NUC8i7HNK display issue - Samsung Syncmaster 205BW - nothing displays

[JKim108]

I have a Samsung Syncmaster 205BW (from 2008), which has a VGA and DVI ports in the back. I tried connecting my 8i7hnk to the monitor using a mini-Display-to-DVI adaptor and also an HDMI-to-DVI adaptor. I am not getting anything to show on the display. The monitor is looking for inputs. Windows 10 doesn't see the monitor as connected. The adaptors are from DisplayMatters (mini-Display-to-DVI) and Apple (HDMI-to-DVI). The display and adaptors work with my 2010 MacMini just fine. They also work fine with a Lenovo Flex 5 running Windows 10 Home from 2017 when connecting from HDMI-to-DVI.

Does anyone know what I should try doing to troubleshoot? Is anyone else having problems connecting the NUC to an old LCD monitor? Thanks in advance.

[AlHill]

Assuming you have the monitor set on the correct input:

Do your test with a monitor or tv that has an hdmi or dp input. Do not use these adapters.

If you get output, then you need to get better quality adapters or cables. Also, the use of adapters is not supported.

Note: Some hdmi cables are directional.

Doc

[JKim108]

Hi Doc,

Thank you for your suggestion. I have another monitor, HP Pavilion 27xi with HDMI and DVI inputs. It works fine with the NUC when connecting HDMI to HDMI or MiniDisplayPort to DVI via a MiniDisplayPort-to-DVI adaptor from the NUC.

I seem to have issues with that older Samsung monitor. I vaguely remember coming across something about older monitors. I don't remember what it was.

John

[AlHill]

So, we know the NUC works. I would try a better adapter for the samsung, or try the samsung on a different device to see if you can get the samsung to work at all. If not, it might be time to retire it.

Doc

[JKim108]

Hi Doc,

Thank you. Yes, I confirmed that the Samsung monitor does work when connected from a MacMini from 2010 and also a Lenovo Flex 5 from 2017, to Samsung's DVI port, from miniDisplayPort (MacMini) and also from HDMI (Lenove Flext 5).

I think it's a NUC issue at this point. Thank you!

John

[AlHill]

However, we know the nuc does work, and we know that you are using adapters, which is not supported.

Get better quality adapters just as a test. If you return the nuc, and have the same problem, what will you do then?

Also, I would make sure the bios is updated on the nuc.

Doc

[JKim108]

Hi Doc,

Besides the two HDMI ports, the NUC has 2 miniDisplay output ports and 2 USB-C output ports to be used to connect to monitors. Most monitors have HDMI, VGA, DVI, or DisplayPort as input ports. I have no option but to use adaptors to connect from miniDisplayPorts or USB-C ports from the NUC, since monitors don't have minDisplayPort or USB-C as input ports. Adaptors in general must be supported.

Oh, BTW, the bios is up to date. It could be that either the bios or the graphics driver doesn't account for this kind of monitors as of yet.

Thank you for reading and your suggestions!

John

[AlHill]

Your monitor is ten years old. And, no, the nuc does not have to support these old connectors, especially vga. Adapters are not supported. And, because there are different quality cables and adapters, some which work, and some which do not, you need to explore that.

I use this on one of my nucs, and it works great: https://www.startech.com/AV/usb-c-video-adapters/mst-hub-hdmi~MSTCDP122HD USB-C to HDMI Adapter - 2-Port MST Hub | USB-C Video Adapters | StarTech.com

There are even USB-C to HDMI cables for a single monitor.

And, you should get some display/signal on the monitor, without the OS (i.e. the bios splash screen, going into the bios, etc).

So, try different/better adapters.

Doc

[JKim108]

I understand.

I have 2 other computers from 2013 and 2018. In total, I have 4 computers. All but the NUC are able to display on the Samsung monitor. The NUC is the only one that does not...

[AlHill]

You have some choices:

1. Use another monitor on the nuc, as we know that works.

2. Get better adapters and test them.

3. Return the nuc.

Doc

[n_scott_pearson]

Let me put this in perspective: There are literally thousands of these kinds of adapters, dongles and conversion cables out there. Some are reasonably good quality; others are absolute crap (quite simply, you get what you pay for). Worse, these things are changing all the time. No one, including Intel, can ever keep up with the products appearing (and sometime as quickly disappearing). Attempting to do so would be a costly endeavor and would likely raise the price of the NUCs significantly.

Intel has chosen to not support these devices (and I certainly understand and agree with this stance). If you use one and it doesn't work, then it is up to you to find an alternative product that does. As I said, you get what you pay for. Purchase good quality hardware - and use equipment that is not ancient (Intel cannot test every one of them either) - and you likely can avoid this kind of problem.

...S

[JKim108]

Thank you. The same adaptors work when they are connected to the HP monitor that works. Some of the adaptors are made by Apple, a very well known and established company. I am leaving this message at this point, so that someone at Intel notices a problem with Samsung (major brand) monitors and actually do something sometime in the future.

[JKim108]

I got the Samsung monitor to work when it is connected to the front HDMI port via the Apple HDMI-to-DVI adaptor. That is the only port that works for this monitor and with any of the adaptors. I had the HP monitor connected to the rear HDMI port and the Samsung to the front HDMI. Windows does not detect the HP monitor but sees the Samsung monitor.

[n_scott_pearson]

Well, regarding that monitor, no, no company is going to spend a whole bunch of money to get a 10 year old monitor working. Replace it.

Your last message points to a totally different situation, somewhat contrary to the title issue for this conversation. It needs to be looked at differently. I suggest that you open a totally new conversation detailing what works and what doesn't. Understand that, wherever a dongle becomes involved, Intel's response is likely to be not-supported...

...S

[JKim108]

So, I have an update. I bought a brand new ASUS monitor with DVI, HDMI and VGA. Connecting a new monitor does NOT solve this issue. The new monitor works fine when connected as a single monitor. But when two monitors are connected, the NUC only recognizes one or the other. There is something wrong with the NUC. It is unable to handle more than one monitor. There is nothing wrong with the cables or adaptors. I should not have given so much benefit of the doubt to Intel. I will start a new thread and call Tech Support

[JKim108]

Ok, I fixed it. The display driver was set to Microsoft Basic Display. Intel's Driver and Support utility said I had the right Intel and Radeon drivers but it was Microsoft's driver that was driving the displays. I installed the Radeon driver manually by updating the display driver and pointing to the folder that has the Radeon driver. Now, the 10 year old Samsung, the new Asus, and the 3 year old HP monitors all work with the NUC. It's a nice setup.

[BSaun]

Jooyoungkim,

Glad you stopped your monitor issue!

I have a question regarding your NUC and the Samsung monitor: are you getting any "hum" noise from the monitor speaker when the NUC is driving it?

Thanks for your time!

Mrbilkz

[JKim108]

Sorry. My Samsung monitor does not have built-In speakers.

[JDisn]

Hey there. I'm glad to see you got this topic resolved.

I own three of these old Samsung displays. They are fantastic, but aging.

Recently replaced them with modern set of 1440p, but kept my two working 205BW displays for backup.

(the 3rd is kept for spare parts)

Anyways, I just wanted to address previous remarks about 'unsupported adapters'.

The truth is that the DVI signal is the same as the HDMI signal, minus audio.

Early HDMI branches off the DVI spec, so these cables are very well supported, because there is no 'adaptation'.

They simply rewire the pins to the different connector pins.

I do not believe the same is true for Display Port, which is a completely different signal spec.

So use the hdmi port to DVI for best support.