Monitor "out of range"

[teddyboy]

Could someone please tell me what is the meaning of the numbers circled in red in the picture below?



The reason I ask is I am getting "out of range" warning on my monitor on boot. It flashes around on the screen for a while then disappears, then the normal desktop shows up. But because of this warning I don't know if the monitor is actually displaying 2560x1440 or something else. Or even worse, the monitor is somehow defective.

The monitor has a QHD 2560x1440 screen. Display resolution setting in Windows is set to 2560x1440 (recommended) and refresh rate is set at 60 Hz.

Quite a few people on the internet said this is due to the computer outputting a higher resolution than the monitor can handle (e.g. new video card, old monitor...etc.), thus the warning. But what I can see is the computer and monitor are both set at 2560x1440, so I really don't know where the circled 2720x1481 comes from, and if it is indeed what's causing the problem.

I am using 5700G APU (no separate GPU), MSI B450 motherboard, and Asus PA278cv monitor connected by an Asus-supplied HDMI cable. I tried another HDMI cable but same result.

Are there some other places/settings I should be looking at?

 

[teddyboy]

The window to return the Asus is still open so that is an option. I was looking at Dell U2722d before I bought the Asus so I might re-visit Dell.

As for a discrete graphic card I was looking at some GTX1650 cards. They are relatively more reasonably priced, and I do not do much AI stuff, if any. I may keep the Asus and go for a card instead.

I might even try a third HDMI cable, one that is 4k 8k 12k capable. If this works it will be the cheapest solution. LOL.

 

[Billiam29]

The window to return the Asus is still open so that is an option.

If you really want to get nitty gritty about it, you could contact MSI support and ask what the resolution and refresh rate is for the video modes used in the POST and UEFI user interface screens. You could then compare that to the list of supported video modes in the User Guide for your monitor.

In principle, this would just formalize what you’ve already experienced. It could, however, give you supporting evidence if you encounter any flak returning the Asus monitor.

 

[Austinian]

The window to return the Asus is still open so that is an option.

If you really want to get nitty gritty about it, you could contact MSI support and ask what the resolution and refresh rate is for the video modes used in the POST and UEFI user interface screens. You could then compare that to the list of supported video modes in the User Guide for your monitor.

Good idea.

In principle, this would just formalize what you’ve already experienced. It could, however, give you supporting evidence if you encounter any flak returning the Asus monitor.

And that also makes me think that if for some reason the MSI board is outputting a really strange pre-boot video signal, it's not impossible that the problem would recur with some other monitors...sigh. :-(

OP, I wish I could give you more definitive solutions, but this is a novel problem for me.

 

[teddyboy]

Good suggestion!

 

[Sagittarius]

Have you contacted ASUS tech support. You can chat with them. They are quite responsive and helpful. BTW I have two ASUS monitors one connected with DP and one connected with HDMI to NVIDIA videcard. Neither have this message

 

[teddyboy]

Their chat support has been down for a while "undergoing scheduled upgrade" and there is no toll free number for me to call. Also I have no luck finding how I can just send an email like other companies. Will see.

 

[teddyboy]

I contacted MSI and they replied promptly: I should set resolution to 1080 if I use integrated graphics (5700G). I have absolutely no idea the B450 Tomahawk Max II can only support 1080 with APUs.

They did not answer my question about POST resolution and refresh rates.

As for my being unable to enter BIOS or Windows diagnostics their answer is to clear CMOS by powering off and remove the battery.

So it looks like I have 3 choices: 1) go back to my old 1080 monitor using DVI, 2) buy a discrete graphic card and start over, hoping for the best, or 3) buy a new motherboard that will support 1440 with APUs via HDMI or DP

Bummer.

 

[BobKnDP]

This is a fairly random suggestion, but, if it was my monitor, I'd try a DisplayPort cable.

 

[BobKnDP]

I contacted MSI and they replied promptly: I should set resolution to 1080 if I use integrated graphics (5700G). I have absolutely no idea the B450 Tomahawk Max II can only support 1080 with APUs.

They did not answer my question about POST resolution and refresh rates.

As for my being unable to enter BIOS or Windows diagnostics their answer is to clear CMOS by powering off and remove the battery.

So it looks like I have 3 choices: 1) go back to my old 1080 monitor using DVI, 2) buy a discrete graphic card and start over, hoping for the best, or 3) buy a new motherboard that will support 1440 with APUs via HDMI or DP

Bummer.

I'm unsure what is meant by "the B450 Tomahawk Max II can only support 1080 with APUs".

Was the monitor running at its native resolution in Windows, or not? From what you've posted, I believe it was.

You may have encountered something I've seen in the past, which I refer to as MSU (making stuff up, except it isn't "stuff"). It's related to NOP (not our problem).

The problem is only amplified by the use of outsourced tech support. They never admit "I don't know".

 

[Austinian]

I contacted MSI and they replied promptly: I should set resolution to 1080 if I use integrated graphics (5700G). I have absolutely no idea the B450 Tomahawk Max II can only support 1080 with APUs.

They did not answer my question about POST resolution and refresh rates.

Low-level support techs may not be able to handle unusual tech questions.

As for my being unable to enter BIOS or Windows diagnostics their answer is to clear CMOS by powering off and remove the battery.

Maybe worth a try if something has corrupted the BIOS, but I've never been unable to get into a BIOS during boot. Another thought: does MSI offer a newer BIOS for your board than the one you have? If so, I'd try that.

So it looks like I have 3 choices: 1) go back to my old 1080 monitor using DVI, 2) buy a discrete graphic card and start over, hoping for the best, or 3) buy a new motherboard that will support 1440 with APUs via HDMI or DP

Bummer.

Indeed. :-(

 

[teddyboy]

The display is set to 2560 x 1440 (recommended) and 60 Hz, which should be native. And here is their script:



I may have been getting MSU and NOP, and I am the one who is IDK. :-(

 

[Austinian]

This is a fairly random suggestion, but, if it was my monitor, I'd try a DisplayPort cable.

The specs for that board don't seem to show a DP output.

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK-MAX-II/Specification

 

[BobKnDP]

This is a fairly random suggestion, but, if it was my monitor, I'd try a DisplayPort cable.

The specs for that board don't seem to show a DP output.

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK-MAX-II/Specification

Right you are.

The picture of the I/O panel has no DP ports.

I thought I'd checked that. I must have been thinking of the monitor, which has a couple.

As one of Gilda Radner's SNL characters used to say, never mind.

 

[BobKnDP]

The display is set to 2560 x 1440 (recommended) and 60 Hz, which should be native. And here is their script:



I may have been getting MSU and NOP, and I am the one who is IDK. :-(

Maybe I'm being unreasonable, but having you clear the CMOS by removing the battery is extremely generic advice. Makes me wonder about the expertise of the support person.

The Tomahawk includes the traditional jumper for the task.

(As well as, sadly, not having any DP outputs. :-( )

I'm not sure what current practices are for graphics during POST (power on self test). Not long ago, the graphics would start at 800 X 600 @ 60Hz, which nearly any monitor could handle.

 

[teddyboy]

Maybe worth a try if something has corrupted the BIOS, but I've never been unable to get into a BIOS during boot. Another thought: does MSI offer a newer BIOS for your board than the one you have? If so, I'd try that.

Yes there is a newer BIOS at MSI, my current one is 7 months old, but I can't enter BIOS unless I disconnect ASUS and connect to the old NEC via DVI. Last resort, though.

 

[teddyboy]

(As well as, sadly, not having any DP outputs. :-( )

Unfortunately I picked the B450 because back then I needed one with a DVI port, and I didn't anticipate HDMI would be so finicky for monitor connection, so even though I knew I won't have a DP I still went for it.

 

[BobKnDP]

I thought of an adapter cable, but apparently even to do HDMI to DP requires an active adapter. They exist, but cost a bit more.

The DVI-D port is spec'd at 1920 X 1200 max, so I guess it's not dual link. Wouldn't do much for you, even if a DVI-D to DP (or HDMI) adapter existed.

 

[Tom_N]

In "List All Modes" I have all resolutions shown as either 60 or 75 Hertz in even numbers. Same in System > Display > Advanced Display I can choose either one but no option to change the values. However I wonder why they are all in 32 bit and not 64 bit while I have a 64 bit system. Much to learn here.

32 in the display modes is absolutely nothing to do with the bit depth of your operating system. It is the graphics bit depth.

I'll bite. Any idea what specifically the 32 value is indicating? It's obviously not evenly divisible by three so I'm assuming it can't have anything to do with the color channels.

32 bits might break down as

• 8 bits per channel, plus 8 bits left over, per pixel
• 10 bits per channel, plus 2 bits left over, per pixel

where the "left over" bits might be deliberately wasted (for word alignment purposes) or might contain an alpha channel value for the pixel.

 

[TomV1]

Replace the monitor. All monitors should work during POST. Nothing to do with specs.

 

[Sagittarius]

Their chat support has been down for a while "undergoing scheduled upgrade" and there is no toll free number for me to call. Also I have no luck finding how I can just send an email like other companies. Will see.

1-888-678-3688 for USA.