U3011 horizontal lines flickering across screen Help!

[allen5055]

Hi, I just got a U3011 off of ebay, and it works perfectly, except for the fact that there are a LOT of random horizontal lines that flicker across my screen. The lines look yellow to me. They occur any time the monitor is on, including when I'm just in the BIOS menu (although they're better here). The lines are there when I hook up my XBOX, although there's less of them then.

The lines seem to flicker across the screen regardless of what input I use. I've tried displayport and HDMI. The flickering gets worse as the monitor is on longer. When I first turn it on there isn't flicker for about 20 seconds. I've also tried the HDMI on both my motherboard and my graphics card. Does anyone have any ideas?

What's interesting is that when I do LCD conditioning there are no lines at all, just the solid sheets of color that I should see. This indicates to me a problem displaying multiple colors or something the translates the input signal.

I've noticed that the problem is worse as the monitor is used more. I turned off the monitor for 30 mins and it took about 3 minutes before I started seeing lines, whereas when it's already hot it takes about 20 seconds.

I've called Dell and they won't talk to me since I'm not the original owner and I don't know who is. I called the ebay seller and he says that he doesn't know either.


The ebay seller offered to either refund me where he pays shipping, or he will send me a different monitor. He says that he has 3 more used units that he will test. If I take either option, how can I safeguard myself in case he takes the monitor I send back and doesn't give me a refund? Should I just have him ebay message me the details of what we decide to do so that it's on official record?

EDIT: The ebay seller decided to try to screw me. He told me that when he got back the monitor he couldn't find any problems with it. As for the replacement, he said that the only one he has left is one with some green lines on it. I saw this one listed on his ebay account and it didn't sell even after he dropped the price significantly. He texted me a week ago and said that he had tested a monitor and it had turned out to be flawless, and I suspect that he decided he didn't want to send me a flawless monitor when I had only paid $600. At this point I just want my full refund but it sounds like he's trying to position it so that he can claim there was nothing wrong and deduct shipping and a restocking fee. However, I have about 5 pictures showing the lines, although I didn't take a picture of the monitor's service tag.

 

[myriad]

Do you have a spare DP cable or possibly a D-DVI cable to try? It could be a bad cable causing the flickering.

 

[allen5055]

I tried a HDMI cable and a displayport cable as well as a DVI. Same issue. The displayport cable has been used on a 2408 with no issues. I've reinstalled the drivers. This problem also happens during the Windows boot screen. Is my monitor just broken?

 

[Zepharus]

Youve been sold a bad monitor. File a claim with eBay

 

[Namelessme]

If you do send it back, I'd make sure the seller does email you the details, who pays shipping and whether a refund or exchange will be made. And make sure he emails through the eBay address, so it's on eBay's record of events.

It helps if the seller has a good reputation. If he has thousands of sales and a rep near 100%, I expect it to go smoothly. But to be safe, I'd get all the details in message form, so eBay can see it if needed.

If there is a problem, open a dispute, as mentioned.

 

[allen5055]

The seller has about 70,000 sales and only 2 negative reps in the last month. His feedback is 99.9 so he seems reputable lol.

 

[austinpike]

Youve been sold a bad monitor. File a claim with eBay

Seller offered both a refund and exchange, why would he file a claim?

The ebay seller offered to either refund me where he pays shipping, or he will send me a different monitor... Should I just have him ebay message me the details of what we decide to do so that it's on official record?

http://www.ebay.com:80/itm/ws/eBayI...sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Seller has 68000+ feedback, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. I would push Dell a bit more on the warranty, but failing that it seems like a decent offer on his part.

 

[allen5055]

I've noticed that the problem is worse as the monitor is used more. I turned off the monitor for 30 mins and it took about 3 minutes before I started seeing lines, whereas when it's already hot it takes about 20 seconds.

 

[g35fan]

Strangest thing...I bought this same monitor from Ebay...and from the same seller...and I'm having the SAME issues. Terrible horizontal noise that starts after the monitor has been on for about 5mins. Gets worse and worse until the screen goes black. I've contacted the Ebay seller as well. Ugh.

 

[allen5055]

Strangest thing...I bought this same monitor from Ebay...and from the same seller...and I'm having the SAME issues. Terrible horizontal noise that starts after the monitor has been on for about 5mins. Gets worse and worse until the screen goes black. I've contacted the Ebay seller as well. Ugh.

Can you link the ebay auction that you purchased? If that's true that makes me want a refund rather than an exchange from this guy. Maybe a good number of his monitors are flawed.

 

[allen5055]

So I've been talking to the seller, and he keeps telling me that he's going to send a return shipping label, yet the label doesn't come. Is there a possibility he's trying to run me out of time or something? Is there an ebay limit to how long you have to send something back?

 

[austinpike]

So I've been talking to the seller, and he keeps telling me that he's going to send a return shipping label, yet the label doesn't come. Is there a possibility he's trying to run me out of time or something? Is there an ebay limit to how long you have to send something back?

Probably just because its a long holiday weekend, dealing with eBay issues is his 9-5 job, so I'd give him a little slack.

ebay minimum return period is 14 days, but it is mostly up to the seller.
http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/returns.html

Given that his auction clearly says "30 day warranty" I think you'll have plenty of time to work it out. I would really push Dell to try and warranty it though, rather than do an exchange w/seller, if g35fan got one with the same problem.

 

[g35fan]

So I've been talking to the seller, and he keeps telling me that he's going to send a return shipping label, yet the label doesn't come. Is there a possibility he's trying to run me out of time or something? Is there an ebay limit to how long you have to send something back?

Same thing over here. I emailed the seller and he asked me to verify a few steps regarding resolution and cables and then said they'd email me a return label. After 3 days and no email I started an ebay dispute and within 2 hrs (on sunday) I received the return label in an email from the seller.

I stated in the dispute I'd like my money back and it clearly is stated in the terms of the sale that there is a full refund within 14 days. In the sale description the seller entered text saying no refunds, only store credit. So we'll see what happens. With the huge positive feedback and the responses so far I think they'll take care of us. I wouldn't worry too much these things happen.

 

[g35fan]

It could be a bad cable causing the flickering

I tried DVI dual link, DVI, HDMI, HDMI>DVI, RGB cables and inputs. All had the same issue. Happened on different graphics cards (gtx 670's sli and gtx 570) as well and my other monitors work just fine with the same cables.

The only thing that kind of worked for me was as soon as I saw any lines starting to appear I'd turn the monitor off. Wait 5 secs, turn it back on. On average every 20 minutes this would need to be done. Very annoying and who knows how long that fix would last until it just didn't turn on anymore.

I guess if there is something to be learned its that it is risky to buy these monitors used - especially when they can't be fully tested. The monitor self test doesn't appear to tell you of possible hidden issues.

 

[allen5055]

Same thing over here. I emailed the seller and he asked me to verify a few steps regarding resolution and cables and then said they'd email me a return label. After 3 days and no email I started an ebay dispute and within 2 hrs (on sunday) I received the return label in an email from the seller.

I stated in the dispute I'd like my money back and it clearly is stated in the terms of the sale that there is a full refund within 14 days. In the sale description the seller entered text saying no refunds, only store credit. So we'll see what happens. With the huge positive feedback and the responses so far I think they'll take care of us. I wouldn't worry too much these things happen.

I've talked to this guy on the phone a couple of times. He'll do a refund if there's a problem. If you're just returning it for the hell of it well that's when the 14 days and store credit thing applies.

 

[allen5055]

So the ebay seller is glacially slow at getting me a replacement but I have received a few texts from him. He keeps saying that he is in the process of testing the replacement monitor. I've tried calling him but he doesn't pick up and he only responds to my texts infrequently. However, I did get two texts yesterday saying that he had tested one of them.

I have 9 days until it's been 30 days from purchase. Do you think I should open an ebay dispute? I'm just worried I'll run out of the ebay dispute time window and then he could potentially not give me anything at all since he has the monitor back already.

 

[austinpike]

^ I'd give him a polite heads-up a few days before the deadline that you are going to file (keep it civil, just say it's a formality to protect yourself etc etc.) If no tracking number within 2-3 days, then file.

That said, where are you getting 30 days? I think you have 45 days.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/item-not-received.html

"...If you received an item and it doesn't match the seller's description, you can open a case after receiving the item. You must open a case within 45 days of making payment."

 

[allen5055]

Yeah you're right, 45 days. I filed but I haven't heard anything from the seller in 5 days. He's had the monitor I sent back for a week and a half now. This guy has to be one of the slowest ebayers ever.

 

[allen5055]

The ebay seller decided to try to screw me. He told me that when he got back the monitor he couldn't find any problems with it. As for the replacement, he said that the only one he has left is one with some green lines on it. I saw this one listed on his ebay account and it didn't sell even after he dropped the price significantly. He texted me a week ago and said that he had tested a monitor and it had turned out to be flawless, and I suspect that he decided he didn't want to send me a flawless monitor when I had only paid $600. At this point I just want my full refund but it sounds like he's trying to position it so that he can claim there was nothing wrong and deduct shipping and a restocking fee. However, I have about 5 pictures showing the lines, although I didn't take a picture of the monitor's service tag.