Blur Busters Forums

Hey everyone!,

My name is EagerLearner, and as you can see from my username I am eager to learn about monitor technology!

First off, a big thank you to the Blur Busters Squad. I've been a regular guest to this website and have found it to be an invaluable resource! Keep up the great work!

My problem is thus:

I installed Windows XP Professional 32-bit through Bootcamp on my imac computer and I am trying to get 120 Hz on the HP P1230 external monitor. On the OS X side, I am able to get 120 Hz just fine. (The HP P1230 is hooked up through an Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter.)

First, I started up Windows XP with the external monitor and I did not see the monitor listed in Display settings. (It should be plug-and-play.) After some research, I discovered that the Nvidia control panel listed the HP P1230 in Nvidia nView. The highest hertz option available though was only 85 Hz. I then remembered that I needed to install the monitor drivers from HP, so I did that and then the monitor showed up in Display settings. The thing is, 85 Hz was the highest option there as well.

I noticed that if I changed the monitor settings in Display settings versus Nvidia nView, the monitor did not look as good. I'm not sure why that would be.

Again, I am able to run the monitor at 120 Hz on the OS X side, so am I missing a step?

Here are some things I have found that might be helpful:

My HP P1230 is hooked up through an Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter. Could that be the issue? (I have firmware version 1.03).

The 'hide modes that the monitor cannot display' check box is greyed out. I'm not sure why that is.

There seems to be a Stereo Mode that allows for 120 Hz:

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topi ... lay-mode-/

http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocumen ... =c04285942

I'm not sure where Stereo Mode even is. Also, the resolutions listed for that mode are higher than what I need on the OS X side for 120 Hz (1024 x 768).

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Monitors/H ... 8dC06iUH_y

Here is an image of being able to run at 120 Hz on the OS X side:
Thanks for the help everyone!

have u tried setting up a custom resolution in the nvidia control panel?

spacediver wrote:have u tried setting up a custom resolution in the nvidia control panel?

Thanks for the reply spacediver. I have not and will try that now.

Alright so in the Nvidia Control Panel custom resolution utility, I did a Custom Resolution Test after putting in the setting: 1024 x 768 @ 120 Hz. The test failed and said this setup is not supported by the display. Right after it failed I tried one more time and it said the test was successful at 1024 x 768 @ 120 Hz. The screen went black for a second and then came back on. Before accepting that test, I looked over at the HP P1230 and it indeed looked like it was running at 120 Hz. I even moved my mouse on the screen for a bit and everything looked right to me. After accepting the test however, the HP P1230 went to a black screen for a second again and reverted back to a lower hertz (probably 85) and when I looked at the setup in the menu it said 85 Hz...even though the test said it was successful at 120 Hz.

Any idea what might be going on spacediver (or anyone)?

Thanks!

when it said it failed the first time, did the monitor try to switch and give an "out of range" message or something? Or did the control panel say it failed without anything happening?

Have you tried playing with the timing menu? Try setting it to GTF (general timing formula) as opposed to automatic. See if that makes a difference.

btw, you've got a nice tube - I believe it's a rebranded diamondtron

bonus, I tracked down the service manual and the code to access the service menu for the diamond pro 2070sb, which I believe is the same monitor u have (urs is an HP rebrand), in case you ever want to really get to know your unit. PM me with your email address if you're interested. It probably won't help with your refresh rate issue, but it might be cool to have

spacediver wrote:when it said it failed the first time, did the monitor try to switch and give an "out of range" message or something? Or did the control panel say it failed without anything happening?

I did not receive an "out of range" message at all. When the test fails, nothing happens until I hit ok...then the HP P1230 goes black for a second and comes back on as if it was changing settings...but the settings are the same as before the black screen.

I think the whole thing is acting up because I found out what made the test fail the first time: If I change the hertz to 120 and keep my cursor in that fill in box when I go to hit test, it fails. If I type in 120 and just click in another fill in box (like 1024 above) and then hit test, it is successful. *Shrugs.*

Also, I was incorrect when I said the monitor indeed changed to 120 Hz for a bit. I opened up the OSD menu and it said it was running at 85 Hz. I think what threw me off was a resolution change from 1024 x 768 to 1280 x 1024 which made things look smoother. I'm not sure why the resolution changes to 1280 x 1024 @ 85 Hz when I ask it to be 1024 x 768 @ 120 Hz. *Shrugs.*

spacediver wrote:Have you tried playing with the timing menu? Try setting it to GTF (general timing formula) as opposed to automatic. See if that makes a difference.

That did it! Thanks! Why do you think this worked?

spacediver wrote:btw, you've got a nice tube - I believe it's a rebranded diamondtron

Thanks. Yeah I saw Diamondtron but I do not know that much technical stuff about monitors. That's great you say it is a nice one.

spacediver wrote:bonus, I tracked down the service manual and the code to access the service menu for the diamond pro 2070sb, which I believe is the same monitor u have (urs is an HP rebrand), in case you ever want to really get to know your unit. PM me with your email address if you're interested. It probably won't help with your refresh rate issue, but it might be cool to have

Oh sure. Thanks! I've never PMed before on a forum. Do I have to friend you first?

EagerLearner wrote:
That did it! Thanks! Why do you think this worked?

good stuff

Diff displays have different requirements when it comes to timing the signal, in particular the front porch, back porch, sync width. The VESA standard here is an older one, and probably compatible with your display (GTF is a VESA standard). Not sure how the automatic setting works.

spacediver wrote:Oh sure. Thanks! I've never PMed before on a forum. Do I have to friend you first?

Look beneath my name and there should be a button called pm. Actually probably easier to email me: [email protected]

spacediver wrote:Diff displays have different requirements when it comes to timing the signal, in particular the front porch, back porch, sync width. The VESA standard here is an older one, and probably compatible with your display (GTF is a VESA standard). Not sure how the automatic setting works.

Interesting, ok.

I'll send you an email. Thanks again!