HDMI Video In/Out Issues - Look for answers and ask new questions here

Obviously the computer has to be on and you switch to HDMI-IN, but what about sound? Does it go through the computers speakers? If so, what if you have extra speakers hooked up?

I have a 5.1 setup hooked up to a USB audio device, which is then plugged into a USB port on my laptop. Would I get sound through those speakers if I hook up an Xbox or PS3?

Just trying to figure everything out, thanks for the help/advice in advance.

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---Moderator Note---
If you arrived at this thread searching for solutions because you are having trouble with no HDMI input/output signal with the M18x R1 or M18x R2, you're in the right spot. This is a common problem with an easy solution.

Trim back the plastic on the tip end of the cable 1/16 to 1/8 inch so the connector can be seated deeper into the HDMI port. It is merely a matter of the cable tip not reaching deep enough into the HDMI port. The plastic hits on the chassis and by trimming it back the problem will be resolved.

Example:

click to enlarge

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If you're have HDMI audio problems: HDMI Audio In/Out Issues - Look for answers and ask new questions here

 

This is how My setup is. Laptop hooked to external monitor and speakers. If you have your speakers plugged into the laptop correctly, then you should be able to enable them. Simply right click the volume icon and go to the sound devices. It will open a window and in the first table click on a sound option and click set default till you see which one is your external speakers. When you find them just rename it so you know later.

 

Cool. That is what I figured it was, just didn't know how it would work with HDMI-IN. Thanks for the info!

 

No problem.

 

I play my xbox 360 a lot on my m18x using the hdmi in. I was wondering if there was anyway I could capture images or videos from the hdmi in. I was hoping to take a bunch of cool screens from awesome console games.

 

Nope. But if you really wanted to, you can capture high def through the Hauppauge HD PVR. That's what I do for my PS3 and 360.

 

Has anyone found the PS3's video a tad bit dim using the M18x's HDMI in?

 

Had the same problem go into display settings if I remember correctly and change RGB Full Range (HDMI) to full hope this helps

 

Thanks...I will give it a go.

 

Ok so I've tried three different HDMI cables and still no dice. M18x won't recognize that there is something plugged into the hdmi-in. So what to do? I did take it apart a little while ago to install my ODD HDD caddy could I have forgot to plug something in?

 

Did you turn on whatever is on the other end of the cable to check that it didn't detect it? Hopefully so, but I have to ask, some people expect ports to detect cables that are just plugged in but not attached to anything else.

The ports on the M18x seem to be "deep", in that they require a connector to go slightly farther in than normal to get a connection. You might try gently pressing the cable into the port while turning on the connected device and see if that helps, if so, you just need a cable with a slightly deeper plug.

The problem could also be the rubber surrounding the connectors, the M18x ports are somewhat recessed, and the material around the connector could be what's preventing a cable from going in all the way. Maybe using a utility knife to whittle away some of the material would let it go in the port all the way.

 

Yeah I've tried everything I turned on my PS3 made sure the cable was plugged in then I plugged it in to the M18x still nothing. I practically jabbed it into the port and I'm prertty sure it's all the way. I used the same HDMI cords that I use to hook up my external monitor to the M18x and I had no problem doing that just with this HDMI in. I'll try what you recommended but other than that I have no idea what else could be wrong.

 

Alright I took it apart made sure I didn't miss any connections realigned the port so when I plug in in the cord it goes all the way in and I still don't have anything. I'm completely baffled at this point I think there's something wrong with that port in general. Might need to call Dell. But before I do I updated to the latest beta driver for my 460ms could that be the reason why my HDMI-in doesn't work?

 

Might try reinstalling the OSD. You could also try going back to the AW/Dell driver for the GPUs and see if that affects anything. If absolutely nothing works, there might be a connection issue with the motherboard or the port itself

Similar thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/615731-hdmi-refuses-work.html

 

I used HDMI out for the first time today to watch a movie with friends and it worked for the first 5 or 10 minutes and then the screen went black.
Now it's not detecting any external display anymore.
I searched and found similar threads but their solutions don't solve my case.
I tried swapping to intel graphics and same thing.
Tried different cables too.

 

Have you tried using something else other than the M18x to provide image on the external device? - maybe something has gone wrong with that instead? - you could try hooking up a blu ray player or something HDMI equipped to test it out...if no image/display then the external source is the problem....doing that would rule it out anyway so worth doing so you could look at the M18x as the problem.

 

Oh I tried with 2 different TVs and 3 different cables.
So it's the laptop.

 

It could always be the driver you're using. Several versions of CCC for example created problems such as loss of brightness controls, or no crossfirex option. I imagine things are no different for Nvidia.

Right click your desktop and go to properties > display and make sure that the box for auto-detect new displays is checked. There's also some options to auto-extend desktop to new displays, mirror desktop, etc.

Nvidia control panel has some similar options if I'm not mistaken.

If all else fails, reinstalling drivers is always an option. If you don't have the reference Dell driver, you may not have the HDMI driver installed at all.

 

I'll try the things you suggested now.
But like I said, it worked for a while.
and it stopped.

 

All these freaking out and it just turned out to be driver problem.
I tried clean installing the driver from dell and HDMI out works.
Clean installed latest driver from NVIDIA and it doesn't work anymore.
Tried installed NVIDIA driver over dell and it doesn't work either.
Did anyone with latest NVIDIA driver got HDMI out working?
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Another thing I noticed is HDMI out port is a little deeper compared to HDMI in port.
And the cable doesn't sit well.
Is it the same for anyone else?

 

When you use the Xbox 360 on HDMI in, it doesn't look bad but it could look better ie. sharpness, colours etc. Are you able to adjust these?

 

So I have been all over this forum and it seems to be the place for me, I recently purchased my 18x and im very happy with it and look forward to bieng a small part of this comunity. Everyone seems to be very hard at work and exremley helpfull getting everyones 18x running awesome fast. Its an interesting thing owning an Alienware everyone talks about how overpriced and what a poor value you get, but i have become somewhat of a legend in my circle of geekfriends for owning such a machines. I also do not find that in the laptop realm you can get a better machine period.

(do you put a period after you say period?)


However I have the current HDMI out/not working problem and what really struck me about your post is, I have noctied the differance in the depth of HDMI in and HDMI out not to mention how poorly the conectors seem to interface with the cables. Im SURE it isnt the cable and i just downloaded the new driver that came out on the 22nd. So any ideas would be accepted as virtual currency to our new friendship together bonding and sucking up all the bandwidth we possibly can.

May your games run smooth and your benchmarks hit records!

 

I am running very latest Nvidia 295 driver and connect to 23" monitor via HDMI to DVI cable at work. Mine work perfect as clone display or primary.

 

Thanks!, I was hopping 295 would help me out but no such luck, this is the only problem I have ran into with my unit I cannot seem to get it figured out and I would hate to send it back and wait all that time for such a silly problem.

I was wondering if anyone has had connection problems with their HDMI outs and had a fix, also if it helps anyone when you hook up your hdmi cable and the screen goes black to reset your display settings, this happens just for a second. Mine dosent do that (it did now it dosent)

 

This may sound like a silly question, but I would hate to assume anything and leave you hanging. You are using FN+F6 switch to control the video output, correct? I have found that sometimes connecting HDMI out it switches automatically, which other times I have to toggle it manually. (I think it may remember the last setting sometimes, but other times it does not.)

 

Yes I was usin F6 I was also trying through my NVIDIA control pannel, and the regular desktop display settings.

I even trying using the absolutly absurd method listed in the owners manual of turning everything off unplugging everything and pluging things in-in a certain order and doing 5 jumping jacks.

Im starting to think it might be and actual physical conection problem, but im not that smart on drivers so I dont know if this could be a driver problem.

I really do not want to call dell on this as you guys seem to have a way better grasp on these machines then they do, im not looking forward to 3 hours of troubleshooting things I have already done.

 

It does sound like a hardware issue. I take it the TV also is not sensing any connection. Perhaps the HDMI cable is not reaching deep enough into the HDMI socket, which has been reported to be a problem for a few folks. Some have reported that holding pressure inward on the cable allows a connection to be established. I have even heard that the plastic shielding on the end of the cable sometimes makes contact with the chassis of the M18x and prevents the cable from being inserted deep enough. It may be that the tip of the cable has collapsed into the insulator over time. If you find this to be the case after closer examination, perhaps you can trim back part of the plastic with an Xacto-knife or razor blade to allow the connector to reach deeper into the port.

 

Ill see if anyone else posts, and maybee call dell just incase someone else has the same problem. BTW great articles on Throt/Lant prob best on the web that I have seen.

 

Thanks for the compliment on the other threads.

 

I got it to work...

So the problem for me was the cord i was using was ok, BUT it had a large plastic piece preventing it from seating all the say and i mean it was off by less than a 16th of an inch. So i hacked it down a little looks like crap now but my tv doesnt playing dirt 3

 

Sorry, saw this thread a little late.
This is the exact problem that I had.
It's actually the HDMI-out port which is seated a little deeper than the HDMI-in.
Some cables would prevent it from making proper contact.
It's not the cable's fault though.

 

So, Thatoe, were you able to trim back the plastic from the end of the cable to allow the connector to seat deeper into the HDMI port?

It could be the cable's fault if the metal portion of the connector collapses into the plastic housing over time, but it would help if the port was not set quite as deep into the chassis.

 

I didn't trim the plastic.
I just had another cable with a very tiny bit longer connector.
(less than 16th of an inch like BorntoPumpGas said.)
The cable that didn't work with M18x HDMI-in port works fine with everything else including the HDMI-out port.
That's why I'm sure it's not the cable's fault but the port which is seated a bit deep.

 

I can also confirm I've got the same problem on my m18x. Some cables, the connectors simply aren't long enough to make contact in the hdmi-in port.
It's a really annoying things sadly. All the cables I have are the same branding, and thus for it to work I have to apply pressure on the port and physically hold the cable there for it to output video..

Really annoying

 

Try trimming back 1/16 to 1/8 inch of the plastic connector housing at the end of the cable to allow the connector to reach deeper into the port. Perhaps that will help.

 

I can confirm this will help. I carry a trimmed one in my backpack.


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

I have went and bought a bunch of HDMI cords to test them and it seems that the plantronics plain black HDMI cable seats the best there are two of these types one has a shiny metal connector these do not work. The one that works the best for me is a plain black cord that bends 90 degrees in each direction.

If you are having the same problem next time you go HDMI shopping take your laptop into the store (I went to best buy) and usually they will have a bunch of differant types laying around from where they have hooked up TV's and ask if you can test some out. The guy who helped me was more that helpfull in tracking one down that was a touch longer. So I bought 6 differant types and only the one I mentioned above worked without me pushing or wiggiling the cable and fits tightly.

Trying to make a list of ones that fit and ones that dont. I will eventually try to make a list of "short" cords and "long" connector cords.

 

yeahh i have just received my New U2410 monitor, well its looks massive beside my m18x screen
Now when ive connect it through HDMI cable it is not workin? like there is only one message pop up on screen that "there is no single from computer"
But when ive connect through VGA cable it actually works, but in this mode my m18x screen looks better then U2410 (well it obvious at low resolution ).
Additionally when ive check properties of CCC it detects that i have connect U4210 with system. manually when ive press FN + F6 selectin only projector, then also both laptop screen and monitor screen stays black.

Need help badly :|

 

Could be that the HDMI plug that goes into the M18x is not in far enough - I know it sounds kinda dumb but the port is unreasonably "deep" for some reason - have you got another HDMI cable to try? - maybe one that has more of the "plug" showing to go into the HDMI out port.

The only other thing that I can think of is that there is a specific windows update that installs the latest monitor driver....check windows updates and it will pop up as an optional update.

 

I agree,at first i thought my hdmi port was broken but i realized that it wasnt getting fully connected so i just grabed a utility knife a d cut a bit of the plastic from the hdmi cable

 

My M14x was doing this too till I tried a whole bunch of different cables.

 

yeah it maybe, my bad luck i cant chop plastic cosz ive did bought premium cable so it came with metal grip , but if its not connected properly then how can CCC detect that Dell 2410 monitor attached to system through HDMI?
Well i have tried same cable with my mate's system and monitor works fine so i can say that cable is alright.

yes ive just check for updates manually, found about 14kb file size update for Dell 2410 monitor so ive install it but nothin happen

I have search a lots but most ppl commonly encounter problem with driver, but i have latest driver(well its have lots of bug but i dont think its driver problem ) even tho i have changed graphics option as switch to HD4000 but still no luck. Additionally i have checked AMD HD7970m properties, then it also detect generic PnP monitor and Dell U2410(HDMI).

 

What I would do is pop out to the shops, buy a cheap HDMI cable with plastic casings around the plugs, chop some of the plastic casing away to expose more of the HDMI plug and try that....I cant think of any other reason why it wouldnt be working.

 

yeahh i think thts only option left for me but cant wait wish one of shop open till now i have just check carefully like there is metal layer on both side of M18x so i think it also block cable from connector isnt it.. i have just again connect monitor with VGA cable, monitor looks so weird. Is there any way to connect monitor with M18x?

 

Well, instead of HDMI, you could try Mini Displayport to Displayport.

 

I dont have mini display cable well goin to town early today to get New cable, hope it work

 

You could try one of these: StarTech.com Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Adapter Cable - Video/Audio Cable - Mini-DisplayPort (M) - 20 pin DisplayPort (M) - 1.8 m - Latched: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

yeahh yeahh Finally it worked!!!! ive just bought cheap cable from market, the chopped top plastic a bit, so now cable placed properly with in slot. Well later i will compare both display as U2410 n m18x stock display.

Stevie!!!! ive heard greatness of U2410 a bit time ago, as it best for color reproduction. additionally ive just took ur advice N pull the trigger Thanks mate rep 123!! Well color is so great but do it required to play with settins for better quality? ive just increase contrast to 55 from panel settins.

 

I thought it would just be the depth of the HDMI out port - they are really deep on the M18x which doesnt always make best contact when the lead is plugged in - glad you got it sorted! - you liking it so far then I take it?

Regarding calibration, I guess you could use a Spyder to profesionally calibrate it but I just adjust mine to the "most pleasing to the eye" setting without pro calibration. as I dont need it for pro work, just fun!.....I played around with the settings for everything for a bit and just settled on whatever looked best to my ageing eyes LOL - I like a bright panel so i bumped up the brightess to around 70....if you try it at 100, it will just burn your eyes outta the back of your skull !!

 

lol yeahh no worries first let me fulfil my games
Well i have just played with some settins, but i think most of stock settins were great. additionally push brightness a bit more, then with in few min my eyes started burnin so back to stock again Im just lookin over for good HDMI cable with long connector but i couldnt find any, cosz i cant stay with this cable for long time cosz its just 1m long, hence i have to move my m18 baby all time. So is there any cable available in market with long connector with approx 2m long?

Yeahh when one problems get sort out another one pop from top of horse I have just played crysis 2 so check how it looks, its really awesome color were so bright, but dont know randomly Display get dark(as brightness drop a bit to dark then within seconds starts to gettin bright again ). I dont know wht it cause, cosz of cheap cable? Or may be 7970M driver issue? As when system is ideal everytin ok so far.....