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

Just a FYI really, but the HDMI cables I have used that did not require trimming were from a British AudioVisual Specialist called QED. They make some very nice cables but they aren't cheap. Some of the ones I use have metal plugs so cannot be trimmed. If you want a good quality cable, I'd highly recommend trying one - if it doesn't work, you could always return it.

Here's one I use for HDMI in/out when needed: QED Reference HDMI 2m - High Speed With Ethernet - HDMI Cables 1.2m to 2m - Audiovisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

Not cheap at around £80gbp, mind....

 

You guys have any other solutions besides cutting my HDMI cable, haha? I'm getting nothing when I plug my laptop into my TV, nothing happens. I'm using this HDMI cable: http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-U...tified/dp/B0019EHU8G/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Edit: Decided to cut the cable slightly and it works, haha.

 

Haha - bingo! - told ya it would work.....:thumbsup:

 

I had a problem with both of my HDMI ports. I had the same problem with my HDMI Out port as you are having. If I breathed on the cable it disconnected. Dell ended up replacing the motherboard which fixed the problem. The HDMI In port however, wasn't working at all. That problem was solved by the tech who came out to replace the motherboard. When he opened up the machine he discovered that Dell never connected the ribbon cable which connects HDMI In daughter card to the motherboard when they built the machine. I guess they never tested it either. I've had my M18X R2 for three months now and I've already had to replace the motherboard twice. I had a sound problem which resulted in it being changed a second time. Still love it though!

 

anyone having issues with the brand of hdmi cable they are using i have tried multiple low to high end cables and seem to be loose fitting and loses connection very easily when touchled slightly its the hdmi out happened with my old motherboard and replacment motherboard

 

It is a very common issue. The HDMI ports are too deep on the M18x chassis. The cable ends are too short to make good contact.
I have had to cut the plastic jacket away from the end of the HDMI cable in order to get it fully secured into the laptop. Once it seated in there nicely, I have never had another issue.

 

Please look for answers before posting questions. Many of the answers are already posted, but you have to look for them.

 

My wife's laptop has a small problem. The HDMI out port does not hold a sold connection with a cord. If it is hooked up, and someone bumps the cord, it kills the signal. To get the signal back, you have to move the connection back into the right spot.. It is very sensitive and lose.

Is this fixable and most importantly, will my warranty cover it? Normally I wouldn't care but my wife uses that port quite frequently. I have confirmed it is not an HDMI cord issue, it is indeed the port at fault.

**It is an M18X R2 with 675M SLI.

 

For the m18x you need a deeper seated HDMI cord. Yours is probably just long enough but if you remove some more of the plastic on the cord to make it seat deeper you will not have this issue anymore most likely. Or you could buy another brand with a longer metal connector.

 

How have you confirmed that it was a port issue?

There are lots of posts and comments about the HDMI input and output ports being too deep and many unmodified cables are barely making a connection.

Chances are you will need to remove some of the jacketing material around the end of the hdmi cable and allow it to sink deeper into the port. I bet it will work fine then.


Edit:
littleone beat me to it, but I would highly recommend trying this first. I have no doubt AW would try to cover the issue under warranty, but nothing they could replace would help if this is the problem you are having.

I have 6-10 HDMI cables around my house and none of them fit deep enough into the side of the laptop (my guess is that it is thickness of the chassis, compared to many manufacturers plastic bodies.

I found that cutting away 1/4" of the plastic jacket on the cable end allowed the HDMI cable to get into the port quite snugly, wont be nearly as lose as you say it is, and the connection is now happy.

 

your going to need another motherboard. the I/O board only has HDMI in I believe. It is covered under warranty provided it isnt because of user damage.. as in you dropped it and now that is the reason. Its best to play dumb when calling though. I'd just say my hdmi port is dead and go from therem but yeah thats covered under warranty

 

If his problem is the ports are too shallow as the previous posts suggest, the only thing that will be accomplished with a warranty call is time and money wasted. He needs to check out the port depth first as it is a pretty common, and well known issue.

 

Port depth got it! I did not check that. What I did to confirm it was a problem with the port was to try multiple cords.

But yes all the cords were not modified to have a longer metal protrusion. I will modify a cable and get back to you guys. I'm glad I came to the right place. Thank you everyone!

 

There is a thread already established for HDMI Out issues with the M18x. I merged your thread with the one we already have.

Larry's explanation is right on the money. That is almost always the cause. This advice in noted numerous times in this thread and in other locations throughout the forum. +1 Rep Brother Larry.

I added this to the first post to make it more obvious to first time thread visitors.

 

Good luck. Let us know how it works!

 

Hi, i'm a new owner of an m18x r2

i'm having the same issues with the hdmi video out was too deep and tried your solution of trimming the cable that works but the connection is very shallow that a slight bump will kill the signal. My question is besides trimming the cable as well as calling dell to replace the motherboard. is there any users who have tried to fix the hdmi out port to seat closer to the trim internally and if it's even possible?

 

I have tried 3 different HDMI cables.

When I plug the external in, it is recognized, all software (Nvidia control panel as well as Display in the computer control panel shows the monitor by model number) however I get "no input" displayed on the monitor and it goes into sleep mode. I have tried "duplicate displays", "extend display" as well as "primary monitor" to no avail.

A friend brought his M14 over and it displayed on the external correctly. I have searched and all I find are suggestions to try a new HDMI cable (which I know isn't the issue). I can find nothing driver related that involves the HDMI.

Any ideas?

 

The HDMI cable most likely is not fitting deep enough into the port. This is a known issue and there is an old thread about this. You can trim back the plastic casing and it should work fine. It's probably just barely lacking sufficient contact on a pin for the video out.

Edit: found and merged for you. Look a few posts up at # 114.

The cable that I trimmed was doing what you experienced. If I held pressure on it the video displayed and trimming the plastic back fixed it for good.

 

Thanks Fox, I'll give it a try at lunch and see if that resolves the issue.

 

No joy on the trimming of the connector, any other ideas or suggestions? I bought the laptop used from Lannbot on here and as it turns out there is no warranty as specified in the original sale thread, and I'm in Afghanistan so even if there were I can't get it serviced out here anyway. VGA out is working fine and the displayport might be working as well but I don't have a cable to test that theory.

 

You running any intel drivers? Try changing to iGPU mode only see if that helps.

From what I see on the m17x R4 the HDMI out is handled by the intel gpu rather than the dGPU, the displayport is handled by the dGPU, could be baecause your 680m is non factory.

Might be worth trying a minidisplayport to hdmi adapter, they not that cheap though.

 

Hi,

Since the last couple of months I've been unable to use the HDMI - Input function on my M18X. The input has been working before. I'm using the AMD 7970M CF GPU although they're currently disabled due to being faulty (which means I'm currently using the discreet Intel graphic cards).

I've tried using different HDMI cables but no luck. My PS3 connects well with my TV and other monitors, so I believe the problem is not with the PS3.

Please help me find some solution to the problem. THANKS!

 

Was it working with the integrated GPU before?

 

Some history: Yes, it was working with the integrated GPU and discreet GPU when I first bought it. Then, there was some problem with the MOBO and after it got replaced by Dell the HDMI - In stopped detecting any device.

Not sure, if during the replacement of MOBO something wasn't properly attached or it's entirely something else.

 

try reading thru http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...sues-look-answers-ask-new-questions-here.html

 

I've read through the thread and tried a few of the suggestions. Such as:

1. Trimming some plastic on the HDMI cable so that it could seat "deep" enough - did it and pretty sure it's reached at the very "deep" of the port. But my AW still couldn't detect any HDMI - In.

2. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling the AW OSD - did it but still doesn't work....

I believe for Nvidia's card user there's some registry tweaks that actually solved the problem for a few.... I'm just wondering if there's something similar to that (steps) for AMD's GPU? (even though I'm on the discreet Intel card now)

 

Has anyone found a solution for the extremely washed out colours HDMI-in produces?

I connected a PS3 to it and the projected image looks like it lacks a lot of colours compared to when I just connect it to a normal TV.

The the normal desktop image of the laptop looks fine, games are played and they're really vibrant. But the moment I plug in a PS3 or bluray player, the colours look really grey and washed out.

Does anyone have a solution to this? I've already everything in the Intel graphics panel (it seems the signal goes through the IGP)

 

Hi fourberie. What model Alienware laptop are we talking about?

Depending on what model you have, it might be the HDMI cable is not seating deep enough in the HDMI-in socket to have a solid connection.

 

I have an M17X R4. The HDMI cables feel very snug to me.

I've tried a few cables now, they all produce the same washed out colours. The image isn't so washed out that I can't make out the differences between them, but compared to my TV, they're far inferior in saturation.

 

Your TV will have it's own image settings and may be altering the received image.

 

yea, I thought as much.

The HDMI in output on the laptop can't be modified like the natural desktop?

 

Feeling snug and actually being properly seated are not the same. You might want to at least try this before simply dismissing it. It might save you a lot of aggravation. If it doesn't fix the problem, then you haven't lost anything. Even though you have an M17xR4, it has been proven to be a cause of HDMI issues by numerous Alienware M18x owners. Posted multiple times in this thread...

 

I cannot get HDMI input to work ony my alienware.

It is configured with 6970ms in CF - version 2013.1129.1143.20969

 

It should auto-detect, but if it doesn't, try pressing FN+F8. You should see some kind of blip or flash, some indication that the laptop has recognized something is plugged into it.

A problem that surfaces a lot is that the HDMI cable is not going all the way into the HDMI-In port. Sometimes a bit of the plastic on the HDMI cable must be shaved off with an Xacto knife to get full insertion.

Try connecting the device using the SAME HDMI cable into some other monitor or TV.

If you don't get anything try another HDMI cable.

If you still don't get anything, try another output device with both HDMI cables and your monitor or TV.

If you're getting a picture on another monitor or TV, that verifies that the output device and the HDMI cable are all working correctly.

Until you get a picture on another monitor or TV, you can't be sure that your laptop is the issue.

If you CAN get a picture on another monitor or TV, you'll have to try getting the HDMI cable to insert further into the laptop's HDMI-In port. Might need to hack some of the plastic off of the HDMI cable.

Let us know when your are getting a picture on another monitor or TV, but you cannot get anything to show up on your laptop. That's when the laptop is actually the culprit.

I'm betting that your HDMI cable isn't going all the way into your HDMI-In port.

 

thanks for the reply sir....will test tomorrow and post results.

 

i have not done everything yet, but i tried doing HDMI-out and it still was not working....the HDMI was the original issue but I guess the HDMI out is also another issue now!

could it just be the HDMI cable? do i just need to cut off the plastic ends a bit more so that the cable goes in? thanks.

 

Probably. If the HDMI cable is not going far enough into the socket, its not going to work for in or out. Just trim the ends up a bit.

 

alrighty, will do, and post back results,

 

Well paring around 3mm from the plastic moulding on the HDMI cable fixed my HDMI out problems however nothing will fix the HDMI input. Tried the same lead that works in the HDMI out, tried 2 new cables (both pared 3mm) but still no go. Looks like on my system anyway, the HDMI input just won't work.

I tested all cables with the device I want to connect to my M18x R2 by connecting direct to a spare monitor and they all work fine.

 

HDMI input doesn't work for me either. Output works fine. The last time HDMI input worked was with the M18xR1 and 580M SLI. It no longer worked for me with 7970M CF, 680M SLI or 780M SLI. It may have nothing to do with the video cards. I am not sure that the HDMI passthrough involves the video cards... I think I read somewhere that it does not. Since I don't use the HDMI input feature I have not tried to resolve it. Have you tested it using integrated graphics instead of discrete GPU?

 

Yes I've tried with both integrated and discrete, neither worked

 

hdmi still not working shaved a bit of plastic off on the ends of the hdmi cable.

is this a driver problem?

 

HMDI input or output did not work?

 

I've found a couple of other threads about this, but I couldn't find a specific fix for the problem, or even what the problem really was.

My M18x R2 won't output to HDTVs over HDMI. I've tried it on three TVs so far (although I only have one with me for testing). Catalyst Control Center detects the display as a HDTV, allows me to change settings for it, configure it to duplicate or extend the desktop, even set up Eyefinity, but whatever I do, the TV does not receive a signal from the notebook.

The cable I am using definitely works, my Xbox 360 has no problem outputting to my laptop's HDMI in or to my TV with it.

When I switch to the IGP, the HDTV is not detected at all by the computer.

In the past, this hasn't bothered me because I've never really needed to output to a TV, but I plan on buying a 144Hz monitor and using it with this laptop. If I remember correctly (someone correct me if I'm wrong), VGA can't output 144Hz 1080p, so I will have to use the HDMI, so I need to fix this issue before I go and drop 240 quid on a monitor that I might not even be able to use properly.

The only 'solution' I've found is to use a HDMI to DisplayPort adapter with the HDMI out. I'm perfectly fine with doing that, but I would need confirmation that it will work before I go and buy the monitor, because I don't have any displays that use DisplayPort so I can't test it myself.

As always, thanks for your help guys!

 

This is probably due to the depth of the connected, this is a common problem on the m18x r2. Some of the plastic on the end of the cable needs to be safely cut off so more of the connector can be inserted deeper in.

 

...Can't believe I didn't actually take a look at that before. Yep, just looked and the ports on the left side are all very recessed.

Is it possible to buy HDMI cables for recessed connectors? I'd rather not have to cut plastic away from my existing cable.

 

I have tried about a dozen and none of them have fit deep enough into the port. If you notice the photo I added to the opening post, it's really not a hack job. You have to look hard to see that it was trimmed back. If you have really expensive HDMI cables I can understand not wanting to trim them. You can buy them very inexpensively and for most things the cheap ones work exactly the same as the expensive ones. Monoprice.com has them dirt cheap.

 

It's less to do with me not wanting to break the cable, and more to do with me not wanting to slice my thumbs open.

No, I don't use expensive HDMI cables. Luckily I know enough about computing in general to know that there is absolutely no difference whatsoever between a cheap and an expensive HDMI cable, until you get to ridiculous lengths that may require active cables. The one I'm using right now cost about $5, and it actually has really thick braiding on it...better quality than many $50 or even $100 cables I've seen. (It's disgusting how much some of them cost.)

EDIT: Trimmed the cable I have as far back as I could (a few mm), and now it works perfectly. Thanks guys!

Now, time to go out and get that 144Hz monitor...the downside being that I'll probably hate my laptop's internal screen from now on for only being 60Hz, if what people say is true.

EDIT 2: Now I come to think of it, will the HDMI connection support 144Hz or 120Hz? If not, would it work if I used a HDMI to DVI or DisplayPort converter?
EDIT 2.1: Or better yet, I could just use the mini DisplayPort connector. I'm assuming that's the port to the right of the HDMI out, and that it will support 144Hz, correct?

 

Has anyone come up with a fix for getting the HDMI input socket working on the M18x R2? I've tried all the suggestions including trimming the HDMI cable but no luck. The HDMI output works perfectly but not the input.

Any suggestions?

 

Nothing I am aware of. HDMI input has not worked for me with 7970M CF, 680M SLI or 780M SLI. Last time it actually worked for me was when I had 580M SLI.