Samsung Odyssey G8 G80SD 32 inch Intermittent Black Screen

[NealMcDeal]

Hi Everyone

update.

For months I have been chasing Samsung re: firmware updates, eventually I got hold of 2nd level support and a technician that actually knew something instead of giving me standard pre-canned responses.

I was using 1004 firmware and then upgraded to 1005, unfortunately there was not any improvement.

However, Samsung support gave me access to v1301...a big jump in version numbers and now this is on the support websites to download as a USB update. (I am not sure if it is available via auto updates as I had upgraded them all manually as at the time, the auto update process didn't have the new firmware).

I can say that this version 1301 has "improved" but unfortunately not eliminated the screen blanking issue. This is very disappointing, but that being said it is happening a lot less these days once I have upgraded to this firmware.

So if you are running on anything less than 1301 and have this issue, I suggest you upgrade to the new version. You won't regret it. I have contacted support again, to find out if they are still going to continue looking into this problem. [I have also indicated that I have another problem with the Settings - Number - Color button on the remote, and that my remote eventually stops responding to my monitor - oh well will have to wait for that to be fixed.]

Anyway back to the monitor problem. I only seem to have the problem with Display Port. (Don't matter what frequency as it still occurs - FYI I operate the monitor at 120Hz. But tried 60Hz and 240Hz and still same issues. However, if I use HDMI I don't have any issues at all. I am using a NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super; using G-Sync Compatible/Adaptive Sync.

I have this monitor (as well as a G6) connected to my main PC using Display Port and then a work PC connected via HDMI. I am mainly on HDMI during the day and have NEVER had the issue with HDMI on the G8. However, when using Display Port, the problem still exists. (BTW the G6 has never missed a beat - so if you only use one computer connected to the monitor I will suggest you change your cable to HDMI. But if you are like me that use two computers connected up, the one using Display Port will probably still have an issue.

Do other people still have this issue with the screen going randomly black for about 1-2 sec from time to time? What Frequency (Refresh Rate) are you using?

Thanks

Neal

[NealMcDeal]

Today I heard back from my contact at Samsung. I do really appreciate him getting back to me. At least has shown genuine interest and customer care/service. He reported to me that they have not heard back from Nvidia yet, however that being said, he got a message from his contact at Samsung Headquarters that will try escalating this again with Nvidia. I asked him to let me know as soon as he hears anything back.

So for now we can only hope that this stays on the radar with Samsung to keep persisting with Nvidia. In the meantime all we can do is:

1. All of us continually (eg. monthly) keep trying to contact Samsung on this issue. They more that they hear from their customers that this is a problem the more likely that they will keep pestering Nvidia!

2. Try to follow Nvidia's approach to submit a fault (I have posted details on this process previously) - there are a few steps involved here. Personally, I have not heard back from Nvidia. I will be emailing them again shortly. But encourage others to do the same thing. The more people that email Nvidia with the issue the more likely it will be noticed.

3. Contact people in the press/media and let them know the issues. I posted a comment on the story link that I linked above. So hopefully this will get the attention of the author of the article to maybe write another article etc. Any help from others would be appreciated here. I don't use social media (eg. Twitter/X, Facebook, etc etc) so if people have any of these accounts to try and reach out to people in the media, please do.

Again with all of this, the more we get this info out there in the wild and more we contact Samsung/Nvidia, the more people will take notice and eventually we will have our win and then everyone will benefit.

Also, on another note, @Yaari I have asked the question on how we can raise feature requests to Samsung for new firmware, and in particular how to disable the Game Bar prompts. As an FYI, there was a comment posted in the Review section of the Product Page talking about this specific issue - https://www.samsung.com/au/monitors/gaming/odyssey-oled-g8-g80sd-32-inch-240hz-oled-uhd-ls32dg802sex... filter by 1 star and you will see it. 

As soon as I hear any info on how to do this or if he has passed on my request I will let you all know.

[BR1995]

Since running this monitor I've seen similar issues to OP, screen with randomly go black for a couple seconds and occasionally I'll see artificing. I run the monitor in 3840x2160 @ 120hz and these issues occur whilst connected via display port or HDMI.

I run multiple monitors (2x LS27DG502EEXXY and 1x LS32DG802SEXXY) and the issue only appears to occur on the main monitor (LS32DG802SEXXY). Running the most up to date firmware on the monitor (version 1313) and a 4070ti with up to date firmware (version 572.83). 

Gamers Nexus put out a video this morning stating there's been issues with nivida drivers (if anyone is interested link below), with some possible work arounds that I'll try tonight after work. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTXoUsdSAnA

[NealMcDeal]

Thanks for the post. Interesting. I have the main monitor as Number 2. So when I get time tomorrow I will do the cable swap and see if anything improves. If there is still a problem I will revert back to the older driver. Basically do a two-step test.

The one thing I am happy with, is that people are starting to notice quality issues with Nvidia drivers. My only concern with that, is that nvidia will be so busy fixing other issues, that our monitor issue may be insignificant to them or we have to wait a lot longer! The issue I have been seeing is before these new drivers (eg. to support 50xx series) monitors.

The other interesting thing, is that nearly all the issues that they are seeing are with Display Port and not (maybe as much or at all) HDMI....  But for me this is not an option. I used HDMI for work computers and Display Port for my personal PC.

[NealMcDeal]

I am sure it is too early to say anything, but after using DDU, reverting back to Nvidia Drivers - 566.36 (Sorry 50xx RTX users) and changed the configuration of my monitor Display Port connections, so that my Primary monitor within Windows 11 is monitor 1 (previously it was 2 but I had set it to be the primary monitor).

After trying three times after cold boots and waiting 30min each time, I have not had any black screen occurring at the 10min mark, which previously I had without fail. So this is promising, but I am not holding my breath.... as it will probably revert later, who knows!

The only annoying thing is that the BIOS boot screen goes on my secondary (portrait) monitor; but I can live with that if this fixes the problem. If by the end of the week this does not revert back to black screens then I will jump for joy.... I can then test the theory on my family's other two computers (one has 2 monitors and 1 just has a single G8). 

I will report back on the weekend. Finger's crossed

[user792FtFXSMk]

I am another G8 Oled owner who frequently encounters this black screen issue.

Coming from the CHG70 32" I am pretty disappointed that this is an issue on a flagship monitor.

Clearly Samsung isnt what is used to be.

Think I will see if HDMI connection resolves this annoying issue 

[NealMcDeal]

I you read previous post you will see that there are no issues with HDMI. But HDMI is not as good as DP. What Video card are you using? If it is RTX 40xx series, then follow what i did in the post above. Do you just have one monitor or two? Use the v566.36 drivers - https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/results/237719/ as these have a lot less bugs that the more recent drivers from Nvidia (since the release of the 50xx RTX cards).

Let us know how you go.

I should mention that it appears not to be a Samsung issue, but more of a Nvidia driver issue that is behaving badly with the G8 OLED monitor. If you read other release notes from Nvidia, they have had similar issues with other monitors and fixed the problem. I have been in contact with Samsung many times and they are trying to get Nvidia to fix the issue.

[NealMcDeal]

Touch wood....still going strong... no black screens yet.... a total now of six power on's from cold start. Fingers are still crossed. Has anyone else tried to do this?

EDIT: Still going and NO black screen for me...it's now day 3 and still no issues to report... this is looking good! My fingers' are still crossed.

However, I checked with one of my son's who is using a single G8 and his screen still goes black. But he is using the new drivers. So I will revert his machine over the weekend and see if a single screen monitor has the same issues. I will also test my other's son's computer who has the same monitor setup as me and downgrade his drivers (and reconfigure the DP port connections) as well to see if it fixes his issues. I don't want to touch their computers until I have something more concrete to go on! But all signs are looking good....

Anyone else had any similar success with this configuration?

[NealMcDeal]

Okay, after days of testing. The results are in.

I am not sure what to say.

Using the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to uninstall my previous drivers, Going back to 566.36 drivers (Sorry RTX 50xx users) and changing my monitor monitor setup - changed Display Port cables to different DP Ports on my Nvidia card so my (#1) monitor in Windows [the G8 monitor] is the Primary monitor in Windows and the secondary (2) monitor in Windows is my G6. Leaving my other settings as is (eg. VRR, G-Sync, HDR, 120Hz, 4K Resolution) - the outcome of my testing is as follows:

I DO NOT Get the Black Screen anymore at the 10min mark! (Great I guess); however after large amounts of testing, I have noticed a couple of times my screen going black about 1hr to 1 1/2 hrs of use.  😞

On the bright side, it is has got rid of the majority of Black screens that I am experiencing, (so that is an improvement) but on the bad side, I can't now predict when I will get the black screen. For me personally, I preferred getting the black screen about 10min into powering up, this way I knew when it would happen, then after I see that (I didn't get the black screen again) so I could happily play games or watch a movie without fearing the dreaded black screen; now instead I could be playing or watching a movie etc and the black screen will appear when I at least expect it. 

As it is not as predictable for me then this is more annoying than just waiting 10min before doing what I want to do... the silver lining is that I have only experienced this about twice after probably a dozen of so uses of my computer. So overall, I would say that this is an improvement.

Note: I have not tested this on my kids computers (to see how their setup goes) - I will do this over Easter break.

I will also test newer drivers myself, gradually to see if I get any other results.

So maybe this solution may work for some people out there.

[NealMcDeal]

I have been thinking about all of this again, I think with the Samsung G8 monitor there were more instances of this occurring with older firmware, but now the firmware 1313 is more stable and behaving better with the Nvidia drivers (even the real buggy versions!).

That being said, I didn't have any problems with my G6;

So I can only conclude that it is the combination of the Nvidia buggy drivers with a Hi-Res 4K Monitor and higher refresh rates. The resolution on the G6 is less that the G8 so I am guessing it is something to do with that. With that being said, I am tending to think we let Samsung off the hook? However, I am inclined to still keep going back to Samsung as they might still be able to put some pressure on Nvidia to fix issue.... time will tell.

[Tippee]

Im having this same issue, i also have an nvidia 4070ti. i feel like my oculus rift s is also partly to blame for this issue as its making the screen go black and messes with the mouse until i force stop the service for the rift. is this a sperate issue or has anyone else here got a vr headset plugged into their gpu at the same time as using this monitor?