I'm looking for help choosing a monitor to replace a Samsung 245BW that suddenly only awakens by pulling and reseating the power cable. I've always used it in 1920X1200 resolution but there are very few options at that resolution. I'm looking for a height adjustable stand to clear elevated  "wing" shelves on either side of the monitor shelf.Looking for one with a DVI port also.

There's apparently problems with the power board resistors going open mainly. I know very little about electronics enough to be dangerous as they say. 

This summer out of the blue as things are want to do the hands-free mobile link in my Acura quit. A visit to the Acura forum led me to remove the circuit board and bake it in the oven for in my case 10 minutes at 400° and it remade the solder connections and fixed it. Anyone know if there's any reason I couldn't attempt the same repair on the monitors power board? A longshot I know but I've never replaced a resistor before. Like I said enough bad ideas to be dangerous. Possibly.

All input appreciated.

Interesting fix for a board for your car. Cook until well done...

The question is, do you want a larger higher resolution monitor, or want to stay at 24 inches.

Next year (if things go right and build new computer), I'm looking at 28 inch 4K monitor. 

Hi Tony,

I couldn't believe it either but it works. 

A few months back I bought a Samsung 4K monitor but the stand was sub par and while hunting a replacement I realized my all purposes PC would be a pain in the neck trying to get program  and browser windows adjusted and zoomed to readable sizes etc. I never even took the foam wrapping off and just returned to Best Buy.

There was something about connecting the PC via HDMI  muddy graphics if memory serves me. Use display port and another issue keeps the PC from waking and requires unplugging like I'm doing now. If I ever hook up 4K to my PC it would be as a second monitor.

I've considered going to a 27 inch but the sunken monitor shelf is only 22 inches wide. Luckily this Samsung has a height adjustment that clears the wing shelves by a few millimeters. I hate to go stacking books. Why not a new desk? Large bottom shelf with semi circle cutout for feet holds Full size tower 12" x 6" x 6" UPC, 5 External drives a ton of other stuff.   

Or.... get a monitor arm and mount the monitor on that. I have very little desk space. M-Audio BX5 Carbons with M-Audio SuperDac and 24" Acer monitor. That's all I can fit on the desk. My 22" is sitting on top of one of the speakers.

So, when I go 4K and bigger, I'll get a monitor arm for the 24" to be over the 4K monitor. 

paul37:

Anyone know if there's any reason I couldn't attempt the same repair on the monitors power board?

Maybe because capacitors on the circuit board might suffer of such a high temperature !

Tony P:

Or.... get a monitor arm and mount the monitor on that. I have very little desk space. M-Audio BX5 Carbons with M-Audio SuperDac and 24" Acer monitor. That's all I can fit on the desk. My 22" is sitting on top of one of the speakers. 

Great idea I never considered one of those.

saby:

paul37:

Anyone know if there's any reason I couldn't attempt the same repair on the monitors power board?

Maybe because capacitors on the circuit board might suffer of such a high temperature !

 

Yann,

The aforementioned Hands free card in my car died again last Friday. I pulled it out and baked it again and it's back in service working like a charm.

Here's a photo of the card. It's been baked four times now. Once when it was still inside it's plastic case a successful bake that lasted only 3 days. My oven is off so I bumped it from 8 minutes at 390° to 10 minutes at 400° and it lasted from Sept. 3 to Nov. 11.

Knowing what you know I'm curious what other malfunctioning electronics you think may respond to the "Shake and Bake" as I call it or simply melt to a blob?

[click to view image] 

Thanks,

Paul

paul37:

Knowing what you know I'm curious what other malfunctioning electronics you think may respond to the "Shake and Bake" as I call it or simply melt to a blob?

The high temperature may result in bad chemical reactions inside electronic components and also introduce some physical deformations due to dilation. Some components are based on physical characteristics (inductor coils, transformers and some capacitors), while some components are based on chemical characteristics (capacitors, diodes). In both cases, high temperatures may be problematic.

You're playing the Russian roulette, you know.

saby:

You're playing the Russian roulette, you know.

 

I'll take your advice. Thanks.

The crazy part is someone thought "Hey let's bake the circuit board." And it worked.

Tony P:

Or.... get a monitor arm and mount the monitor on that. I have very little desk space. M-Audio BX5 Carbons with M-Audio SuperDac and 24" Acer monitor. That's all I can fit on the desk. My 22" is sitting on top of one of the speakers.

So, when I go 4K and bigger, I'll get a monitor arm for the 24" to be over the 4K monitor. 

As it turns out the monitor isn't as bad as I thought. When it doesn't wake up I found a power switch on the back when I was plugging the power cable in and out. It was turned on when I bought the monitor and not touched since. Cycling the switch wakes it up whereas the front panel buttons are not functioning when it's asleep. I did pinpoint a nice mount that extends 20 inches out from the wall when I do upgrade. Thanks again for the suggestion.

If my monitor acts "funky", I unplug it. The re-plug and it works.

As for me, I need a monitor arm that mounts to the back of my desk and will raise the 24" higher than my next monitor I plan to get. A 28" 4K monitor when I do a new computer build next year. Extremely limited desk space sadly. 

paul37:

saby:

You're playing the Russian roulette, you know.

 

I'll take your advice. Thanks.

The crazy part is someone thought "Hey let's bake the circuit board." And it worked.

No, the crazy part is that some people did believe him.

The replacement costs $160. I'm going to keep baking this thing until the magic runs it's course and it's truly baked. $160 for this?

[click to view image]

If I ever come to Pennsylvania one day and become your guest for a lunch, please note that I'm not allergic to gluten but to silicon, copper and tin (even cooked at 400 °C).

Fahrenheit.

So you think it's prudent I run the cleaning cycle?

paul37:

Fahrenheit.

Ooopps ! You know what ? I was wondering what kind of domestic oven could reach such high temperature (400 °C = 750 °F).  

paul37:

So you think it's prudent I run the cleaning cycle?

Sorry, I don't understand.

saby:

paul37:

Fahrenheit.

Ooopps ! You know what ? I was wondering what kind of domestic oven could reach such high temperature (400 °C = 750 °F).  

Double Oooops! I was going to put an F behind the temperature and thought "no need". 750°F That's funny.

 

paul37:

So you think it's prudent I run the cleaning cycle?

Sorry, I don't understand.

I would be wise to get a can of Easy Off Oven Cleaner.

paul37:

I would be wise to get a can of Easy Off Oven Cleaner.

In this case temperature may actually reach 400 °C or 500 °C.

If you do so, I suggest you leave a piece of bread inside the oven to create heavy smoke. Smoke is the main component of any electronic equipement. I'm sure you already noticed that when smoke is leaking from an electronic device it stops working immediatly. Re-filling you card with a full load of smoke may heal it.

The card is working perfect. However our Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls taste a little like cadmium if you know what I mean.

I learned I really don't care for Pumpkin Spice. Cadmium tinged or otherwise.

Saby, in the States, a lot of ovens are self-cleaning... and they turn anything inside into ash....

As for pumpkin spice...it's not bad. I do like pumpkin pie...

Tony P:

Saby, in the States, a lot of ovens are self-cleaning... and they turn anything inside into ash....

Here too. Temperature reaches up to 500 °C.