BENQ monitor on Beagleboard

Based on the hardware compatibilty list I purchased a BENQ V2410. If I select 1920 × 1080 it reports “Out of range”. It has two connectors – an HDMI and a VGA. I suspect that BENQ increased the vertical refresh rate on some of the later models and is therefore different to the one on the compatibility list. The maximum resolution I can obtain is 1280 × 1024/16 million cols/57Hz. Has anyone else found this? Unfortunately the monitor was purchased S/H from Amazon and had no proper manual with specification data. Getting accurate figures on the web is not that easy.

I had similar problems with my BENQ G2222HDL monitor and I’m no expert with !MakeModes which I couldn’t get to work for me. I can only get 1280×720/16m @60Hz and haven’t tried to fix it yet.

I had a look at the BenQ myself but couldn’t find anything in the data sheets conforming with the statement in the compatibility list.
In the end I decided to make a small donation to R-comp and get hold of one of their pc monitor/HDTV sets available for the ARMini.

You could give this MDF a try though, courtesy of Raik Fisher from Berlin:

1. Monitor description file for ACR 223HQ
2. Created by RF

1. Max Viewable H 27 cm
2. Max Viewable V 47 cm
3. Diaganol Viewable 54 cm
5. Line Rate:
6. Frame Rate:
7. Max Dot Rate:
   file_format:1
   monitor_title:Acer X223HQ
   DPMS_state:3
8. 640×480@60Hz reduced blanking VESA CVT 0.31M3-R
   startmode
   mode_name:640 × 480
   x_res:640
   y_res:480
   pixel_rate:23500
   h_timings:32,80,0,640,0,48
   v_timings:4,7,0,480,0,3
   sync_pol:3
   endmode

1. 800×600@60Hz reduced blanking VESA CVT 0.48M3-R
   startmode
   mode_name:800 × 600
   x_res:800
   y_res:600
   pixel_rate:35500
   h_timings:32,80,0,800,0,48
   v_timings:4,11,0,600,0,3
   sync_pol:3
   endmode

1. 1024×768@60Hz reduced blanking VESA CVT 0.79M3-R
   startmode
   mode_name:1024 × 768
   x_res:1024
   y_res:768
   pixel_rate:56000
   h_timings:32,80,0,1024,0,48
   v_timings:4,15,0,768,0,3
   sync_pol:3
   endmode

1. 1280×720@60Hz reduced blanking VESA CVT 0.79M3-R
   startmode
   mode_name:1280 × 720
   x_res:1280
   y_res:720
   pixel_rate:64000
   h_timings:32,80,0,1280,0,48
   v_timings:5,13,0,720,0,3
   sync_pol:3
   endmode

1. 1280×720@60Hz CEA-861B Format 4
   startmode
   mode_name:1280 × 720
   x_res:1280
   y_res:720
   pixel_rate:74250
   h_timings:40,220,0,1280,0,110
   v_timings:5,5,0,720,0,20
   sync_pol:3
   endmode

1. 1280×1024@57Hz
   startmode
   mode_name:1280 × 1024
   x_res:1280
   y_res:1024
   pixel_rate:86000
   h_timings:32,80,0,1280,0,48
   v_timings:5,13,0,1024,0,3
   sync_pol:3
   endmode

1360. x 768 (58Hz)
      startmode
      mode_name:1360 × 768
      x_res:1360
      y_res:768
      pixel_rate:86000
      h_timings:32,100,14,1360,0,98
      v_timings:5,16,0,768,0,0
      sync_pol:2
      endmode

1. 1360 × 768 (60Hz)
   startmode
   mode_name:1360 × 768
   x_res:1360
   y_res:768
   pixel_rate:78115
   h_timings:48,80,32,1360,58,70
   v_timings:5,14,0,768,0,3
   sync_pol:2
   endmode

1. 1440 × 900 (55Hz)
   startmode
   mode_name:1440 × 900
   x_res:1440
   y_res:900
   pixel_rate:86000
   h_timings:32,100,14,1440,0,98
   v_timings:5,16,0,900,0,0
   sync_pol:2
   endmode

1. 1680×1050 (45Hz)
   startmode
   mode_name:1680×1050
   x_res:1680
   y_res:1050
   pixel_rate:86000
   h_timings:32,100,14,1680,0,98
   v_timings:5,16,0,1050,0,0
   sync_pol:0
   endmode
2. 1920×1080@60Hz
   startmode
   mode_name:1920 × 1080
   x_res:1920
   y_res:1080
   pixel_rate:138500
   h_timings:32,80,0,1920,0,48
   v_timings:5,23,0,1080,0,3
   sync_pol:2
   endmode

At least the 1440×900 mode worked fine on my 22" HannsG and came as abig step forward!

Just a quick note to say that we may make our enhanced ARMini monitor stuff (extra software and definitions) available separately for BB users who need it, although exact details haven’t been finalised yet. Obviously we’d rather upgrade BB users to ARMinis (giving you a discount of value of the board) so that you get all the mods and stuff, but I appreciate that some people will want a cheap update to get some of the good bits separately. Let us know if this is of interest.

So does this mean I could get the case and extras separate and add my own BB-xM?
I could be interested in this, obviously the price would be very important. Took me long enough to save up for a BB!

Reply to Patric – I’m sorry I didn’t reply earlier – I couldn’t see how I could reply to your posting – stupidly I couldn’t see the “Reply box” stairing me in the face.

Thank you for sending Raik Fisher’s MDFs – unfortunately I still can’t get the BenQ V2410 to work at its native (1920 × 1080) resolution. I may try and resell the monitor through Amazon if they’ll let me and investigate buying one that will work. I believe RComp are selling a monitor that works at 1080HD that is compatible with the Beagleboard.

Alan – sorry for the delay in replying. We’re offering a trade-in deal for xM users, basically crediting them the value of an xM against an ARMini. For the price, we’ll take your board, make modifications, and then turn it into a full retail ARMini for you.

Someone asked if they could get a lower rate “just for the box”. The problem that they hadn’t thought through is that the box is rather more than just “a box”. There are many additional components, and modified “things” (ranging from cables, adapters to replacement switches and the like, new mounting boards and so on). It’d be a bit like asking a car dealer for just the metalwork for a car, because you have an engine. Without the electronics and gear system, you’d be a bit sunk.

We have (literally) one left of the special-offer monitors (50ukp saving). And yes, it does 1080p from a beagleboard.

In due course, we may well (as I said), offer the monitor stuff separately, which should help users get the max out of their boards if they can’t afford a complete machine.

However, I should stress that from a development perspective, it would be best if users could find the heart to unite behind a complete machine, because it makes life easier for developers to work to a standard environment / piece of kit.

Reply to Patric – I’m sorry I didn’t reply earlier – I couldn’t see how I could reply to your posting – stupidly I couldn’t see the “Reply box” stairing me in the face.
bq. Thank you for sending Raik Fisher’s MDFs – unfortunately I still can’t get the BenQ V2410 to work at its native (1920 × 1080) resolution. I may try and resell the monitor through Amazon if they’ll let me and investigate buying one that will work. I believe RComp are selling a monitor that works at 1080HD that is compatible with the Beagleboard.

I very much doubt the BenQ could work with the BB at its native rez. At least the data sheets mention something about a 50-ish plus Hz range and that’s just not good enough.
The R-Comp one works without fault though, looks good and gives a nice and crisp picture at 25-38Hz over DVI. TBH I wouldn’t want to be without it anymore!

You can view some photos here: ROBB-xM