Dell 21" P1110 Blurriness/non-optimal setting

[ptandjb]

I just bought a refurbished top-of-the line Dell 21" P1110 flat screen monitor in while canvassing a cmputer fair to compare prices with online purchases. I worry that something may be wrong with it. I am not driving it at the monitoroptimal rate of 1280X1024@85hz, that produces grey lines along with a windows warning that this is a nonstandard setting. The standard setting for my little 4mb Diamond S3 ViRGE RevB monitor board is 1280X1024@79hz at only 256 colors. The monitor colors seems a little washed out, the print seems a bit blurry. Is this due to to using an inadequate video card? deffective monitor?

I am about to purchase a new 900-1Ganthon Thunderbird system, this will be its monitor. Date of manufacure April 2000. is there a manufacurers warantee for Dell refurbished monitors? Available tech support?...Thanks

[Paleo Pete]

Don't have any good ideas except maybe check the manufacturer's website, they might have a FAQ or tech support link. Sounds like the refresh rate, but not sure. Warranty...not sure there either, again the manufacturer's website might help.

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[Jerkymom]

I suspect that your video card can't possibly sustain the refresh rate of your monitor optimal settings, which may be why you're getting the "nonstandard setting" message in Windows. The monitor is much newer than the Diamond S3 and using 256 colors is probably not a true indication of the monitor's display capabilities (i.e., washed out colors, blurry text). That said, there is still a possibility the refurb Dell is defective, and the only way I can think of to find out is to try it on another system with a newer video card. [You're probably thinking, "Sure, I'm going to lug this gigantic heavy 21" monitor somewhere to test it out!" http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif]

I don't have any idea about the warranty on Dell refurbs, but what about the computer show vendor - any warranty there, assuming it's a somewhat local company? I love computer fairs, but the downside is trying to contact vendors who come in from 5 states away, have no website and no toll-free phone numbers! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif

Kim