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

[Yaari]

Interesting. That is very informative. That does sound like they are on to something then, if they managed to get rid of it being a completely random occurance. Thanks for doing the video, will keep checking the thread regularly. Hopefully either one will actually own up the problem so it can get fixed.

I too would consider that acceptable then, if they narrowed it down to a timed single occurance on each boot. Good progress, nice work.

Can some other posters maybe chime in if this is the experience for you too? Single occurance on an exact 10 minute mark? Even if the monitor is ran for hours afterwards, it does not happen again? It would be nice if it can be narrowed down to whether this progress was obtained after the monitor fw update or through an NVIDIA one, so if anyone isnt updated on the monitor one, but has the more recent NVIDIA patch, maybe it can be narrowed down? Surely the one that managed to get this to a 10 minute mark is the one that can fix it fully?

[ChunkArcade]

Just received my G8 3 days ago and have put in about 10-ish hours of use since purchase.

Boxed DP cable running at 240hz/4k with a 4070 Super causes the flicker. I have had the black flicker occur 3x (twice is was a half-second flash, the third time it lasted about 4 seconds). I did notice that when I was playing a game at 1440p, it never happened once. Only happened at the higher resolution/refresh + Gsync.

I have a 5080 card incoming, so we'll see if anything changes with the swap, but it doesn't sound like it will.

Extremely disappointing for such an expensive monitor to do this. Inexcusable.

[Yaari]

I guess you are now also on the most recent firmware? OP of this thread wrote that after updating to the most recent firmware, he was able to get the black screen to only occur at a interval of 10 minutes after boot. I'd be interested to hear if these are your impressions too.

As for my own purchase of the monitor, looks like they have a new one coming in which is the LF32F810SNXZA and it is set to be 1699$. Which definitely would not be my priority in that price range, so if they do not regain stock, I don't know if I will ever get it. I still hope this issue gets fixed though, this should not be happening and the fact it has for so long is pretty bad. I've seen countless of messages of how PCs were blamed or the monitors were taken back in for repair, really wish they would communicate these things better across their team.

[MocapPac]

I updated to the latest firmware but was still having issues. They never said anything about it possibly being an NVIDIA problem when they were trying to help me troubleshoot. 

I’m not even sure what’s going to happen to my monitor now as Samsung claimed it arrived broken to their repair site. I’m just waiting for them to finish their investigation now. Definitely also wouldn’t have any current plans to purchase future Samsung products if they are knowingly continuing to sell defective products. This whole situation has just left a sour taste in my mouth for sure. 

[Yaari]

Sorry to hear that. That's extremely messed up. I really wish they would be informed of issues with their own products, there is so many reports of this problem in particular.

Hope they make things right with you.

[MocapPac]

I’m currently dealing with with the same thing with this monitor. They kept trying to say my pc was the problem when I first contacted them about this issue. Which made no sense because I switched from an LG 4k monitor and did not have this problem at all. But I monitored the issue for almost two more weeks, as they suggested, then contacted them again when the problem still didn’t stop. They told me to send to the monitor to one of their repair places, which I did, just for them to tell me the screen is now cracked and they have to figure out what happened. This problem just keeps escalating. Guess I just have to see how this goes. Will come back to update I guess. 

[NealMcDeal]

Sorry to hear this. I refused Samsung offer to take it to my nearest repair center.

For the following reasons:

1. Will be without a monitor for weeks!

2. Likely my monitor would be damaged (just like you mentioned) and then having to deal with all the problems afterwards.

3. Only to get it back with the same issue!!

When I spoke to my local repair company, that Samsung recommend, the person said to me that this problem is known and he see monitor's come back even after having a new motherboard!

His advice to me, wait for firmware / driver update and keep pestering them!

He just told me the truth from his perspective.

Given that I have three G8s I could not do this for all of them.

I did have other issues, he wifi not working, on one of them, but after I managed to get a USB firmware update, it resolved that problem... I still also have that annoying split screen color/brightness/contrast issue with Doom Eternal - mind you I am now enjoying more HDR gaming now days. From what I read online about that issue, it was a driver issue again, and also had to do with multiple monitors connected (which I do), but then when disconnecting the second monitor my issue is still there.....

So here I am ... haha

[MocapPac]

I wished a hadn’t sent mine in now either. If the support person had provided me with this information, I probably would have just waited it out until we get the proper update from NVIDIA. I have a 3080ti myself, so this is definitely not a sole issue with the newer cards. But I’m also not convinced it’s a sole NVIDIA issue considering I have other monitors from different brands, with this same card, and had never had this problem. 

But like many others have said, it’s on Samsung and NVIDIA to resolve this and not on us as the consumer to be speculating or trying to find work arounds. I did my part as the consumer by paying for this product and following the set-up instructions so the monitor was set up correctly. But I feel like Samsung is not doing their part. Especially because they don’t even give new buyers at least a warning about this problem. I bought my monitor back in December and had only had for 2 full months. I really hope they can get this problem fixed soon. I really did like the monitor besides the black screen problem and would be disappointed to see it go. Still waiting on Samsung to get back to me. Will update when that happens.

[LG_Bullet]

Dear NealMcDeal,

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank you for all your efforts regarding the monitor! I only purchased this product about a month ago, and I’m certain that without your dedication—and knowing how slow Samsung’s firmware support can be—my system wouldn’t be where it is today.

In my opinion and based on my observations, these days Nvidia is mostly responsible for the issues we’re experiencing. But once again, if you hadn’t been such a determined fighter, Samsung would still be way behind as well. That said, I do believe they still need to fine-tune the monitor’s firmware.

As for my case, using driver version 572.70 (RTX 5080), I rarely experience black screen flickers with a DP connection (I refuse to use HDMI), as well as occasional horizontal green-striped flickers. Thankfully, I don’t encounter these issues while gaming, but they do happen from time to time on the Windows 11 desktop. Disabling G-Sync has slightly reduced the occurrence, but I’m honestly frustrated—I didn’t buy these products just to disable their features!

I have also reported the issue to both companies, and I truly hope they resolve it as soon as possible.

Wishing everyone patience and a great day!

[NealMcDeal]

No problem. I am happy to share my experience and what i have learnt about the issue. Persistence pays off. I send my email four days ago to Nvidia. Not heard anything back yet. I am not expecting to hear anything for at least another week. I will email again in a week to see if I get a response.

I did a video of the problem and below is a link to my shared dropbox location with my setup.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fle5jypwhjc9pbqt5nboy/Samsung-32-Odyssey-OLED-G8-UHD-Gaming-Monitor-L...

Now at 9 seconds into the video the screen will 'glitch' funny colours for split second down the bottom of the screen and go black again for a split second. In this video example, the 'black screen' was very quick!! (normally it will last a long second or two).

If you go frame by frame you can see what I mean, the black screen issue was very quick this time.

But I have to keep seeing what happens as I just updated to the latest Nvidia drivers 572.83.

Now one thing you may notice, is that before the glitch/black screen the colours appear a certain way, but then afterwards the colours of my desktop appear different! Maybe this is something... to help Samsung/Nvidia narrow things down, who knows. I will send another email to my contact at Samsung to report this observation and get any update from him.

So far, since that glitch recording, no issues with my monitor since (over an hour after the glitch occurred)

I have included a photo of the glitch and the screen black to show what I mean.