Flickering with BenQ external displays

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Level 1

4 points

Flickering with BenQ external displays

This external displays flickering/ghosting imaging problem still seems to exist for any external monitor other than (maybe) apples own studio display. I say maybe because on one occasion I caught it pulsing as well. I have 2xBenQ 2870 and 1x Mac Studio display. I have tried driving these with my macbook M2Max and my Mac Studio with M2Max. I have tried the best thunderbolt 4 cables. I have tried changing color profile (although that defeats the object of a color profile) to Apple's color LCD generic profile. I've tried all the tips. None stick! I'm now on the latest non beta version of Sonoma as I was told that solved it - it doesn't.

I DID NOT have this issue with my imac pro 5K driving the 2 BenQ displays. I'm only in this position because that died.

This problem has been around ever since apple silicon came out apparently - so it's been 2 years+ now. When is a solution going to be found or has apple completely given up on pro users? If they want to force us to buy their displays for $2K a piece, they need to be better!

In the meantime I'm forking out for a new board repair for my 6 year old imac pro so I can get back to an undistracted workflow. The Mac Studio and display are going back.

Does anyone have a 3 display combo that hasn't given them trouble? Or indeed found a real solution to the problem? I was about to try the BenQ2725U displays after being told by a benQ rep that they have the problem solved, but I see on here a thread specifically naming the 2725 as having the issue as well.

Posted on Sep 23, 2023 12:08 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 23, 2023 06:06 PM in response to fgersch

When I search for the Benq displays you described, as I reported, the displays that come up say:

BenQ 2870 appears to be a "4K" display with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs.

Perhaps you can provide a complete and specific model number, or a link to a spec for your displays that shows their resolutions and exactly what inputs it has.

Readers here are all Volunteers. if you want to argue with someone on Apple's payroll, contact:

Official Apple Support

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Answer 2

fgersch Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 23, 2023 03:26 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I’ve used direct connection. Connection via owc 11 port thunderbolt dock. Issue occurs with both. Tried 3 different cables. Not sure of 2 of the brands. Latest was owc thunderbolt 4 cable. I never buy junk cables for any purpose. Again with same setup this did not occur with iMac Pro.

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Answer 3

Sep 23, 2023 05:20 PM in response to fgersch

<<. I’ve used direct connection. >>

You said you connected TWO displays. Your Apple-silicon Macs have only ONE HDMI port, and their capabilities vary, and you have not described any HDMI cables in any detail. Direct connect from a USB-C shaped ThunderBolt port to a display with a DisplayPort input does not work without an adapter of some description. I am trying to ask you nicely for that description.

If you want to work on some possible solutions, please be VERY SPECIFIC about what Mac, what cable, what adapter does not work.

If all you want to do you want to grouse about this, please go to Reddit instead.

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Answer 4

fgersch Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 23, 2023 05:40 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Mate, Before you get pedantic with me I'd suggest you head to reddit instead. I hadn't mentioned HDMI once because I'm NOT USING hdmi. I'm using the thunderbolt ports direct from the Macs to my 3 displays 2xBenq and 1xStudio as stated above. The studio connection being Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt. The BenQs have USB C connectivity ergo Thunderbolt to USB C. Thanks for the useful input. I was definitely looking for a fight here instead of solid information! The problem is common and as far as I can see - unsolved. BenQ even has a page dedicated to the subject on their site with things to try but no guaranteed solutions.

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Answer 5

Sep 28, 2023 06:49 AM in response to Rob Keniger

Thanks for that link. The article provides real insight into BenQ. At least they were willing to note which users were complaining, even if they never bothered to investigate WHY.

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So if you dramatically reduce the screen resolution, or Restart and run in Safe mode, is the flickering reduced or eliminated?

BenQ seems to re-use the basic display numbers for wildly different displays, and the details are all in the leading and trading numbers and letters, and I can't find a match for the numbers you posted originally.

Could you please provide a link to the specs for your EXACT display?

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