[SOLVED] [Zorin OS] DVI to HDMI adapter results in blurry screen

henda3 · 01-22-2020, 02:24 PM

Hi all,
I've just switched from Windows 10 to Zorin OS. Everything is working fine, except my second monitor. Here are the specs:

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 570
Cables: 1x AmazonBasics HDMI (Works properly), 1x AmazonBasics DVI-to-HDMI adapter (The culprit

)
Monitors: 2x Acer SB220Q

Whenever I connect a monitor with the DVI-to-HDMI, the display is pixellated, I'd say it's about half the resolution, though in software it shows a working 1080p monitor. It does this regardless of which monitor I plug it in to. It works fine with Windows, so there must be a compatibility issue with Linux. Here is my xrandr output:

Code:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3840 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
DisplayPort-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-A-0 connected primary 1920x1080+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 476mm x 268mm
   1920x1080     74.97*+  60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1680x1050     59.88  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1440x900      59.90  
   1280x800      59.91  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1024x768      70.07    60.00  
   800x600       60.32    56.25  
   720x576       50.00  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   640x480       66.67    60.00    59.94  
   720x400       70.08  
DVI-D-0 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 476mm x 268mm
   1920x1080     74.97*+  60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1680x1050     59.88  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1440x900      59.90  
   1280x800      59.91  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1024x768      70.07    60.00  
   800x600       60.32    56.25  
   720x576       50.00  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   640x480       66.67    60.00    59.94  
   720x400       70.08  
DVI-D-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

mrmazda · 01-22-2020, 10:18 PM

I see no diagnostic help in your xrandr output. Maybe there's something in Xorg.0.log, either in /var/log/ or in ~/.local/share/xorg/. ~/.xsession-error also may provide clues, and possibly output from:

Code:

sudo journalctl -b

First change I'd try is uninstalling xserver-xorg-video-ati, and making sure xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu and firmware-amd-graphics are installed, then restarting.

ondoho · 01-23-2020, 02:04 AM

Is the adapter just a cable or does it contain a chip?
What is the native resolution of the external monitor?
In your xrandr output, which is which?

henda3 · 01-24-2020, 02:22 PM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, but I got it fixed. I set the problem display to 60hz instead of 74.97.

ondoho · 01-25-2020, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henda3

I set the problem display to 60hz instead of 74.97.

You mean on the monitor itself? Not in your operating system?

Also, you can mark this SOLVED now. Others will benefit.

henda3 · 01-25-2020, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

You mean on the monitor itself? Not in your operating system?

No, I changed it in the OS. The problem was with the cable/port, not the monitor. Something along the line just couldn't handle the 74.97 Hz. *shrug*

Like I said, it works OOTB with Windows, so maybe Windows automatically throttles it to 60? Idk, but it works now

mrmazda · 01-25-2020, 07:09 PM

https://forums.tomshardware.com/thre...0/post-6559810
Most people cannot discern any difference between 60 and 75. 60 is the expected use for most digital screens in most circumstances. Unless your eyes are extraordinary, 75 is pointless. All else being equal, I expect longer life at 60.