BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Adjusting BENQ Blur Reduction and DyAc (Dynamic Acceleration) including Blur Busters Strobe Utility. Supports most BenQ/Zowie Z-Series monitors (XL2411, XL2420, XL2720, XL2735, XL2540, XL2546)
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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by Chief Blur Buster » 15 May 2017, 11:47

There is a Linux mechanism for upgrading firmwares so it's possible to do it on your own, if you get a copy of the V002 firmware.
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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by sungsenn » 15 May 2017, 12:49

Chief Blur Buster wrote:There is a Linux mechanism for upgrading firmwares so it's possible to do it on your own, if you get a copy of the V002 firmware.
But I'd need a special hardware device to connect to the monitor, which as far as I read costs about as much, right?

To be honest, I find it really odd that BenQ is not offering to update the firmware for free even though they did that in 2015 when they did the recall for those monitors with the V001 firmware :(

Edit: Ah OK i saw some instructions for the linux firmware update procedure. But I'm not sure if the XL2730Z with it's REALTEK scaler is updateable with this method?

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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by Chief Blur Buster » 15 May 2017, 14:08

sungsenn wrote:But I'd need a special hardware device to connect to the monitor, which as far as I read costs about as much, right?
The hardware device is for Windows.

The Linux mechanism bypasses the device. No device needed if using the Linux firmware upgrade method.

The only thing you need is a V002 firmware (either official, or as a dump from another person's XL2730Z)
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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by sungsenn » 15 May 2017, 15:49

Chief Blur Buster wrote:The only thing you need is a V002 firmware (either official, or as a dump from another person's XL2730Z)
Are you sure this would work with a XL2730Z? I'm asking because the linux flash instructions only mention MSTAR scalers and not REALTEK ones which the XL2730Z has.
Also I haven't found anyone who reported that they flashed the XL2730Z with this method? (But lots of success with the XL2720Z).

I only found this thread from Falkentyne where he wanted to start this: http://www.overclock.net/t/1577528/moni ... ing-thread

Theoretically I could get a V005 firmware from a friend who has the new Zowie XL2730Z (which is the same hardware though I think).

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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by Falkentyne » 15 May 2017, 16:19

There is no V005 firmware for the XL2730Z.
XL2720Z firmware is up to V007 (Zowie) or V005 (Benq); Zowie version can be flashed into the "Benq" as the hardware is identical. I have absolutely no idea what is different from V7 vs V5 besides a logo change.

I have XL2730Z V002 but you need the RT809F flasher to flash it. You can buy it off aliexpress. I do NOT know if the Mstar ISP flasher can flash it or even if flashrom supports the 2796B scaler (what matters is the FLASH CHIP, not the scaler).

If you have linux, you can try (at no risk) to see if it can read and back up your existing firmware. The instructions on page 23 of the Linux flash thread here should work.

http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic ... &start=220

IF flashrom can read the firmware it should be able to flash it (i'd have to link my onedrive as i dont have access to it atm) for the V2 firmware.

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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by sungsenn » 16 May 2017, 03:03

Falkentyne wrote:There is no V005 firmware for the XL2730Z.
I guarantee you there is. I saw it with my own eyes in the Zowie XL2730Z of my friend which is only 1-2 months old.
sungsenn wrote:If you have linux, you can try (at no risk) to see if it can read and back up your existing firmware. The instructions on page 23 of the Linux flash thread here should work.
Would the instructions for reading the realtek flash chip be the same as for the MSTAR one or do I need to do something different?

I'd rather not by the RT809F. It costs nearly the same as having the monitor flashed by BenQ.

Edit: Actually BenQ HQ decided to flash the monitor now for free after all. Pretty cool by them!
I might still try to read the firmware with linux though in case that helps someone else?

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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by PanzerIV » 16 May 2017, 03:14

Wow what a bunch of assholes if they really told you it was that much just for a stupid plug & play update that takes 0 effort and only 5 minutes at most with their automated machine. It's actualy lame they make it so it is impossible to update on ur own so that you must have it done by them for 70 more than the price it's worth. When I update the electronic cigarette of my customers at my store, I never charged anybody for such quick service that's very easy from me and yet they don't pay 700$CAD for their hardware like that monitor cost.

Just keep on harassing them and get higher at the head office until you get a positive comment. It's like inssurance compnies, they say no the first few time to eliminate as much people as possible but persist.
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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by sungsenn » 16 May 2017, 06:25

As I wrote in my edit: Actually BenQ HQ decided to flash the monitor now for free after all.
It seems like the people in the headquarter actually know how to do customer service in contrast to some of the representatives that I had contact with. But then again some EU countries don't have much of a customer focused policy history in contrast to the US for example.

I might still try to read the firmware with linux though in case that helps someone else?

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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by Falkentyne » 16 May 2017, 09:30

Benq doesn't release firmwares, and until your post, I have never seen anyone mention anything about other XL2730Z firmwares. And no one is dumping them so I am out of the loop. The only firmwares we ever know about are when users on this forum either dump or upload them themselves. I"ll add XL2720Z V7 to my one drive later. If you are successful at reading the XL2730Z firmware with the instructions on page 23 in the main Linux thread, that would be very helpful. Make sure you list what information is given back by flashrom and what it says the flash type is (you would not be writing anything, just creating the backup, which causes no risk).

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Re: BenQ XL2730Z Firmware Update V002

Post by sungsenn » 16 May 2017, 13:56

Interesting, I'll let you know what firmware I get when it returns.

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