Samsung 205BW goes blank when using DVI

Question

Hi
I have a G4 Mac Mini. I recently purchased a [url="http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=322266"]Samsung 205BW 20in widescreen LCD monitor[/url].
I connected it via the DVI port on my mini with the DVI cable that came with the monitor and it seemed to work great but occasionally the screen will flick black as if there was nothing connected to it. It happens most noticeably when I go from a fullscreen quicktime video to the desktop or if I activate Expose. Also if the Mini goes to sleep and I try to wake it the screen stays black and I either have to reboot or change to using the VGA cable.
The monitor works perfectly if I use a DVI-VGA adaptor and connect to the VGA port on the monitor but I'd prefer to use DVI.....
I read on here of people using SwitchResX to change the settings for the monitor. I downloaded it but I don't really know what to input in the custom settings... perhaps someone here can help?
Here is the DDC file from SwitchResX:
=========================================================
DDC block report generated by SwitchResX for display
SyncMaster
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
0 | 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 4C 2D 1E 02 30 32 41 48
1 | 03 11 01 03 80 2B 1B 78 2A EE 95 A3 54 4C 99 26
2 | 0F 50 54 BF EF 80 B3 00 81 80 81 40 71 4F 01 01
3 | 01 01 01 01 01 01 21 39 90 30 62 1A 27 40 68 B0
4 | 36 00 B1 0F 11 00 00 1C 00 00 00 FD 00 38 4B 1E
5 | 51 10 00 0A 20 20 20 20 20 20 00 00 00 FC 00 53
6 | 79 6E 63 4D 61 73 74 65 72 0A 20 20 00 00 00 FF
7 | 00 48 53 47 50 31 31 34 30 33 30 0A 20 20 00 6B
Valid DDC block: checksum passed
EDID Version........1.3
Manufacturer........SAM
Product Code........7682 (1E02) (021E)
Serial Number.......1212232240
Manufactured........Week 3 of year 2007
Max H Size..........43 cm
Max V Size..........27 cm
Gamma...............2.20
DPMS Supported Features:
Active off
Display type:
RGB color display
Input signal & sync:
Digital
Color info:
Red x = 0.640 Green x = 0.300 Blue x = 0.150 White x = 0.313
Red y = 0.330 Green y = 0.600 Blue y = 0.060 White y = 0.329
Established Timings:
800 x 600 @ 60Hz
800 x 600 @ 56Hz
640 x 480 @ 75Hz
640 x 480 @ 72Hz
640 x 480 @ 67Hz
640 x 480 @ 60Hz
720 x 400 @ 70Hz
1280 x 1024 @ 75Hz
1024 x 768 @ 75Hz
1024 x 768 @ 70Hz
1024 x 768 @ 60Hz
832 x 624 @ 75Hz
800 x 600 @ 75Hz
800 x 600 @ 72Hz
Manufacturer Reserved Timings:
1152 x 870 @ 75Hz
Standard Timing Identification:
#0: 1680 x 1050 @ 60Hz (B300)
#1: 1280 x 1024 @ 60Hz (8180)
#2: 1280 x 960 @ 60Hz (8140)
#3: 1152 x 864 @ 75Hz (714F)
Monitor Description blocks:
Descriptor #0 is Timing definition:
Mode = 1680 x 1050 @ 60Hz
Pixel Clock.............146.25 MHz Non-Interlaced
Horizontal Vertical
Active..................1680 pixels 1050 lines
Front Porch............. 104 pixels 3 lines
Sync Width.............. 176 pixels 6 lines
Back Porch.............. 280 pixels 30 lines
Blanking................ 560 pixels 39 lines
Total...................2240 pixels 1089 lines
Scan Rate............... 65.29 kHz 59.95 Hz
Image Size.............. 433 mm 271 mm
Border.................. 0 pixels 0 lines
Sync: Digital separate with
* Negative vertical polarity
* Positive horizontal polarity
Descriptor #1 is Monitor limits:
Horizontal frequency range.......30-81 kHz
Vertical frequency range.........56-75 Hz
Maximum bandwidth unspecified
Descriptor #2 is Monitor name:
SyncMaster
Descriptor #3 is Serial number:
HSGP114030
=========================================================
thanks for any help!!
Mac Mini G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)
Mac Mini G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Answer 1

I had the exact problem you report with my core duo Mac Mini connected to a Syncmaster 204B. This problem persisted when I returned the monitor several times to Samsung for replacement 204B's. They eventually upgraded me to a refurbished 204T and the problem disappeared.
It seems to me that Samsung has some real problems with screen blanking when their monitors are hooked by DVI to certain Macintoshes. For anyone contemplating a Samsung monitor, I'd recommend another brand until it's known that this screen blanking problem has been resolved with all Samsung models.
Mac Mini Core Duo   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   1 GB RAM