No DVI output on wake from standby

[ecom]

I have some Dell workstations that I purchased and am having an issue with the DVI output on these machines. The computer has Intel Q43 chipset with Intel 4500 video and one DVI output.

The machines are new out of the box and others I have installed all the latest drivers from either Intel or Dell.

When the computer goes into standby, I have 3 different situations where I am having trouble:

1. If only one monitor is connected via DVI and the computer goes to sleep, on resume, there is no video output. Blind, I can log in and reboot the machine or shut down. Neither fix my problem. The only way to get video output again is to pull the power cord, wait about 20-30s and then plug the power back in restart the machine.

2. The computers come with a DVI in to DVI & VGA out splitter which allows me to use one or both of the outputs. I am able to get a dual monitor setup using this splitter. If I hookup two monitors and set the DVI to the primary screen and the VGA to secondary, on resume from standby, there will be no DVI output and the VGA monitor is set to primary. I have to go into the Control Panel in XP to set the DVI port as primary and then rearrange the desktop layout to get everything to work again.

3. Using teh splitter cable, if I hook up only a VGA monitor, I have zero issues. If the computer goes to standby, the monitor will come back on no problem.

I have tried with 3 different Acer monitors of various size, one older NEC, and a Dell LCD, and all exhibit the same issue. Dell has not been responsive about this issue and they are probably not going to take back 100 workstations...

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: ecom
I have some Dell workstations that I purchased and am having an issue with the DVI output on these machines. The computer has Intel Q43 chipset with Intel 4500 video and one DVI output.

The machines are new out of the box and others I have installed all the latest drivers from either Intel or Dell.

When the computer goes into standby, I have 3 different situations where I am having trouble:

1. If only one monitor is connected via DVI and the computer goes to sleep, on resume, there is no video output. Blind, I can log in and reboot the machine or shut down. Neither fix my problem. The only way to get video output again is to pull the power cord, wait about 20-30s and then plug the power back in restart the machine.

2. The computers come with a DVI in to DVI & VGA out splitter which allows me to use one or both of the outputs. I am able to get a dual monitor setup using this splitter. If I hookup two monitors and set the DVI to the primary screen and the VGA to secondary, on resume from standby, there will be no DVI output and the VGA monitor is set to primary. I have to go into the Control Panel in XP to set the DVI port as primary and then rearrange the desktop layout to get everything to work again.

3. Using teh splitter cable, if I hook up only a VGA monitor, I have zero issues. If the computer goes to standby, the monitor will come back on no problem.

I have tried with 3 different Acer monitors of various size, one older NEC, and a Dell LCD, and all exhibit the same issue. Dell has not been responsive about this issue and they are probably not going to take back 100 workstations...

The problem is persistent on all systems that you have tested then?

If it is on all workstations, then certainly Dell must know about the problem, and should take care of it.

Have you tried putting in a discrete card and seeing if that will work?

Are there any settings in the BIOS that might be causing this?

 

[ecom]

I have tried about 15 of the machines that I received and all exhibit the same behavior. I think this is a sufficient sample to conclude that the others will exhibit the same behavior.

These machines have zero PCI-e slots so discrete graphics adapter is not possible.

All BIOS and drivers are up to date. Upon running into this issue, I disabled all power saving features available in the BIOS. These were C-state and a lower power mode that disables the NIC while off. I have also set the suspend from S3 to S1 which is supposed to consume more power but wakes quicker.

The only response that I have received from Dell is what sounded like a scripted response in that it's normal not to be able to view the POST screen if I'm running running VGA with something other than their splitter cable. I have received excellent support from Dell until I hit this brickwall a week ago...