Monitor reports 32-bit color depth but displaying 24

[idata]

Okay, all the requested technical details about my setup are below, but here's my problem: last week, I purchased a tablet monitor. I already had a dual-monitor setup, and I decided to just add this in as a 3rd display, rather than retire one of my existing ones, since the tablet needs to be closer to the front of the desk than the regular displays, and it can lie almost flat when not in use. I figured hooking it up wouldn't be a problem, since I had open ports on my video card. Unfortunately, it turns out that my particular video card can only handle 3 monitors if at least 2 of them are identical displays connected with the same type of cable, and, as you can see, my monitors are all different (I acquired them progressively over several years), so I can only plug 2 of them in to it. Well, I do have the on board graphics as well after all, I thought, once I'd figured out the problem, and I won't need the second regular display for the high-power stuff my graphics card does anyway, so I shifted the LG monitor to connect directly to the motherboard. All was well at first, until I realized that the LG monitor was displaying everything oddly - color is displaying in bands where shading and gradients appear, rather than showing smooth transitions. As best I can tell, it's displaying in 24- - or possibly even 16-bit color depth, despite reporting that it is using 32 everywhere I can find to look. It displayed color fine when it was on my video card, so I have to assume something's weird with the Intel Graphics? I have not tried plugging it in with HDMI instead of DVI because this monitor does not have an HDMI output, and I do not have a DVI-HDMI adapter.

I hope to replace my video card with one that can handle all 3 displays eventually, but I'd rather wait for a sale of a good one than pay list price right now, so soon after the new lines released. In the meantime, I'd like all my screens to display color properly if possible. Can anyone help me out?

Questions

Answers (N/A if not applicable)

Description

Provide a detailed description of the issue

Please place an X to the right of the option showing how often you see this issue using specific steps. (Ex: 'Every few times a game is started it flickers.' <- This would be "Often")<p> 

Always (100%): X

Often (51-99%):

Sporadic (20-50%):

Very Sporadic (<20%):

Hardware (HW)

Brand and Model of the system.

Home-built, i5-4690 processor on a Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

Hybrid or switchable graphics system?

ie Does it have AMD or NV graphics too?

I also have a XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card

Make and model of any Displays that are used to see the issue (see note2 below). 

LFP = Local Flat Panel (Laptop panel) EFP = External Flat Panel (Monitor you plug in)

I have 3 monitors:

# 1: Monoprice 22" tablet monitor, model 114481

# 2: Dell P2414H (main)

# 3: LG W2253TQ

<td style="border: 0px solid b...

[idata · Accepted solution]

Hi Taellosse,

I found the technical specifications of your LG W2253TQ and it supports 24-bit as the maximum. More details on the link below: http://www.cnet.com/products/lg-w2253tq-pf-lcd-monitor-21-5/specs/ http://www.cnet.com/products/lg-w2253tq-pf-lcd-monitor-21-5/specs/ I noted your board has BIOS version F3 and graphics driver version 4256. There are newer drivers and BIOS for your board and Intel graphics. They will improve your PC performance. I suggest you update the BIOS and board drivers available at Gigabyte website:http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4957# bios http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4957# bios Latest graphics driver for HD 4600 v. 15.40.25.4463https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26079/Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-15-40-4th-Gen-?product=81496 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26079/Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-15-40-4th-Gen-?product=81496 Regards,Mike C

[idata]

...Huh. That's really weird. I am baffled how I never noticed the lower picture quality before now, in that case. Well, thanks I guess!