Carbon X1 - External Monitor Looks Awful

I have a carbon x1 and using it with an external monitor has been a huge headache for me. The colors look so extremely washed out on an external monitor that it's essentially unusable. I've tested this with multiple monitors and dongles which all work perfectly with other laptops so I can say with a high level of confidence that the issue is with the carbon x1. I've spent a lot of time modifying the gamma and brightness settings but can't get anywhere close to what it should look like. I also have the same issue in both Linux and Windows. Is this a known problem with the X1's graphic card? Are others having the same issue?
As a sidenote: I have to say that this issue combined with the broken Windows updates and the wireless card that won't connect to ad-hoc networks or stream audio over bluetooth has left me extremely disappointed with this laptop. I've bought exclusively thinkpad laptops since the ibm days but will be switching brands for my next purchase.

at least it is working for you !

Similar Messages

Monitor has weird, pixelated colors, but external monitor looks fine

I have a MacBook Pro. It is a couple of years old. Recently the monitor started fritzing out. At first it would happen only happen when I ran windows through boot camp. A couple of days later, it began happening in os x too.The screen seems to be operating on a reduced amount of colors, a preponderance of green and everything is pixelated. There are blobby shaped circles of rainbow all over the desktop. Windows on top of the desktop look better, but still way too green and pixelated. All parts of the screen are equally bad. I tried changing all the settings in display. Also ran disc utility. The display on the external monitor looks fine. Any ideas on how I can fix this?

Some MBP have bad nVidea graphics chips that can do wheat you describe, except it usually affects an external monitor as well. It's covered by a warranty extension program here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377

My Dell U2412M monitor looks awful on OS X

I bought my first Mac (Mini 2014) and attached to my Dell U2412M external monitor and the graphics looks awful, all blurry and pixelated.
For the avoidance of any doubt:
1) Mini is connected to minitor via miniDP to DP cable
2) Color is correctly set to RGB
3) Resolution is on the right setting
4) Pictures look fine, the problem is just with the font rendering, in any application
5) Have tried turning LCD font smoothing on and off but does not really make a big difference
Any other setting I can try? Is Mac really this bad at handling fonts? I use the same monitor on a windows laptop and font is crystal clear. It is like looking at a 1024x768 screen while mine is a pretty decent 1920x1200.
thanks

Did you resolve issue?

External monitor looks horrible

I've connected my Samsung SyncMaster 171v LCD monitor to my new Macbook with a mini DVI to VGA connector and get terrible results. I've tried setting to the native resolution of 1280 x 1024 as well as 1024 x 768(stretched) and 800 x 600 (stretched), but get a somewhat fuzzy picture. Nothing like what I get when I use my windows box with an old ATI 7500.
Can anyone give me some suggestions as it is totally unusable as a viable external monitor at this rate?

As Attila mentions, if you are mirroring the displays then that will explain the poor image quality. By the way, the native resolution of the MacBook is 1280 x 800 and not 1280 x 960.
With regards to DVI vs VGA, at resolutions of 1280 x 1024 you won't notice a difference.
EDIT : By the way, the normal cause for "fuzzy" looking displays is an incorrect resolution setting which is mismatched to the native resolution. Can you confirm the native is 1280 x 1024?

External Monitor looks terrible

I recently got ahold of two monitors, both DVI, to hook up to my 12 inch PowerBook for my setup at work.
On both of them I attempted to run as a mirrored displays as well as an extended desktop. I can verify that at least one of the monitors is high-quality and gives a nice crisp picture when attached to any other machine.
However the image coming from the PowerBook is pretty abysmal. The edges are dull, the colors are washed out and I'm really unimpressed with the picture.
I bought the 12" PowerBook because of the portability and because evetually I knew I would want to use it with a larger screen. Is this not the case?
Any ideas?

I've tried different profiles as well as calibrating.
They all look terrible.
It isn't an issue of the colors being off, it primarily has to do with the clarity of the picture. Both of these monitors I KNOW are capable of a better picture than they have with the PowerBook.

External monitor view looks stretched

Over the weekend, I ventured into the world of Mac ownership with a new macbook pro. At my office, I've connected it to a 23" external monitor just to make it easier on my eyes. When I first set it up last night, the view on the external monitor looked stretched or a like blown up version of what's on my computer screen. (FTR, I have mirror display turned on because I'm keeping the macbook on a shelf under my desk and just want to work from the one screen.) I messed with the resolution size of the external monitor but that didn't fix the problem.
Today, when I came in and hooked everything up, the screen looked like how I originally expected it to look - not stretched or any of that junk. Just very crisp and clean - exactly the way I wanted it. Then a bit ago, I tried to mess with clamshell mode and for some reason, that made the external monitor go back to being stretched. I've tried restarting several times and unplugging the DVI->mini display port converter but it's not fixing it.
I have no idea what I did right this morning, but can anyone help me? It's a stupid problem, for sure but it's annoying staring at this stretched screen.

Try this instead, hit CMD F1 to place the monitor in extended desktop mode, It should look good again.
Go to System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement tab > notice the grey "menubar" at the top of the left display. Move it to your other monitor display. This will control which monitor has the dock and menubar. If the external monitor is not available, it moves back to the MBpro.
Regards,
Captfred

Windows 8 on boot camp on MacBook Pro retina w/external monitors = screen resolution not correct

how do i calibrate external monitors resolutions individually in windows 8 (like can be done in OS X) so that my MacBook Pro retina text isn't teeny tiny and my external monitors look normal? Is there a way to set the resolution and text size for each monitor separate from one another in Windows 8? Thanks for the help.

In Windows 8 use the help menu and search for external display.

How to configure 2 external monitors with X1 Carbon

I have a brand new X1 Carbon (Generation 1 3444-CYU), and I also have the docking station. My intention is to be able to have the laptop cover closed, and to use the power switch on the top of the docking station to start (apply power to) the laptop, and to have the output be driven to two DVI monitors.
At this point, I'm able to have the laptp drive the main screen (part of the laptop) and the two external monitors, but I cannot seem to figure out how to use the docking station to "start/boot" the PC, and to have the bootup sequence, and other subsequent display presented on the two DVI screens only.
As I've been looking through the knowledge base, I'm surprised that there are not simply a series of articles that describe the various options for configuring monitors, so I'm forced to post this request. Can someone help?
thanks

I see this is an old post, but I figured I'd respond in case someone else is having the same problem.
There is a setting in the BIOS where you can have the X1 power on automatically when you plug it into the dock. I believe the setting is called something to the affect of "Power On When Connected to A/C." This solves the problem you and describing and I have been using with successfully with a dual monitor set up.

Recommendations for external monitor in combination with USB 3.0 dock and X1 carbon touch

Dear Community,
I'm waiting for my X1 carbon touch and USB 3.0 dock and keyboard/mouse to arrive any time soon. However, I'd be glad to get some help/recommendations on external monitor choice.
For instance, the new HP envy 27" caught my eye, since it includes speakers, but it comes with HDMI and Displayport connections only. As far as I understood, video connection itselft shouldn't be a problem using a DVI to HDMI adaptor, but how about the resolution of the X1 vs. a HD+ monitor, and how do I use the audio on this monitor (don't want to use the microphone jack in front of the dock, as it should look as minimalistic as possible)?
Is there a solution? via usb 3.0? or should I better consider another monitor? Anyways, DVI or HDMI, I don't want to connect a separate audio system to the dock. Any recommendations, or is it one of those gadgets that has not been thought through well enough and you need to wait for the next generation to be developed?
Many thanks for your help,
Cheers, jcd

Since you don't want to use the jack on the dock, you could usethemini-DisplayPortontheX1cTouchasyourvideooutputoption because the version of DP on the X1c Touch includes the ability for audio to streamed over the DP connection in addition to video. This would require a compatible DP monitor.
You'll also want the monitor to support audio over the DP connection. The X1c Touch's graphics supports the output of an audio stream over DP and the machine should be be capable of this. This gives you two cables connecting to the X1c Touch -- the DP cable for audio and video and the USB 3.0 cable connecting to the dock. The dock would be attached to keyboard, mouse, USB accessories, and Ethernet (if necessary).
As far as what to look for in a monitor, my general recommendation is Dell Ultrasharp. They tend to be a good deal for an IPS monitor with at least an sRGB gamut and a solid warranty. I've never bothered to attempt to stream audio over DP because I have separate speakers for audio. In the same way that my last 3 laptops have been ThinkPads, my last three monitors have been Dell Ultrasharps. The graphics in the X1c Touch should be fine running a 1920x1080, so I wouldn't worry about resolution. It can be a little jarring to use monitors side-by-side when they have different pixel densities, so you'll likely end up treating them as separate display surfaces. I often have e-mail and Pandora open on my T420's screen while I'm doing the bulk of my work on my main monitors. If you think you'll be touching the screen a good bit, then you might want to look into buying a touch capable monitor. Otherwise your brain can become easily confused because it'll begin to think that all computer screens are touch-capable and you'll reach out and try to touch your desktop monitor without thinking.
When asking for help, post your question in the forum. Remember to include your system type, model number and OS. Do not post your serial number.
Did someone help you today? Press the star on the left to thank them with a Kudo!
If you find a post helpful and it answers your question, please mark it as an "Accepted Solution"! This will help others with the same question in the future.
My TPs: Twist 2HU: i5-3317U Win 8 Pro, 4GB RAM 250GB Samsung 840 | T420 4177CTO: i5-2520M, HD+, Win 7 Pro x64, 8GB RAM, Optimus, 160GB Intel 320 SSD, Intel 6300 WiFi, BT 3.0 | T400 2764CTO: P8700, WXGA, Win 7 Ult x64, AMD 3470, 8GB RAM, 64GB Samsung SSD, BT, Intel 5300 WiFi | A20m 14.1" PIII 500 (retired). Monitors: 2x Dell U2211h IPS 100% sRGB calibrated w/ Spyder3.

What to look for in an external monitor

I am in the process of changing my editing system to handle hd. I am using a 24" imac 2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo. With my sd set up I used a Sony dv/dvcam deck and a JVC professional 13" Monitor. I am purchasing the new JVC gy-hm100u camcorder when it is released in April. I am somewhat confused about having an external monitor hooked up to my system for viewing my FCP projects. (1) What should I look for in the external monitor. Do I want a computer monitor or an HD TV? Once I purchase the external monitor/tv can I get rid of my SD JVC monitor all together. I don't want to spend a lot but I want to make sure I get a monitor with the right specs. (2) What happens if I want to use past dv footage in a new project shot in hd. I do a lot of corporate projects which require the use of old interviews as part of the new productions. Am I going to have an issue doing this? Thanks in advance for any help.
Message was edited by: Erik Seel

To view HD variants, you'll need a 3rd party card.
You are severely limited with an iMac. Your only real choice is a Matrox MXO driving a 24" Dell or older 23" Apple Cinema Display.
While you can use an AJA ioHD to drive a HDTV, you'll need to connect it via FW800. This is a problem as no other devices can be on the same bus and, since all firewire ports on an iMac are on the same bus, it won't work.
I would not dispose of the Standard Def monitor. If you work with SD material, you'll still need it. HDtvs are lousy devices for monitoring SD.
x

External monitor on MacBook Air looks terrible, recommendations?

I'm a software developer and I want to be able to connect an external monitor to my MacBook Air 11". The Apple store guy recommended a Belkin adaptor so I can connect my HDMI input devices. The connection works, but even at 1080p resolution, there are jagged edges and the text looks horrible. I tried an ASUS monitor and also my Samsung TV. It looks fine when using my Windows 7 computer. Is the adaptor no good? Is there a setting to turn on? What am I doing wrong?

+1
Laptop: MacBook Pro 11", Mid 2012 128Gb/8Gb
External Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster T260 (HDMI input)
Generic Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter that came with ATI graphics card I have in my PC

External Monitor Aspect Ratio Looks Wrong

I'm having trouble using my TV as another monitor with my new MacBook Pro. I don't really care whether it is mirrored or as a second monitor, but no matter what I do I can't get the aspect ratios right. I want to play videos on my TV, but when I put them fullscreen there, no matter what aspect ratio I've chosen, it ends up cropping the screen, as if instead of actually changing the aspect ratio, it has just blown up the screen from the wrong aspect ratio and let the edges get cut off. The (oldish) TV has a 1024x768 ratio, my laptop a 1280x800. They're connected by VGA cable. When I just leave them like that as separate monitors, the TV acts as if it's the same size as the computer and ends up cutting off the bottom and left side of the window. I've tried setting my laptop to 1024x768 as well as having them as separate monitors, and that changes the laptop screen, but still when I fullscreen a video it's cropped instead of resized, now on both laptop and TV. When I mirror them my laptop gets all stretched looking, presumably because it's taking on the TV's aspect ratio and then just stretching it out. It's like the only way it knows how to handle anything properly is if it's in its native 1280x800 setting. My old PC handles this without a problem (I think it ends up putting black bars top and bottom on my TV to make the ratio work for videos that aren't fullscreen, and in any case it doesn't do any of the weird cropping), and I thought Macs were for graphics people!

Hi
> Should I install the external monitor samsung driver (I do have the disc) or might it upset the Toshiba's own screen...
First of all the graphic driver is necessary and important to run and to use the graphic card with full performance and NOT the external monitor!!!
I'm sure that the external monitor software was not designed to run the graphic card but to enable and to control some external monitor options.
Anyway, you could try to install this delivered software but please understand that this software will not replace the installed Toshiba nVidia graphic driver.

Looking for a good FHD external monitor

What are people using for external monitors? I'm looking for a FHD (1920x1080) monitor to connect to my W520 system. I'm interested in something between 22 and 24". Suggestions.
Thanks
W520, i7-2820QM, BIOS 1.42, 1920x1080 FHD, 32 GB RAM, 2000M NVIDIA GPU, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSD, Crucial M550 mSata 512GB, WD 2TB USB 3.0, eSata Plextor PX-LB950UE BluRay
W520, i7-2760QM, BIOS 1.42 1920x1080 FHD, 32 GB RAM, 1000M NVIDIA GPU, Crucial M500 480GB mSata SSD, Hitachi 500GB HDD, WD 2TB USB 3.0

I use a pair of Dell U2211H monitors, and would suggest anything in the Dell's UltraSharp range. My monitors are 21.5" IPS and cover close to 100% of sRGB. This monitor has display port, VGA, and DVI connections, and a built in 4 port USB 2.0 hub. The current version is the U2212HM is very similar and runs $219. It comes with a 3 year limited warranty and a 0 bright pixel warranty (Premium Panel Guarantee). I choose this panel due to warranty, price, and pixel density (I love dense panels).
If you choose to go larger, the 24" U2410 ($499) has a better gamut, and gives you a 16x10 resolution of 1920 x 1200.
If you want to stay with Lenovo, they offer the 23" IPS LT2323z ($399.99) it comes with 2 microphones and a full HD webcam. It also has 3 USB 3.0 ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports. Gamut is not specified.
When asking for help, post your question in the forum. Remember to include your system type, model number and OS. Do not post your serial number.
Did someone help you today? Press the star on the left to thank them with a Kudo!
If you find a post helpful and it answers your question, please mark it as an "Accepted Solution"! This will help others with the same question in the future.
My TPs: Twist 2HU: i5-3317U Win 8 Pro, 4GB RAM 250GB Samsung 840 | T420 4177CTO: i5-2520M, HD+, Win 7 Pro x64, 8GB RAM, Optimus, 160GB Intel 320 SSD, Intel 6300 WiFi, BT 3.0 | T400 2764CTO: P8700, WXGA, Win 7 Ult x64, AMD 3470, 8GB RAM, 64GB Samsung SSD, BT, Intel 5300 WiFi | A20m 14.1" PIII 500 (retired). Monitors: 2x Dell U2211h IPS 100% sRGB calibrated w/ Spyder3.

GT70 20C Kubuntu looking for bios option to disable optimus for external monitor

I have a GT70 20C with Kubuntu installed looking for a bios option to disable optimus for linux to support an external monitor. Linux will not detect any connected monitor with or without the latest nvidia drivers.

optimus and onboard GPU can't be disabled,
they are need to be able to see anything on the screen.
only dedicated nvidia card can be turned off

Using a Vizio HDTV as an external monitor

I've bought the right connector and cable to connect my MacBook to an external monitor, and with two of our HDTVs, it works great. The problem is, it doesn't work with the TV I want it to.
We have a Vizio 27", a Phillips 47", and a Sony Bravia 52". On the Phillips and Sony, the picture quality is 1080p and amazing quality, and everything fits on the screen perfectly (as in the menu bar and dock).
But with the Vizio, which I'm wanting to use as a main monitor with external mouse and keyboard also, the picture quality is awful. It looks decent at 1280x764, which it tries setting it to by default, but when I change that to 1080i, the picture quality becomes really fuzzy and unreadable, and the dock and menu bar aren't even on the screen (you can barely see the top of the dock at the bottom though, so I know it's there.)
My question is: Does anyone know a way to fix this? So the Vizio can show the image in good quality? I've searched all through the MacBook's settings and my TVs settings, but I couldn't find anything. Any ideas?

I have a Samsung HDTV with HDMI Sockets etc etc
What cable will I need to connect my MacBook to my HDTV to watch movies direct from my MacBook on my HDTV?

Carbon X1 - External Monitor Looks Awful

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for