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

[userWmJTMDqUFd]

I feel like there should be like a temporary fix we could implement till the Nvidia drivers "hopefully fix it" it just doesn't make sense why it's happening in the first place to just display port, it such a specific situation. I think the main focus we should think on is what is in Amd drivers that Nvidia lacks? and can we add what is missing? Also the fact that gs80d has tizen os could also be another factor since that's what separate itself from the other monitor but that's speculation.

[NealMcDeal]

Hi userWmJTMDqUFd

I agree the tizen OS may be a contributing factor. But I don't think we have a workaround until the problem will be fixed. Personally, I think 1301 is that partial fix, as it only goes black at the 10min mark. All other times it is fine. Beforehand it was nearly every 5 mins or so. The API (Application programming Interface) to the video driver is probably getting some unexpected response that causes the monitor to go blank.

This monitor is G-sync compatible, it is not G-Sync Certified. So maybe there are minor issues with its implementation. Who knows... we are guessing

But if we can get logs as per Nvidia article I posted maybe we can submit info to help the developers fix the issue. Until they can reproduce the issue problems are hard to fix. And big corporates take long time to respond.

I am going to do the logs....and submit to Nvidia and start to report issues to them to get some action hopefully

[userWmJTMDqUFd]

Ill take your word for it that the updates are improving it. To be honest i dont remember noticing anything wrong until  realizing like a month ago. I was to enamored the first time I got the monitor at luanch, I didnt register that it would black out every 5 min upon boot so I guess it good progress that the updates do something I guess, as slow :snail: as they are.

[wymanb]

I reject the notion that this is an Nvidia problem. I have not read reports of other OLED monitors having this issue, and display port is basically required to fully utilized the display's full capabilities. This is a $1000 display and its unacceptable for Samsung to just put off an issue only their product is facing onto another vendor. Maybe Nvidia cards ARE doing something wonky, well everyone else seems to be managing just fine so maybe it's best to use one of those.

Edit: I will also note that i have been having the issue when the monitor is connected to the computer but is displaying content with its own smart tv mode, so explain how that is a problem with my video card?

[NealMcDeal]

Hi Wymanb,

Believe what you want to believe.

I used to think it was a monitor problem just like you and spent months with Samsung trying to get them to take ownership of the problem.

To recap my original post I had 1004 firmware in the monitor when it first came out and have a Nvidia 4080 Super video card. I also have two other computers, each with G8 monitors.

Since 1004, the black screen problem used to occur nearly every 5mins or so, and this was continually, I upgraded to 1005, no difference. Eventually, I got access to the 1301 just before it was released to public. Since that firmware the problem has largely gone away, I only get it around the 10min mark.

Now, the monitor overall is a bit finicky when it comes to connecting devices/PCs etc, the screen goes black when changing inputs, (FYI I have two PCs connected to one of my G8s) and the general firmware of the monitor is sluggish (I also had menu crashing etc with 1004/1005 firmware) which is now fixed. So I agree, Samsung have some responsibility and probably still do have some bugs in their firmware.

However, all reports (forums/communities etc like this), and as confirmed by Samsung to me via their R&D team, is that they ONLY experience it with Nvidia cards, AMD and other cards are fine. Now, just an FYI – the latest Nvidia driver 572.16 readme says “Certain G-SYNC Compatible monitors may display flickering when game FPS drops below 60FPS [5003305]” Now reading into this, it is basically how the monitor “responds” to G-SYNC. Also item 5.5 has HDMI Issues with Audio playback on specific monitors (eg. Viewsonic VX2835wm and another). So If you were an owner of the Viewsonic monitor in question, would you think your audio problem was the monitor or the Nvidia drivers? Most likely the monitor.

Anyway, all I am trying to say is that it is the combination of the two. Yes, the monitor may have an issue due to unexpected data being received. In my post yesterday - This is the blank screen and how to get logs from your Nvidia card Nvidia even call out that their cards may cause blank screens on certain monitors and what we can do to get info as part of the logs (I will be doing this in the next day or two).

So basically, Nvidia video cards can have issues with specific monitors and the G8 just happens to be one of those.

To my surprise, I found it unusual that a major monitor launch of this high spec monitor and using Nvidia cards (which over half of population have) the issue should have been picked up in testing before release. Even when I was going back and forth with Samsung they gave me details of the tests that they did and their test results, all passed. I still challenged this with them. So I questioned their testing.

I think Samsung, have had issues, yes, but now they have done all they can and now waiting on Nvidia to fix the last issue for them. Maybe Samsung could do more, but from what I have seen, they have done a lot (I am not defending them here by any means) just letting you know that first hand dealing with their ‘technical’ team. I have asked for what the technical details are, but they are not providing that for me.

So as I posted earlier, I am now going to get the logs as per Nvidia KB article and see what I can do.

Just as an FYI, I have noticed that with the new drivers (when I play Doom Eternal) that my screen is split in half with left hand side of G8 having a different brightness/contrast to the right side. This is not a monitor issue as it only appeared with new drivers. I looked online as well and other people have reported similar issues with Nvidia and multiple monitors. But, this issue, from what I can make out is just with the G8 again. Now given that I know it was fine beforehand, I don’t put it down to the monitor, but rather drivers in connection with this monitor and something that Nvidia did caused the problem.

At this point we don’t have much of a choice. People can either return their monitors if not happy or put up with the issue until a fix eventually comes out.