monitor horizontal lines/shimmer

dinkie_2

Hi

I've had my new Dell for a couple of weeks and really happy with it, except that I'm noticing horizontal lines/shimmering on the monitor. I've run the self-test (fine), checked the pins (fine), updated the driver via Dell site (no need as best driver already installed), and have the right optimal size and resolution settings, plus large fonts and clear type. The only things I haven't done are uninstall and reinstall the display driver, and update the BIOS. Bit nervous of doing the latter, as Sisoft Sandra contained a warning along the lines of a flash bios thing could be fatal, and I was recommended elsewhere to not update the BIOS.

i'm wondering if it's a hardware fault, as no software problems seem to be showing? Would welcome any advice.

Many thanks, Cat

penrhyn

Is it a TFT or a CRT? If the latter are there two horizontal lines one in the top half of the screen and one in the bottom half?

dinkie_2

Hi penrhyn

Thanks for your message. I put all that stuff in, but forgot to say it's a CRT! It's just kind of a horizontal 'wobble', with horizontal faint white lines on the screen ... I can't recall if they're always in certain places on the screen, but can recall that it was worse lastnight, with faint white horizontal lines across all of the screen, as it got me a bit more concerned.

I'll keep more of an eye on if it's happening more the longer the monitor is on too, as that would indicate it's due to heat reaction? and that it might be worth exchanging the monitor now, as that's usually a symptom for older monitors? (I've got 3 months collect&return and one year on-site.)

Thanks, Cat

jon2432

Have you tried altering the refresh rate, if its set to low you will get a shimmer.

Same thing happened to me. Mine was set to 60hz, changed it to 85hz bingo.

penrhyn

I was thinking that it might have been the shadowmask support wires which can be seen as a feint horizontal line but black. jon2432 has a good idea re rep rate.
If its a low refresh rate it might beat with flourescent lights if you have them in your room.

dinkie_2

jon2432 wrote:

Have you tried altering the refresh rate, if its set to low you will get a shimmer.

Same thing happened to me. Mine was set to 60hz, changed it to 85hz bingo.

Hi jon

Have just set mine to 85hz, as'd had it on 60 then 75. All looks fine.

Many thanks, Cat

dinkie_2

penrhyn wrote:

I was thinking that it might have been the shadowmask support wires which can be seen as a feint horizontal line but black. jon2432 has a good idea re rep rate.
If its a low refresh rate it might beat with flourescent lights if you have them in your room.

Hi penrhyn

I've learnt something there, as didn't know about shadowmask support lines! (No fluorescents.)

Thanks, Cat