DL-165 @ 1920x1080 blurry on 24"

[goosmurf]

I'm using a DisplayLink DL-165 with a Lenovo ThinkPad W520, Windows 7, and a LG L246WH 24" monitor. I find that all of the text & normally sharp edges are a little blurry/fuzzy when the monitor is attached to the DisplayLink (via DVI -> HDMI).

Is this normal?

Am wondering if I have configured something wrongly. FWIW I am making sure that "Optimize for Video" is OFF, and the monitor settings are to display 1:1, DL running at 1920x1080. I also tested 1600x1200 and the (lack of) sharpness is the same.

The W520 has a switchable nVidia Quadro 2000M + Intel HD GPU combo. The regular DisplayPort output is driven by the Quadro 2000M but I notice that the DisplayLink adapter is attached to the Intel GPU -- could this be the cause of the not-quite-sharpness? If so, is it possible to force the DisplayLink adapter to attach itself to the Quadro 2000M?

[Wim]

Normally I would suspect this would be due to Optimse for Video, but you have already checked this. Is the screen always blurry or is it just when something changes, and then it corrects itself?

Thanks

Wim

[goosmurf]

It's always blurry.

I should say by blurry I don't mean that it's horribly unreadable, just that crisp edges and text is not as sharp as when the same monitor is plugged into the DisplayPort of the Quadro 2000M. That said, as it is I wouldn't use it as my primary monitor because I'm pretty sure it'd screw up my eyes over time :)

Should I expect the same output quality from the DisplayLink or is there usually some noticeable quality difference?

[goosmurf]

Oh! I just tested with a Dell 24" and it's super clear. I guess there is some issue with the LG monitor (or some setting I missed in its config).

Case closed. :D

[Wim]

If it is connected over VGA, it may need the "auto adjust" button pressing to resync it. As its blurry all the time, I don't think its anything to do with DisplayLink compression or the chip. I think its happening after the video out, to the monitor.

Wim

[goosmurf]

Yeah I think you're right - the blurriness is something to do with the LG monitor not liking 1920x1080. It's native res is 1920x1200, but even telling it to not-stretch and retain original 1:1 pixel mapping it's still blurry. It's ok though, I've ordered a Dell to use with the DL-165. :)

Thanks for your help in any case!