24" Soyo Topaz is flickering.

[fuzzybabybunny]

So my Topaz S is a MVA panel bought back in September of 07. Recently the screen has started to flicker, and I mean the image starts to disintegrate kind of flicker, not a whole screen flicker like the backlight's going on and off or anything. This happens on random, and the only way to fix it is to turn the screen off and on. Then it'll happen again on random. I actually have two of these on a 7900GT, and I switched DVI cables and DVI outlets and the same thing happens with this one monitor, so I think it's the monitor and not the video card.

BUT:

Weird thing.

If I'm just doing regular stuff like browsing or playing a game, the screen flickering is there. However, once it starts to flicker, if I turn on my TV tuner and play TV fullscreen, the flickering goes away, but only for some channels. I've just got regular analog cable from Time Warner. Minimize the TV, and the flickering is still there.

There was also one time where, after turning the monitor back on, the entire screen was flickering like I was staring at an old CRT at 60 or 70Hz refresh rate (I can tell flickering below 85Hz).

I talked to a tech about the problem. I have to send everything back and it's going to take 7-12 days from the time they receive it to get a replacement or a repair. He said that any replacements will be TN panels, because that's all they have.

This sucks. I use the monitor for photo work, so will a TN panel screw with color accuracy, compared to my second 24" which is a MVA? I need the two monitors to match in color, and I have a color calibrator and everything. I don't think I'll be doing a lot of vertical viewing angle changes, but there will be horizontal viewing angle changes.

 

[NoStateofMind]

I hate to hear that, especially since I own the same monitor. Did you get the extended warranty? I would have just gone with a delayed return if thats the case (if you could make due). Personally I wouldn't take a TN over a MVA if given a choice between waiting and returning. I know you're into photo's and stuff and it would be my guess that you would want an 8bit panel. IDK, maybe you didn't get the extended warranty (or have a monitor to suffice).

I have just recently started to have the "sparkling" issue but it only happens (sometimes) on a fresh reboot. A power cycle and everything is good though.

I hope you're satisfied with what you get in return.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I didn't get the extended warranty. Regular one year warranty for me, but it's only been about 7 months. I do have a second 24" Soyo which is doing just fine, but I'm just so used to using multiple monitors that it's going to be a bitch going without my second monitor for 2/3 of a month. I don't know. If the TN really sucks that bad, I'm probably just going to sell both monitors and get higher quality ones the second time around. The return shipping isn't going to be cheap, and finding a box big enough is going to be a bitch.

The flickering is so weird too. I just want to know the reason behind it.

Why is it that when I full screen a TV show the flickering goes away, but when I minimize it the flickering immediately comes back? The refresh rate kind of flickering is really weird too because it only occurs on the top half of the screen... and goes away after time.

 

[delslow]

I'm beginning to have the same problem now, but it's been a little more than 2 years. Was there a simple fix, or do I just dump it and get a new one? I heard SOYO went out of business as well... ?

 

[gorobei]

sounds like the inverter(or whatever equivalent of a ballast) is going, the thing that provides ac to the ccf. should be an easy enough fix.

 

[spinejam]

i had the same problem w/ one last year as well -- had to give it a smack on the top bezel to make it behave.

i ended up just giving it away to a friend and it's still running w/ the same issues.

 

[BigWez]

I have the same problem with the same monitor. Was anyone able to fix it. I think it's related to some component overheating. It's cool here this week and it does it a lot less.

 

[lottadot]

I've got the same "flickering" going on. I seem to be able to make it happen within increased "window load"/game action on it. (by window load I mean keeping >10 apps running the computer each w/ having many windows open -- and have them all over each virtual spaces screen.

If I hide all apps, and leave the sole visable app's windows towards the left of the screen it seems to stop happening. Or, atleast, it's an optical illusion that it's not happening since there's no content on the right half of the screen there's no "flicker" to see.

If I turn the LCD off via the front panel switch, count to 5, turn it back on, the flicker will stop for a while. Sometimes a half hour. Sometimes only a few minutes.

Someone mentioned heat - this is in the second floor of a residential house. We have whole house A/C, set at 75. The Mac Tower here says the ambient temp in this room is 78.8 w/ max highest ambient temperature of 84.4 (over the past 7 days). While it's not exactly my idea of cool in this room, it's not hot either.


I believe I've had the LCD for atleast 3 years. Other then this absolutely annoying flickering (it makes writing code with this machine nearly unbearable) I have no complaints about the Topaz and it's been great.

I have since tried the bonk on the top of the lcd's frame as someone else has suggested. Sadly that did not help

 

[peterbmetcalf]

Similar problems. Mine flickers segments of the entire width and 2-10" of height.
I cannot use it at all. I will be taking it to a computer place for repair - any other suggestions? Including replacement recommendations? I am pretty ignorant of computers. I have been using the Soyo as a secondary monitor to my dell inspiron.
Feel free to email me.
Thanks! Hope you are all having a good holiday, and Merry Christmas if you celebrate.
Peter

 

[lsv]

I've got the same "flickering" going on. I seem to be able to make it happen within increased "window load"/game action on it. (by window load I mean keeping >10 apps running the computer each w/ having many windows open -- and have them all over each virtual spaces screen.

If I hide all apps, and leave the sole visable app's windows towards the left of the screen it seems to stop happening. Or, atleast, it's an optical illusion that it's not happening since there's no content on the right half of the screen there's no "flicker" to see.

If I turn the LCD off via the front panel switch, count to 5, turn it back on, the flicker will stop for a while. Sometimes a half hour. Sometimes only a few minutes.

Someone mentioned heat - this is in the second floor of a residential house. We have whole house A/C, set at 75. The Mac Tower here says the ambient temp in this room is 78.8 w/ max highest ambient temperature of 84.4 (over the past 7 days). While it's not exactly my idea of cool in this room, it's not hot either.


I believe I've had the LCD for atleast 3 years. Other then this absolutely annoying flickering (it makes writing code with this machine nearly unbearable) I have no complaints about the Topaz and it's been great.

I have since tried the bonk on the top of the lcd's frame as someone else has suggested. Sadly that did not help

This is the inverter or power supply dude, try cranking up the brightness to force it to work harder instead of having less power.

 

[blanketyblank]

I was able to fix a monitor that had the same symptoms. It was a bitch though since welding out the old capacitors was painful.

 

[shangshang]

These Soyos were the rage back in the days when one wanted an MVA based panel for cheap. Shame that Soyo used cheap electronics inside them too.

I'll all of you with these Soyos have the infamous "buzzing" problem too. That's the ballast singing to you.

 

[gorobei]

were you going to "bet" that all the soyo's have buzzing?

 

[Wag]

Mine still works perfectly. No noise. No dead or blown out pixels. I'm actually trying to get rid of it because I have no need for it anymore.

 

[shangshang]

Mine still works perfectly. No noise. No dead or blown out pixels. I'm actually trying to get rid of it because I have no need for it anymore.

ugh trying to get rid of it for free? If so, I'll you shipping for it!

 

[kmmatney]

About once or twice a day, my Soyo will go completely blank for 1-2 seconds, and then come back on again. Other than that, it still works great (bought in August 2007). It's an awesome monitor - IMO the picture quality is better than my other IPS monitor. It also has 1920 x 1200 resolution, which is hard to get nowadays. I'm dreading the day I have to replace it.

 

[LucJoe]

Mine still works perfectly. No noise. No dead or blown out pixels.

Same here!

This monitor has been running like a champ for the last 3 years. I'd love to upgrade to a higher resolution/size but this thing just won't die. Looks like I'll be riding out the Soyo until OLED monitors are mainstream

 

[shangshang]

Same here!

This monitor has been running like a champ for the last 3 years. I'd love to upgrade to a higher resolution/size but this thing just won't die. Looks like I'll be riding out the Soyo until OLED monitors are mainstream

No you won't. OLED is another 4 years away until it becomes mainstream.
The Soyo won't hold another 3 years. Count your blessing that it has held up till now, but it's like a candle in the wind now. Anytime it could go.

These Soyo Topaz did have a good production run (the early models) as they were rebadged Ben-Q's (remember them too?). But I believe sometime in 2007 onward, they switched to crappy electronics inside them.

 

[imported_Fatbuddha]

I've been on the hunt for another soyo to complete my set, swapping power supplies and capacitors when need be, if anyone has a DYLM24D6 and can tell me the manufacturers date and/or they have the 6ms box I'd really appreciate it. Otherwise I'll have to wait till I can get an IPS deal from dell.

 

[Darknite39]

Ugh. My Soyo is on the fritz again. I think it's excessive heat that is causing a severe flickering, and I was able to reduce the problem almost completely for many months by dremeling the top of the case off to create a gaping ventilation hole. Unfortunately, it looks like this baby is about to give up the ghost completely now--the flickering is back with a vengeance. I guess I'll end up getting another NEC 23" IPS when I can afford it, but I'll really miss the Soyo.

To those who still have working units, enjoy them while they last!

 

[yourdiyguy]

I joined just so I could talk about this soyo overheating problem people are having. If you want to fix it it may be as simple as swapping out the power supply. I came across 3 broken soyo's and was able to fix by swapping it out. You have to get the power supply from china, its a revision of the old which is suppose to stay cooler. Also when you put the new PSU back in make sure when you reapply the foil tape you dont cover any of the vent holes. Shipped from china its around $40 and takes about 2-4 weeks to arrive. I have written a tutorial on my blog yourdiyguy and I hope it can help some people out. Im not a pro blogger or anything so sorry for the crap format :0)

 

[yourdiyguy]

I also wanted to add that every one I opened up had the foil tape covering the psu vent holes, so I am thinking that its a possible reason for the psu failing. It may of just had too much heat for it to handle.

 

[Estharius]

I know this threads been inactive for about a year now but I just bought this monitor from a guy who bought it from geeks.com and omg it's amazing. He mentioned the flickering but it's the complete opposite from what everyone else is complaining about. After a few hours of normal use it starts flickering like a refresh on an old CRT monitor but when you pull up a video from like youtube and full screen it the flickering stops. Also I just got done playing a game for the past four hours and no flickering of any kind. Could this still be the psu? or something different? I'm also hearing a really high pitched ringing like a dog whistle. I'm told that it could be an intermitent connection inside but for that I have no clue where to start looking.

 

[Yuriman]

I'm not sure, but I was having issues with mine. After using it for 20 minutes or so it would start to flicker, and finally go black. I guess it might have been overheating or something... anyway I took it apart and unplugged and replugged all of the ribbons and wires in it, and it works properly again.

 

[gorobei]

mine died a month ago. just went black as i was using it. no led indicator, just dead.

i need to decide if it is worth trying to replace the psu. given that my next monitor purchase will likely by a 2560x? ips, seems silly to spend upwards of 70$ to fix a 24". the only reason to do so would be the near zero input lag of the Soyo.