MSI's new monitors cause uproar on Reddit over firmware update limits

[Gezzer]

What is the problem that needs a firmware update to correct? What is broken or malfunctioning? If the answer is nothing, there is no reason to update the firmware. I guess people just need something extra to get worked up over. Seems like a ridiculous reason to be upset if the monitors are functioning as intended.

I totally agree, with one cravat. It's one of those features that 99% of the time you simply don't need or use. But that 1% of the time? What if you couldn't update your BIOS? You might never need to, but if you did? So in this case it's a good idea to let early adopters take the chance. If no issues crop up it's all good. If something does rear it's ugly head I guess MSI will be looking at a class action suit. Which is more consumer friendly and has the potential to blow up in MSI's face?

 

[Endymio]

Question, why would you prefer to send the screen back to manufacturer for a software fix?

The real question is, why would you *need* to? In 40 years and 100+ personally-owned monitors, I've never updated firmware once.

When this thread surfaced, I took a quick glance through the Reddit Samsung monitor forum on firmware updates. At quick glance, at least half the users who update see no change at all. Of those that do, for every two that report some improvement, one sees a step backwards. Most cases relate to either some remote fringe issue, or a minor feature update.

 

[ZedRM]

The real question is, why would you *need* to? In 40 years and 100+ personally-owned monitors, I've never updated firmware once.

I have. While it doesn't happen very often, it DOES happen. Sony TV, Insignia TV, Dell IPS display, Westinghouse display, Viewsonic display and an ASUS Display all come to mind. And these are just the ones I've personally done. In each case the firmware had a problem of some kind or another and needed a firmware update to fix.

 

[BatRastard]

I've been involved in IT for 40 years and some of the replies to this I find hilarious, especially from those who say they never had to update the firmware in a display for 30 years. I find that hard to believe considering how many times I had to reprogram the EDID in scores of CRTs and flat panels. Why do people just automatically assume that these great, glorious, and gossamer Taiwanese and Singaporean conglomerates have so much holy light beaming out of their posteriors one would need a welding mask lest they go blind?!? As I type this, Acer displays are blanket incompatible with AMD GPUs and IGPs ranging from the RX 570 all they way to the Ryzen 7000 series. There's like a 5 year old thread on Acer's forums where a user gets "Input Not Supported" until Windows loads the Adrenaline drivers any my Acer R241Y does the same thing. I posted a few videos on Togonzo Media and the comments are revealing. Neither Acer or MSI has provided a firmware or VBIOS update to my RX 6600. In fact, MSI still hides behind cryptocurrency in refusing to post VBIOS updates to MSI Center. These companies are engaging in the full blown prevention of technical support. They don't want it to happen. It's against their griftopian business model they adopted during COVID and they refuse to abandon it. MSI isn't the only one, but they're the worst of the bunch. This news doesn't surprise me, and if you're a regular on the MSI Gaming subreddit, there's a constant stream of threads of MSI displays flaking out almost every day.

 

[Endymio]

I've been involved in IT for 40 years and some of the replies to this I find hilarious, especially from those who say they never had to update the firmware in a display for 30 years.

...and then you follow this diatribe with not one single example of ever actually having to update the firmware.

Why do people just automatically assume that these great, glorious, and gossamer Taiwanese and Singaporean conglomerates have so much holy light beaming out of their posteriors one would need a welding mask lest they go blind?!?

While that's a truly picturesque metaphor, I'm not sure it's relevant.

As I type this, Acer displays are blanket incompatible with AMD GPUs and IGPs ranging from the RX 570 all they way to the Ryzen 7000 series. There's like a 5 year old thread on Acer's forums where a user gets "Input Not Supported"

It's a four-year old thread, limited to specific mobos, and most users were apparently able to solve the issue by updating their motherboard BIOS. Your portrayal of it as a "blanket" issue is certainly false; one my sons has an Acer 34" at this very moment connected to an AMD IGP. I saw him light it up for the first time right out of the box.

 

[BatRastard]

...and then you follow this diatribe with not one single example of ever actually having to update the firmware.

The EDID was pretty much the firmware. It contained the capabilities of the display but was often very easy to corrupt. And why would I cite an example when I have forgotten more than most people will ever learn about about IT ...

While that's a truly picturesque metaphor, I'm not sure it's relevant.

You think these company care about us?!? Power dynamics. Period. Any person or institution of financial, legal, commercial, political power -- once they have your money or vote -- no longer has to take you seriously. Taking your for granted is sufficient. After you gave them your only leverage you ever had ...

It's a four-year old thread, limited to specific mobos, and most users were apparently able to solve the issue by updating their motherboard BIOS. Your portrayal of it as a "blanket" issue is certainly false; one my sons has an Acer 34" at this very moment connected to an AMD IGP. I saw him light it up for the first time right out of the box.

And you don't mention how old that Acer 34" is or its model number. How convenient?!? And yet I still get new comments on my YouTube videos every week from people having the same issue or asking me how I fixed it. Simple: I replaced my Acer R241Y manufactured in 2010 with an LG ULTRAGEAR 1440p manufactured last year. This came after the same HDMI cable was used on my Vizio 4K V505-G9 and a 17 year old HP w2007 without issue. The RX 6600 displayed video and the BIOS without a problem. The Acer never worked regardless of BIOS updates on my B550 A-Pro and the real kick in the **** is people on the MSI and BuildAPC subreddit built brand new Ryzen 7000 systems on various B650e motherboards only to request help that their EZ Debug LED for BOOT was solid green but they had no video output whatsoever and claiming they tried everything. After I inquired, they said they had an Acer display. Told them to lose the Acer and they'll get a video signal guaranteed. Sure enough, once they hooked up anything other than an Acer -- TCL Roku TV, a 4K Hisense, Samsung OLED -- they got a video signal. One person in particular last month disconnected his Acer from his brand new RX 7900 XTX and hooked it up to his girlfriend's RX 6700XT and got "Input Not Supported" until Windows loaded. Same B650E motherboard, same 7800X3D CPU, same RAM, same BIOS. Didn't matter. Acer displays manufactured in the last 5 years are a 50/50 crapshoot. And it's Acer who wants to replace EVGA in the GPU market. Heh.

 

[Endymio]

The EDID was pretty much the firmware.

Except for the fact that "editing" the EDID is done by creating a modified copy maintained by the graphics card or the OS. You weren't "updating the firmware" by doing so.

And why would I cite an example when I have forgotten more than most people will ever learn about about IT

One of the things you forgot was how to honestly answer a question. If you've solved so many problems by updating monitor firmware -- to the point that software-updateable firmware is an essential feature for you -- why not cite even one example?

And you don't mention how old that Acer 34" is or its model number. How convenient?!?

Why would that matter? You claimed it affects "all" Acers. His monitor can't be that old a model, as he bought it some three years ago. I'm not a huge Acer fan myself, but the idea that "all Acers" don't work with all AMD GPUs and IPUs is flat-out rubbish.

You think these company care about us?!? Power dynamics. Period. Any person or institution of financial, legal, commercial, political power -- once they have your money or vote -- no longer has to take you seriously. Taking your for granted is sufficient. After you gave them your only leverage you ever had ...

This might be more appropriate to include in your manifesto, rather than this thread.

 

[BatRastard]

Except for the fact that "editing" the EDID is done by creating a modified copy maintained by the graphics card or the OS. You weren't "updating the firmware" by doing so.

Fair enough ...

One of the things you forgot was how to honestly answer a question. If you've solved so many problems by updating monitor firmware -- to the point that software-updateable firmware is an essential feature for you -- why not cite even one example?

A better question is: what's your stake in it?

Why would that matter? You claimed it affects "all" Acers. His monitor can't be that old a model, as he bought it some three years ago. I'm not a huge Acer fan myself, but the idea that "all Acers" don't work with all AMD GPUs and IPUs is flat-out rubbish.

And yet I keep getting comments on my videos along with affected model numbers. Keep in mind Acer also makes rebadged displays for OEMs like Dell ...

This might be more appropriate to include in your manifesto, rather than this thread.

Save your preaching for Sunday.

 

[ZedRM]

...and then you follow this diatribe with not one single example of ever actually having to update the firmware.

So you're calling us both liars, along with everyone else who done a display/TV firmware update? Sorry there bucko, the evidence clearly weighs in on the side of firmware updates being a thing.

One of the things you forgot was how to honestly answer a question. If you've solved so many problems by updating monitor firmware -- to the point that software-updateable firmware is an essential feature for you -- why not cite even one example?

Once again, citation is not needed for information that is COMMON knowledge.

 

[Endymio]

So you're calling us both liars

Again, reading comprehension fails you. Actually I was the one called such, simply for pointing out that across several decades and 100+ personal monitors, I've never encountered a case where a monitor problem was solved by firmware update.

No one doubts these cases exists, just as no one disputes the existence of albino wombats and two-headed goats. But how many have actually encountered one in person?