Problems with PC to TV Connection

[jolb72]

Hi

I have a new Sony OLED 55" TV XR-55A80J that I have been trying to use as a monitor for my PC as well as a TV but keep having problems with the connection.

I am connecting a Dell XPS PC that I purchased last year using a HDMI cable to connect to the HDMI 1 port on my TV and then going into settings using the TV remote  to set up the device in the external device setup and choosing PC from the drop down menu which says it will configure the settings to display my PC correctly. Having carried out these steps, I then get a screen of interference (please see attached images).

This can be a intermittent problem as sometimes, if I go through the set up process again, it will decide to work but by changing the HDMI channels or doing nothing, the issue returns.

At first, I thought it was a PC issue until I purchased a second hand Dell monitor and connected the HDMI cable to that instead and it worked fine every time, so it's definitely related to the Sony TV and not the PC.

I cannot understand what is causing the issue here as I have looked online and YouTube for answers. I cannot use a VGA cable to connect to the PC or TV as there isn't a port for this on either device only a HDMI port. So I don't know what the solution is.

[jolb72]

This is the back of the PC showing the available ports

[LightFoot]

Hi @jolb72   

What are your display resolution settings on your PC including the refresh rate? It has to match one of the HDMI signal formats supported by the TV.

PC Formats*3
3840 × 2160p (100, 120 Hz)*2*4

*2 Refer to the onscreen menu to set [HDMI signal format].
*3 Refer to the online Help Guide for details.
*4 HDMI IN 3 & 4 only. Use the Ultra High Speed HDMI
Cable to connect.

Help Guide | Connecting a computer and viewing stored content (sony.net)

[jolb72]

When I checked the display settings on the PC when on the rare occasion the connection was working, I did notice that the display resolution was set to 3840 × 2160p (Recommend) and at 30 Hz (Recommend) refresh rate, which I didn't change as it said recommended setting. So are you saying this needs to be 100-120 Hz?

[LightFoot]

Hi @jolb72 

The 100-120 Hz is mainly for Games Consoles. It should work on 3840x2160 30Hz which is included in the link I provided. Just checking that you are using a short high speed HDMI lead, certainly under 3m.. 

[jolb72]

[SOLVED] 

Problem solved. There were two issues causing the problem.

Issue one: I didn't have the HDMI cable connected to the correct port. I was using just the standard HDMI Port 1 which is not adequate for PC use, so I used the more high spec HDMI Port 4.

Issue two: By using HDMI Port 4, it enables you to choose between four options in HDMI signal format in settings and the correct format in the HDMI Port 4 drop down menu is VRR mode, which is used for gaming.

Works perfectly now! 

[jolb72]

I forgot to add also, that I upgraded the HDMI leads to Ultra High Speed 8K cables, which may have made a difference but I don't think it was the main the cause.

[HannahEd01]

Hey jolb72, thank you for updating the thread, that's actually some useful info. Also, make sure to update your TV as there was a new software released a day or two ago.