the sharpest pixel to pixel match.

The VGA cable that is supplied, please check the quality, for analog, they are very sensitive to impedance other than 75ohm. Or else ghosting will appear.

I would suggest you to use the DVI via the port replicator for the sharpest ghost free image on your LCD if it has DVI input.

JD24 · #16 Post by **JD24** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:35 am

In a german magazine (ct) they compared several notebooks and
they do complain about the bad signal quality of some notebooks
(including IBM to be very bad). I think there is no other way than
using the DVI port.

JD

leesiulung · #17 Post by **leesiulung** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:06 am

I own an X31 and unfortunatly the X31 does not support DVI. The analog output produces a fuzzy picture at 1600 x 1200 with cleartext off. Again the desktop with the analog cable produces a sharp and perfect picture.

Have anyone tried a different (analog) cable with their laptop? Will another cable actually help? I am willing to shell out the money if it does. Are there any other solutions? ... currenlty I am very unhappy with the output quality of my X31.

armortec800 · #18 Post by **armortec800** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:24 am

I use a port replicator with my T40. My VGA output is connector to AVermedia TV tuner box, http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... u=A46-4036 and this box will output another VGA to my external LCD with 1280X1024. The tv tuner box and the LCD each supplied its own stock VGA cable.

I have image ghosting, very annoying compared to when i am using a desktop PC with radeon card output directly to the same LCD.

I decided to investigate the stock VGA cables. The tuner box cable is worst then the supplied LCD montor cable. The LCD cable is quite decent. Both I did connect directly to the LCD via the port replicator or the t40's own VGA out to compare. And I have another long VGA cable bought years ago for comparison sake, its ghosting is out of this world, for those who do not believe how a good quality cable will affect the analog signal, this cable serves to prove it.

The culprit is actually the tv tuner box. So I bought 2 cables from Canare ($20 each)with great 75ohm for analog video, improved a little when everything is hooked to the TV tuner box. But its performance is best if connected directly from the replicator to the LCD. So I am not going to stop here. Buy another monitor with DVi input, or TV monitor with DVI input.

So to save you guys trouble, if u do not yet own a TV tuner and wish to, get the USB tuner or the PC card which has less analog conversion and less problem. But if you have LCD monitor with DVI input and by all means use the replicator's DVI output if your thinkpad is able to do so.

Whatever, please set your resolution to match the display's native resolution.

leesiulung wrote:I own an X31 and unfortunatly the X31 does not support DVI. The analog output produces a fuzzy picture at 1600 x 1200 with cleartext off. Again the desktop with the analog cable produces a sharp and perfect picture.

Have anyone tried a different (analog) cable with their laptop? Will another cable actually help? I am willing to shell out the money if it does. Are there any other solutions? ... currenlty I am very unhappy with the output quality of my X31.

Elhabash · #19 Post by **Elhabash** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:03 pm

So yes, it does help, but the fact that you have to turn ClearType off on the external VGA connector just proves that the signal coming out of my T41 is not on par with your typical desktop video card.

This goes for many laptop graphics cards, actually.
So to refer to another topic (Serial port on TP), it probably would have been better to include a DVI out instead of the VGA out, since a simple adapter could be used for analog monitors, as do the Powerbooks...

mm77 · #20 Post by **mm77** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 10:32 am

I am using an external 19" LCD at 1280 x 1024 with a T42 15" at 1400 x 1050. The external 19" LCD is connected with a analog VGA cable.

When I first connected the external LCD, text was extemely fuzzy. After installing the monitor driver and checking the Advanced Settings in the Display Properties Control Panel, I saw the external LCD's screen refresh rate was set to 75 Hertz. Changing the refresh rate to 60 Hertz made everything much clearer.

And turning off ClearType did make text clearer on the external LCD.

hongcj92 · #21 Post by **hongcj92** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:43 pm

hi,

I found this post since I am looking for the exact same problem. Wow this thread is in last year.

1280 mode of any external monitor thru VGA connection in my laptop gives a poor quality in text and font. Text is fuzzy blurry. esp. Horizontal pixels in outer edge of font is so fuzzy. It seems to be "out of focus". I turn off "cleartype" mode and I adjusted my ext monitor in 60Hz. I updated all drivers thru lenovo software installer. Now, I can't work with ext monitor more than 30 min. If I connect this mon into my old desktop, all text and fonts are crip clear enough!

Thus, I want to follow scotty solution. I plan to order portII for only dvi connection to have a clear text on my external 1280 19" LCD. I wish the quality to be just good as my laptop LCD(XGA).

I am wondering if there is any s/w configuration solution such that updating any graphic adaptor drivers(Catalysist/Omega) w/o portII help? I don't care any color quality or any fancy feature on this. Only crisp text!

My laptop is T40 2373-8cu (Ati mob 7500, winxp2) and ext monitor is 1905FP.

thanks,

simscitizen · #22 Post by **simscitizen** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:58 pm

Make sure the video card is outputting with a resolution of 1024*768@60 Hz. If you output at a higher refresh rate for an analog LCD, it WILL be fuzzy. This issue is documented in pretty much every LCD manual...

Also, go to your LCD's settings and run the auto-adjust after you make sure the resolution and settings are correct.

Barring that, get the dock replicator and use the DVI output, which is a hell of a lot better than the analog out anyway.

#23 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:26 pm

Just an idea. Why don't you try installing the driver for your monitor?

Displays: Dell 1905FP, Driver, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Multi Language, Multi System, A01

hongcj92 · #24 Post by **hongcj92** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:55 pm

thanks gomjabbar and citizen!

Those are all I have tried previously.

Dell driver couldn't upgrade the existing default monitor driver. I think this is only for some dell desktop and laptop.

There is image setting->auto adjust in OSD menu. Unfortunately, it failed to sort it out! I adjust 1280 w/ 60Hz.

I think this is a h/w limitation of T40 model and looking forward to PRII.

thanks,

hongcj92 · #25 Post by **hongcj92** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:58 pm

hi,
I received PRII. I connected my ext LCD thru dvi cable. Now no more fuzzy text fonts! All clear and crisp. Now I can install 1905FP monitor drivers.

My external display is all fuzzy! What's going on?

My external display is all fuzzy! What's going on?

External LCD monitor screen refresh rate should be 60 Hertz

fuzzy text on ext 1280 monitor with 2373

thanks

PRII-dvi-clear font

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