The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    M11xR2 + Samsung 2233rz - problems achieving 120hz

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by alphez, Oct 16, 2010.

  1. alphez

    alphez Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi,

    Tried hooking up my M11x to a Samsung 2233rz today using an active DP->DVI-D adapter today.

    The problem is, the reason I want to do this is to be able to play games like counter-strike and Modern Warfare 2 at 120hz at LOWER resolution than the native 2233rz resolution (1680x1050), and still be able to use 120hz.

    On my desktop, the screen doesnt argue at all with the resolution, I just override every 3d-game to run in 120zh through the ATI drivers, and every game starts perfectly in the selected resolution, ex. 800x600@120hz.

    But when connected to my M11x, I can ONLY get 120hz while running on 1680x1050, and if I try to lower the resolution, the screen goes black and I get the "no supported mode" message on my monitor.
    It can however run games at lower resolutions, but then only at 60hz. Same goes for windows resolution, only 120hz at 1680x1050.

    This doesnt make any sense to me! If it was the other way around, maybe, but this? :)

    Anyone know what might be the problem here? Think I've tried every combination of settings, and yes, the Sam2233rz is selected as the main monitor in the settings.

    Best regards,
    alphez
     
    alphez, Oct 16, 2010
    #1
  2. alphez

    alphez Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Is this an Windows 7 EDID problem, or a driver problem?

    because under advanced monitor options, all resolutions@120hz is showed as supported, but the screen goes black whenever I try anything other than native.

    Does anyone by any chance have a .inf file for this monitor? :)
     
    alphez, Oct 18, 2010
    #2
  3. DankDarko

    DankDarko Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I know this may seem obvious but i have to ask...did you install your monitors driver? (if there are any)
     
    DankDarko, Oct 18, 2010
    #3
  4. alphez

    alphez Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    ofcourse, but the monitor drivers doesn't really include anything other than the name of display, as far as I can tell.

    After some googling it seems like there is a problem with windows 7 and this screen, with nvidia cards. ATI has the override function built into the drivers, so you can override the EDID information in Windows 7(?)
    And nVidia dont. So either its a problem with the drivers, or its a problem with Windows 7. Or a combination of both.

    If I can't make this work, I dont really see the point of having an ultraportable gaming laptop. :/
    The m11x doesnt play games that well at 1680x1050, and 120hz is a must for me, and I allready have the monitor.
     
    alphez, Oct 18, 2010
    #4
  5. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    3,210
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Just a note, in the R2, the Intel GPU drives the outputs, as the nVidia GPU is not directly connected to any video output.
     
    jeremyshaw, Oct 18, 2010
    #5
  6. Vidaluko

    Vidaluko Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    12
    Messages:
    407
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Can I still hook a monitor and play with the nvidia card the games in the R2?
     
    Vidaluko, Oct 18, 2010
    #6
  7. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    3,210
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    131
    yes :)

    Optimus uses the Intel GPU at all times, and if needed, the nVidia GPU powers up to render scenes, then optimus (overall the tech) copies the rendered frame into the Intel IGP, and the Intel IGP outputs the result onto the screen.
     
    jeremyshaw, Oct 18, 2010
    #7
  8. alphez

    alphez Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Yeah figured,

    But still, achieving 120hz at lower resolutions shouldnt be a problem even with the intel gpu, as 1680x1050 runs fine at that rate.

    As far as I can tell, this has to be an EDID issue with win7 then?

    Im very close to become a member of the apple club now. As much as it hurts.
     
    alphez, Oct 18, 2010
    #8