IBM DG1, DG3, 9503-T221 User Manual

IBM 9503-T221 LCD monitor Updating the EDID settings for your monitor (R1.3)

Introduction

Modern monitors internally store data on their performance characteristics and capabilities in an
abbreviated format. The information is called the monitor Extended Display Identification Data or EDID
and is read by operating systems and video graphics cards to determine the optimum display properties
for the system. The IBM T221 is a very advanced and flexible monitor and it exceeds the capability of the
EDID system to describe it fully. Special OSD menu allows alternate EDIDs to be selected which are
more suitable for certain graphics cards.

Unless you change the video graphics card that drives your monitor, there is usually no need to change
the EDID settings.

The EDID update procedure must be done carefully. If an incorrect EDID is selected, it is possible that
the monitor may not display any images afterwards.

Applicable model: All models with the following firmware level

The procedure given in this document applies to monitors with firmware at the following levels:
DDC CPU Version 3.2 or higher
OSD CPU Version 5.0 or higher
USB CPU Version 4.0 or higher
FPGA LOGIC Version 34 or higher
To check the versions, see page 2. If you need to change the settings on a monitor that has firmware at a
lower level, refer to the IBM technical suppor t website for the T221 monitor.

1. Setting

a. Connect the monitor to the desired graphics card and/or computer system.

b. Turn on the monitor and the computer. Wait until the system has completed its boot process and a

stable screen image is displayed. Confirm that the power indicator on the monitor shows green.

If there is no image displayed and the power indicator shows steady amber, press the Debug switch to
turn on the monitor (see the following figure), the power indicator will show blinking amber. The vid eo
image from the computer will not appear but the screen will display a sequence of test patterns.

CAUTION:

Do not use conductive material to
press this switch. It may damage the
electric circuit inside of the monitor.

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IBM 9503-T221 LCD monitor Updating the EDID settings for your monitor (R1.3)

2. Enabling the special OSD (on-screen display) menu
a. Press the leftmost OSD button (select/enter) and navigate to the (i) (information) icon by using the

‘<-‘ (navigate left) or ‘->’ (navigate right) buttons. Press the ‘select/enter’ button to access the
information screen. The refresh rate and screen resolution will be displayed, as in this example:

b. Press the ’navigate left‘ button three times, and then press the ’navigate right’ button three times.

The first panel of the special OSD menu will be displayed, as in this example:

In this panel, the firmware versions are shown in the following format:

--------------------------

-1- aaa bbb

c ddd eee

--------------------------

where aaa: DDC-CPU version

bbb: OSD-CPU version
c:reserved
ddd: USB-CPU version
eee: FPGA -LOGIC version

Note: if the special OSD menu does not appear, press the ’select/enter’ button to exit from the OSD menu
and return to step 2a to try again.

3. Checking the current EDID settings
a. In the special OSD menu, press the ‘navigate left’ or ‘navigate right’ buttons to show panel 2 of the

special OSD menu.

b. In about five seconds, the current EDID settings will be displayed, as in this example:

.
If the EDID setting is given as 000, or any number greater than 63, or a value ending

in ‘x’, an error has occurred; repeat step 3 to try again. For details, see
“Valid settings” on the last page.

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