As it turns out, there is a chip on every laptop's display assembly. They control timing of pixel signals. **T**iming **CON**trol, TCON chip. I've noticed significant changes for me around 2019, and look at this industry news. > SAN JOSE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — **May 8, 2018** — Parade Technologies, Ltd. (Taiwan OTC: 4966.TWO), a leading high-speed interface, video display, and touch controller IC supplier, today announced a new highly-integrated eDP Timing Controller (Tcon) embedded driver (TED) IC developed for thin-profile LCD display panels. The TC3210 provides a single chip display driver solution to replace the traditional eDP Tcon mated up with separate source driver chips. The TC3210 was developed for Chip-on-Glass (COG) applications to support the new generation of sleek LCD panel assemblies. > > Link: [source](https://www.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/1/1585313/parade-technologies-introduces-industrys-first-single-chip-ted-tcon-embedded-driver-that-supports-vesa-edp-1.4b-panel-self-refresh) This is the chip they announced in 2018: ![](https://www.paradetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/TC3210-block-20180507.png) It has on-chip advanced processing of all sorts, including **dithering**! > Advanced Video Processing > > * Color Engine, **FRC**, and programmable Gamma Correction > > * CrystalFree™ technology, no external timing reference needed > > * Programmable BIST and aging patterns > > * Parade’s exclusive Smart-Backlight™ dynamic backlight control for color and power optimization > > * Media optimized playback modes > > * VESA^®^ Adaptive-Sync > > * eDP DRR/nvDPS/sDRRS power saving modes > > * ASSR display authentication support How can one find out what chip is on the display, and are display more or less interchangeable? e.g. a panel with a safe TCON chip could be a drop in replacement for an unsafe one? All this seems tightly controlled and proprietary. At least, this one ancient chip appears to be programmable, as an example. Therefore, we should find out how to program the chip directly. Perhaps this is why OS/driver changes often changes the usability of the screen, it is not just the OS/GPU stack, the driver must also program the TCON chip correctly?

@"simplex"#p35677 what are you using now that's safe ?

@"simplex"#p35688 with which computer/OS version/GPU?

@"DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs"#p35690 my safe build is w10 1809 LTSC 17763.1098, laptop have only dGPU - gtx1060

@"simplex"#p35692 how can it not have the iGPU? I though those are *always* on?

Dithering - ANOTHER culprit: TCON chips!

simplex

StaticLCD Perhaps this is why OS/driver changes often changes the usability of the screen

Yes, this would explain why older drivers do not support this features and do not cause problems

simplex

I think it a bit programmable - have a look

https://support.lenovo.com/cl/ru/downloads/ds561904-sunia-spb-peripheral-t-con-color-management-driver-for-windows-11-64-bit-yoga-pro-9-16irp8-lenovo-slim-pro-9-16irp8

https://support.lenovo.com/by/ru/downloads/ds568322-t-con-driver-for-windows-11-64-bit-yoga-pro-9-16imh9

and driver for CN versions of Lenovo tablets ( panels used are 16" 2.5k 120hz: CSOT MNG007DA1-J and BOE NE160QDM-NY2 V8.3 )

https://think.lenovo.com.cn/support/driver/driverdetail.aspx?DEditid=125984

* last driver could drive t-cons of panels above

simplex

I already sold laptop with CSOT panel and cant help unfort

StaticLCD

CSOT likely uses their own TCON chips, I've seen some CSOT tcon chips on TVs.

Do you know what TCON chip is on the BOE panel?

simplex

StaticLCD

In panelook there are some paid datasheets, aprxtly 1000usd for month subs

In all problematic panels for me, LED DC Dimming was noted. If they use T-Con based kind of gray overlay to reduce brightness, the result method is pixel mixing ( eDP data & gray overlay ) caused dithering and eye nerve overload

jordan

simplex what are you using now that's safe ?

simplex

jordan

old asus gl702vm, yesterday replaced battery for new, and now waiting for new 8-bit panel delivery ( NV173FHM-N42 ) coz original 6-bit LP173WF4-SPF3 got blue tint after 5 years of usage

DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs

simplex with which computer/OS version/GPU?

simplex

DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs

my safe build is w10 1809 LTSC 17763.1098, laptop have only dGPU - gtx1060

StaticLCD

simplex how can it not have the iGPU? I though those are always on?

simplex

StaticLCD

Yep, no iGPU at all