How to Use and Troubleshoot the Dell SE2717H & Dell SE2717HX Monitor (2024)

Symptoms

1. Key Features of Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX Monitor

The Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX flat panel display has an active matrix, Thin-Film Transistor (TFT), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), anti-static, and LED backlight. The monitor features include:

68.6 cm (27 inch) viewable area display (measured diagonally)
Wide viewing angle to allow viewing from a sitting or standing position, or while moving from side-to-side
1920 x 1080 resolution, plus full-screen support for lower resolutions
VGA and HDMI connectivity makes it simple and easy to connect
High Dynamic Contrast Ratio (8,000,000:1)
Supports AMD FreeSync™ technology
Optimize eye comfort with a flicker-free screen and ComfortView feature which minimizes blue light emission

AMD FreeSync™ technology

AMD FreeSync™ technology puts an end to choppy gameplay and broken frames with fluid, artifact-free performance at virtually any framerate. FreeSync™ technology in select AMD APUs and graphics/video cards resolves the communication issues between processor and monitor, eliminating image tears and choppiness for effortlessly smooth gameplay. With AMD FreeSync™ enabled, the monitor will refresh its image in sync with the game that’s being played, up to its maximum level, and adjusting down when necessary.

2. Monitor Specifications

This section provides some specifications of the Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor. For more information about the Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor, refer to the User Guide at the Dell Support website.

Feature	Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX
Maximum Resolution	1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz for VGA 1920 x 1080 at 75 Hz for HDMI
Luminance Output	300 cd/m² (typical)
Contrast Ratio	1000 to 1 (typical) 8,000,000 to 1 (Dynamic Contrast)
Video Input Connectors	HDMI 1.4 VGA
Screen Type	Active Matrix - TFT LCD
Video Display Capabilities	480p, 480i, 576p, 720p, 1080p, 576i, 1080i

3. Setting Up Your Monitor

This section provides information on how to setup your Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor.

Connecting the stand to the monitor - Refer to the Setting Up The Monitor section in the User's Guide for more instructions on connecting the stand to your Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor.
Connecting your monitor to a PC - Refer to the Dell knowledge-base article How to connect a monitor to a computer? for more information. Alternatively, you can also refer to the Setting Up The Monitor section in the User's Guide for your Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor.
Removing the stand from the monitor - Refer to the Setting Up The Monitor section in the User's Guide for more instructions on removing the stand from your Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor.

Resolution

4. Dell LCD Monitor Pixel Guidelines

During the LCD Monitor manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to become fixed in an unchanging state which are hard to see and do not affect the display quality or usability. For more information, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Dell LCD Monitor Pixel Guidelines.

5. Using the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu

Use the buttons at the bottom of the monitor to access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu of the monitor. To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press Button 3 at the bottom of the monitor.

For more information on ssing the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, refer to the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide for Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor.

Note: Any changes you make are automatically saved when you move to another menu, exit the OSD menu, or wait for the OSD menu to automatically close.

6. Reset to Factory Settings

To reset your Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor to factory default settings, follow these instructions:

Press Button 3 (Figure 1)on the monitor to enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu.
Press Button 1 or Button 2 to highlight Others option in the menu and press Button 3 to select.
Press Button 1 or Button 2 to highlight Factory Reset option in the menu and press Button 3 to select.
Press Button 3 to confirm the reset action.

Figure 1: Front Panel Buttons

7. Troubleshooting

Click on a section below for more information on specific troubleshooting steps.

How do I run the monitor self-test?

Your monitor provides a self-test feature that allows you to check whether the monitor is functioning properly. If the monitor and computer are properly connected but the monitor screen remains dark, run the monitor self-test by performing the following steps:

Turn off both your computer and the monitor.
Unplug the video cable from the back of the computer. To ensure proper Self-Test operation, remove all digital cables (DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort) from the back of the computer.
Turn on the monitor.
Turn off your monitor and reconnect the video cable: then turn on both your computer and the monitor.
If your monitor screen remains blank after you use the previous procedure, check your graphics/video card (GPU) and computer, because your monitor is functioning properly.

How do I run the built-in diagnostics on the monitor?

Your monitor has a built-in diagnostic tool that helps to determine if the screen abnormality you are experiencing is a problem with the monitor or with the graphics/video card on your computer.

Note: You can run the built-in diagnostics only when the video cable is unplugged and the monitor is in Self-Test mode.

Make sure that the screen is clean (no dust particles on the surface of the screen).
Unplug the video cable(s) from the back of the computer or the monitor. The monitor will now enter self-test mode.
On the front panel, press and hold Button 1 and Button 4 simultaneously for two seconds. A gray screen appears.
Carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.
Press Button 4 on the front panel again. The color of the screen changes to red.
Inspect the display for any abnormalities.
Repeat step 5 and step 6 to inspect the display in green, blue, black, white and text screens.
The test is complete when the white screen appears.
Press Button 4 to exit the Built-In diagnostics.

Note: If you do not detect any screen abnormalities upon using the built-in diagnostic tool, the monitor is functioning properly. Check the graphics/video card (GPU) and the computer.

How do I set the maximum resolution for the monitor?

Using Windows display settings

For maximum display performance with Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, set the display resolution to 1920 x 1080 pixels by performing the following steps:

In Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1:

For Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 only, select the Desktop tile to switch to classic desktop view.
Right-click on the desktop and click Screen Resolution.
Click the dropdown list of the Screen Resolution and select 1920 x 1080.
Click OK

In Windows 10:

Right-click on the desktop and click Display Settings.
Under Customize your display window, scroll to the bottom and click Advanced display settings.
Click the dropdown list next to Resolution and select 1920 x 1080.
Click Apply.

Using Nvidia Control Panel

To change the resolution using the Nvidia Control Panel:

Right-click on the desktop and click Nvidia Control Panel.
Click the + symbol next to Display on the left pane.
Select Change Resolution under Display.
In the dropdown menu on the right pane, select the resolution 1920 x 1080.
Click Apply.

Screen image is too small

Check the Aspect Ratio setting under the Display settings in On-Screen Display (OSD) menu.
Reset the monitor to Factory Settings (Factory Reset).

The picture does not fill the entire screen

Due to different video formats (aspect ratio) of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray or other videos, the monitor may not display in full screen.

Unable to adjust the monitor with the buttons on the bottom of the panel

Power off the monitor and unplug the power cord.
Plug the power cord to the monitor and then power on the monitor.
Check if the OSD menu is locked.
If yes, press and hold the menu button (Button 3) for 10 seconds to unlock.

When the OSD is locked, pressing the menu key takes you directly to the OSD settings menu, with 'OSD Lock' pre-selected on entry. Press and hold Button 3 for 6 seconds to unlock and allow user access to all applicable settings.

Troubleshooting common issues with Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor

The following table contains general information about common monitor problems you might encounter and the possible solutions:

Common Problem	What User Experiences	Possible Solution
No Video - Power LED Off	No picture	Make sure that the power cable connecting the monitor is properly connected and secure. Verify that the power outlet is functioning properly using any other electrical equipment. Make sure that the power button is depressed fully. Test with known good cable and known good system if possible.
No Video - Power LED On	No picture or no brightness.	Increase the brightness and contrast of the monitor through On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Perform monitor self-test feature check. Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector. Reseat both ends of video cable. Try with known good video cable. Run the built-in diagnostics. Make sure that the correct input source is selected via the Input Source Select button. Test monitor with known good system if available.
Poor Focus	Picture is fuzzy, blurry or ghosting.	Reseat both ends of video cable. Try with known good video cable. Perform Auto Adjust via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Adjust the Phase and Pixel Clock controls via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Eliminate video extension cables. Reset the monitor to Factory Settings.
Shaky/Jittery Video	Wavy picture or fine movement.	Perform Auto Adjust via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Adjust the Phase and Pixel Clock controls via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Reset the monitor to Factory Settings. Check for environmental factors (like fans or other sources of interference). Relocate the monitor and test it in another room.
Missing Pixels	LCD screen has spots.	Cycle power on-off. Pixel that is permanently off is a natural defect that can occur in LCD technology. Run the built-in diagnostics.
Stuck-On/Off Pixels	LCD screen has bright spot.	Cycle power on-off. A few permanently bright or dark pixels are considered normal by industry standards. The exact number of pixels allowed varies depending on the monitor. Refer to Monitor Quality and Pixel Policy for more details. Run the built-in diagnostics.
Brightness Problems	Picture too dim or too bright.	Dim/discolored video can be caused by the video cable, so try reseating the cable and swapping with a known good part. Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings. Perform Auto Adjust via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Adjust the Brightness/Contrast controls via the On-Screen Display Menu (OSD).
Geometric Distortion	Screen not centered correctly.	Reset the monitor to Factory Settings. Perform Auto Adjust via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Adjust the Brightness/Contrast controls through the On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Note: When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
Horizontal/Vertical Lines	Screen has one or more lines.	Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings. Perform Auto Adjust via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Adjust Phase and Pixel Clock controls via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Perform monitor self-test feature check and determine if these lines are also in self-test mode. Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector. Run the built-in diagnostics. Note: When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
Synchronization Problems	Screen is scrambled or appears torn.	Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings. Perform Auto Adjust via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Adjust Phase and Pixel Clock controls via On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Perform monitor self-test feature check to determine if the scrambled screen appears in self-test mode. Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector. Restart the computer in the power safe mode.
Safety-Related Issues	Visible signs of smoke or sparks.	Do not perform any troubleshooting steps. Contact Dell Technical Support immediately.
Intermittent Problems	Monitor malfunctions on and off.	Make sure that the video cable is connected properly with the monitor and the computer. Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings. Run the self-test feature and determine if the intermittent problem occurs in the self-test mode.
Missing Color	Picture does not have color.	Run the monitor self-test feature check. Make sure that the video cable connecting the monitor to the computer is connected properly and is secure. Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
Wrong Color	Picture color is not good.	Change the color-setting mode in the Color Settings On-Screen Display Menu (OSD) to Graphics or Video, depending on the application. Try a different color preset setting in the Color Settings On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Adjust the R, G, B value in the Color Settings OSD, if Color Management is turned off. Change the input color format to PC RGB or YPbPr in the Color Settings On-Screen Display Menu (OSD). Run the built-in diagnostic tool.
Image Retention from a Static Image Left on the Monitor for a Long Period	Faint shadow from the static image appears on the screen.	Use the Power Management feature to turn off the monitor when it is not in use. Alternatively, use a dynamically changing screensaver. Use LCD Conditioning feature under Other Settings to eliminate image retention.

8. Documentation

To view or download the User's Guide or Manuals for your Dell SE2717H/SE2717HX monitor, follow these instructions:

Visit the Dell Manuals website.
Click View Products button under Browse for a Product.
Select Monitors & Projectors and then Select Monitors.
From the list, click on Dell SE2717H or Dell SE2717HX monitor.
Click on PDF next to the required document.
- Click on More Languages to view the list of available language options.
- Click on PDF next to the preferred choice of language.

Affected Products

Dell SE2717H/SE2717HR