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    Flickering on LED screen when laptop plugged in

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Steeler7588, Feb 13, 2011.

  1. Steeler7588

    Steeler7588 Notebook Consultant

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    I really like my new monitor, but unfortunately it's got these flickers/ripples when my laptop is plugged in. They cease immediately when I unplug it, which seems like it's an electrical interference problem.

    My monitor is plugged into a surge protector. I've plugged in my laptop to the same surge protector, not in the surge protector but at the same outlet, and at a different outlet. Nothing worked. I bought a power strip with EMI/RFI noise filtering and plugged it into my other outlet, but that didn't work either. Anything else I could try?
     
    Steeler7588, Feb 13, 2011
    #1
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Which port have you plugged it into? And have you tried with a known working monitor?
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Feb 13, 2011
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  3. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    Does your notebook PSU have a grounding plug? I seem to recall that for some people getting a PSU with a grounded plug (3 prong) fixed the interference problem.
     
    Judicator, Feb 14, 2011
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  4. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    Sounds like you have it hooked up via VGA. It has nothing to do with the power the monitor is getting from the wall, and everything to do with interference in the VGA cable.
     
    Trottel, Feb 14, 2011
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  5. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    Have you tried plugging both the monitor and laptop into the EMI/RFI filtering power strip?
     
    Pitabred, Feb 14, 2011
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  6. Steeler7588

    Steeler7588 Notebook Consultant

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    My notebook power cord (I'm guessing that's what PSU means?) has three prongs, so I'm guessing it's grounded? I currently have both the monitor and laptop plugged into the filtering power strip, but nothing has happened (I suspect my original surge protector also has filtering).
    It is hooked up via a VGA cable. Do some cables have less interference, then? My monitor has VGI and DVI ports.

    My roommate also has a LCD screen that he's connected with a VGA cable, but he said he doesn't have this problem. I'll try out his cable and use my cable with his setup, and see if anything changes. Thanks everyone!
     
    Steeler7588, Feb 14, 2011
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  7. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    It could be better cable, better output, or just not picking up that sort of interference. Try your monitor hooked up to his computer with his VGA cable. But either way analog video output can be pretty sensitive to interference. The same thing happened to me until I got it hooked up via DVI. DVI and HDMI are the best connections and are digital. I've never seen any noise or interference by using a digital video connection.
     
    Trottel, Feb 14, 2011
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  8. cat mom

    cat mom Notebook Evangelist

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    Have you tried ungrounding it? Use a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter to unground either your computer or the monitor. If you are getting a ground loop, that will break it.
     
    cat mom, Feb 14, 2011
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