Dell S3222DGM Curved Gaming Monitor Usage and Troubleshooting Guide
Summary: Learn how to use and troubleshoot issues related to the Dell S3222DGM curved gaming monitor.
Instructions
For help with video or display issues such as: no video or no display, blank or black screen, flickering, resolution or color issues, horizontal or vertical lines, etc. refer to an expanding section below.
The key features of Dell S3222DGM monitor are:
- 80.01 cm (35 in.) viewable area display (Measured Diagonally).
- 2560 x 1440 (16:9) resolution, plus full-screen support for lower resolutions.
- Enjoy high refresh rates up to 144 Hz and 165 Hz.
- Digital connectivity with DisplayPort and HDMI.
- Enabled with gaming console VRR supportability.
- Plug and play capability if supported by your computer.
- Game-enhanced features such as Timer, Frame Rate Counter and Dark Stabilizer in addition to enhanced game modes such as FPS, MOBA/RTS, SPORTS, or RPG, and 3 additional game modes to personalize your preferences.
- Removable stand and Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA™) 100 mm mounting holes for flexible mounting solutions).
- On-Screen Display (OSD) adjustments for ease of setup and screen optimization.
- Tilt and height adjustment capabilities.
- Security-lock slot.
- ≤0.3 W standby power when in the sleep mode.
- Optimize eye comfort with a flicker-free screen.
- Dell Premium Panel Exchange for peace of mind.
This section provides some specifications of the Dell S3222DGM monitor. To learn more about the specifications of Dell S3222DGM monitor, refer to the User's Guide at the Dell Manuals website.
| Panel technology |
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| Maximum resolution |
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| Viewing angle |
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| Contrast ratio |
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| Response time |
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| Color gamut |
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| Color depth |
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| Ports and connectors |
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Ensuring that your Dell monitor is set up properly. Assembling the monitor stand and setting up the monitor ergonomically. Connecting the cables and organizing them. These will only help make the viewing experience the best it possibly can be.
Attaching the stand
The standard monitor stand is detached when the monitor is shipped from the factory. To learn more about attaching the standard monitor stand. Refer to the Setting Up the Monitor section in the User's Guide of your Dell S3222DGM monitor.
To learn how to set up any other stand with a monitor, refer to the respective stand setup guide for setup instructions.
Ergonomics
Where you put your monitor is almost as important as what model you buy. The monitor should be directly in front of you, at an arm’s length away (between 20-40 inches from your eyes). The top edge of the screen at eye level when you are sitting comfortably. You may need to adjust your chair height or the height of the monitor to achieve this.
Connecting your monitor to the PC
To connect your Dell S3222DGM monitor to your PC:
- Turn off your PC and disconnect the power cable.
- Connect the DisplayPort or HDMI cable to the corresponding video or display port on the back of your PC.
- Connect the other end of the DisplayPort or HDMI cable to the monitor.
- Power ON the Monitor and PC.
To learn more about connecting your monitor to the PC, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article: How do I connect a monitor to a PC?
Downlights
Your Dell S3222DGM monitor has a touch-enabled Downlight. To use the downlight, tap under the Dell logo (as shown in Figure 1).
Figure 1: Downlights on Dell S3222DGM monitor
Dell S3222DGM monitor orientation must always be in landscape mode. This includes any wall-mounted monitors and monitors on a stand. In a multiple monitor setup, Dell S3222DGM should not be rotated either to 180° (landscape) or 90° (portrait).
When setting up your Dell S3222DGM monitor, ensure that the monitor front panel buttons is on the bottom right.
Using the Tilt and Vertical Extension
With the stand attached to the monitor, you can tilt and adjust height of the monitor for the most comfortable viewing angle.
Figure 2: Using Tilt on Dell S3222DGM monitor
Figure 3: Using Vertical Extension on Dell S3222DGM monitor
When mounted on the wall or on a monitor arm, the set-up must comply to the recommended panel orientation and working angle.
Use the joystick at the rear of the monitor to access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu of the monitor (Figure 4). To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press joystick at the rear of the monitor.
- Press the joystick button to launch the OSD main menu.
- Move the joystick up, down, left, or right to toggle between options.
- Press the joystick button again to confirm the settings and exit.
Figure 4: Using Joystick control for OSD menu on Dell S3222DGM monitor
Learn more about using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu. Refer to the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide of Dell U4021QW monitor.
The control buttons are placed under the joystick on the back of the monitor. Use the control buttons to access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu of the monitor. To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press Button 1 (Figure 5) at the back of the monitor.
Learn more about using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu. Refer to the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide of Dell S3222DGM monitor.
Figure 5: Dell S3222DGM control buttons
Solid white light indicates that the monitor is On and fully functional. Blinking white light indicates the power save mode.| Button | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Button 1 | Menu | Use the MENU button to launch the On-Screen Display (OSD). This button is also the Joystick Control. |
| Button 2 | Exit | Use this button to go back to the main menu or exit the OSD main menu. |
| Button 3 | Shortcut key/Preset Modes | Use this button for choose from a list of preset modes. |
| Button 4 | Shortcut key/Dark Stabilizer | Use this button to adjust Dark Stabilizer. |
| Button 5 | Shortcut key/Brightness | Use this button to adjust the brightness. |
Resetting a monitor to factory defaults can help resolve many video or display issues. To reset your Dell S3222DGM monitor to factory default settings, follow these instructions:
- Press the joystick button to launch the OSD main menu.
- Move the joystick up or down to highlight Others option in the menu, and press the joystick button again to select.
- Move the joystick up or down to highlight Factory Reset option in the menu and press the joystick button again to select.
- Press the joystick button again to confirm the reset action.
Figure 6: Dell S3222DGM Front Panel Buttons
If your Dell monitor has a blank or black screen, fuzzy or blurry image, flickering, distorted or any other screen abnormalities, running a diagnostic test will help determine if the Dell monitor is functioning normally. To learn more about diagnostic options on a Dell monitor, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article: How do I run diagnostics on a Dell monitor?
It is always essential to isolate the monitor while troubleshooting your computer for the following scenarios:
- No Power - Your computer is not powering ON or showing any signs of power.
- No POST - Your computer is not showing any indication of activity, the screen might be blank and will not display the Dell logo during start-up.
- No Video - You are unable to see any display on the screen, able to hear the windows chime but no display is seen.
Your Dell S3222DGM Monitor provides a self-test feature check 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 the video cables (DVI, or HDMI) 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 the monitor doesn't sense a video signal and is working correctly, it should report a message advising no video cable detected:
Figure 7: Dell S3222DGM no video cable detected. - If your monitor screen remains blank after you use the previous procedure, check your video card (GPU) and computer, because your monitor is functioning properly.
- If the monitor doesn't sense a video signal and is working correctly, it should report a message advising no video cable detected:
Your Dell S3222DGM monitor has a built-in diagnostic tool. It helps to determine if the screen abnormality you are experiencing is a problem with the monitor or with the video card on your computer.
When you notice screen abnormalities like distortion, clarity, horizontal or vertical lines, color fade, it is always a good practice to isolate the monitor by running the Built-In Diagnostics.
- Make sure that the screen is clean (no dust particles on the surface of the screen).
- Unplug the video cables 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 2 on the front panel for 5 seconds. A gray screen appears.
- Carefully inspect the screen for abnormalities.
- Press Button 2 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 2 to exit the Built-In Self-Test diagnostics.
If you notice any abnormalities during Built-In Diagnostics, you may get the monitor repaired or replaced if it is under warranty by contacting Dell Technical Support.
During the LCD Monitor manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to become fixed in an unchanging state. Which is 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.
This section provides information about troubleshooting steps that can help resolve the most common issues with the Dell S3222DGM monitor. Alternatively, to learn more about troubleshooting common issues on Dell monitors, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Troubleshooting Display or Video Issues on a Dell Monitor or use our Monitor self-help Guide.
| Common Problem | What User Experiences | Possible Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No Video - Power LED Off | No picture |
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| No Video - Power LED On | No picture or no brightness. |
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| Poor Focus | Picture is fuzzy, blurry, or ghosting. |
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| Shaky or Jittery Video | Wavy picture or fine movement. |
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| Missing Pixels | LCD screen has spots. |
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| Stuck-On/Off Pixels | LCD screen has bright spot. |
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| Brightness Problems | Picture too dim or too bright. |
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| Geometric Distortion | Screen not centered correctly. |
When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
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| Horizontal or Vertical Lines | Screen has one or more lines. |
When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
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| Synchronization Problems | Screen is scrambled or appears torn. |
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| Safety-Related Issues | Visible signs of smoke or sparks. |
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| Intermittent Problems | Monitor malfunctions on and off. |
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| Missing Color | Picture does not have color. |
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| Wrong Color | Picture color is not good. |
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| Image Retention from a Static Image Left on the Monitor for a Long Period | Faint shadow from the static image appears on the screen. |
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| Screen image is too small. | Image is centered on screen, but does not fill entire viewing area. |
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| Image Ghosting | Fast moving images leave a trail of shadow images. | On certain video and applications with fast moving images, imaging ghosting, which appears as a trailing shadow, may occur. Change the Response Time to Fast in the Display menu. |
| No Input Signal when user controls are pressed. | No picture, the power LED light is white. |
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| The picture does not fill the entire screen. | The picture cannot fill the height or width of the screen. |
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| Display mode changes from "Second screen only" to "Extended mode" after opening and closing the laptop LCD. | The display mode on your PC reverts to "Duplicate" or "Extend,". This depends on which was selected before you changed to "Second screen only" or "Projector only" when you close and open the laptop screen. When you close and then reopen the lid on a laptop, the Connecting and Configuring Displays (CCD) feature in Windows automatically reverts the display mode to the last active selection. This behavior is by design in Microsoft Windows. |
Switch to the display mode that you want after you close and reopen the laptop screen manually:
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| Monitor has sound icon when Dell S3222DGM is connected to a laptop using HDMI. | Dell S3222DGM does not support audio or sound via HDMI. Speakers or headphones must be connected via the audio connector on the PC. |
To resolve the audio icon displaying, update the video or graphics (GPU) driver to the latest version. To learn how to download and update a device driver, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article How do I download and install a device driver? |
| Monitor will not display Blu-Ray video after the monitor is powered-off and powered on. | If the monitor is powered-off and powered-on when displaying the Blu-Ray video, the Blu-ray player may lose the data signal from the system to the monitor. |
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| When changing the monitor’s resolution from Windows Display Settings, the image quality may not be good. | Windows Display Settings and the resolution settings on the laptop's video or graphics utility may not be compatible. | Change the resolution using the video or graphics card (GPU) utility like Intel HD Graphics Control Panel. |
| No video when the monitor is connected to a Dell docking station. | The monitor may not receive video signals from the PC when connected to a Dell docking station. | To learn more about how to set up and configure the Dell S3222DGM monitor with a Dell docking station. Refer to your System Requirements and Supported Configuration in the support site. |
| Light leak from the monitor | The monitor appears to have light leak from the edges in a dark room | This is normal behavior of the monitor. Dell consumer monitors are inspected at 150-lux ambient lighting (similar to typical office lighting). Dell UltraSharp and Gaming monitors are inspected with a tighter criteria of 70-lux ambient lighting (dimly lit room but not dark). |
| Color variation on the corners of the monitor | The monitor appears to have color variation on the corners of the screen | The optimal viewing position for the monitor is from the center of the screen. Dell S3222DGM monitor uses a curved IPS panel, the corners of the screen may appear slight yellowish or pinkish, especially when viewing in dark room. This is normal IPS panel behavior and typically does not affect the overall viewing performance.
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To learn more about how to view or download the User Guides and Manuals for your Dell product. Refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Manuals and Documentation for your Dell Product.
- Dell S3222DGM – User’s Guide
- Dell S3222DGM – Quick Setup Guide
- Dell S3222DGM – Dell Display Manager User’s Guide
Frequently asked questions
Using Windows Display Settings
In Windows 10, Windows 8 or 8.1 and Windows 7:
- 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 2560 x 1440.
- Click OK
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 2560 x 1440.
- Click Apply.
Using AMD Catalyst Control Center
To change the resolution using the AMD Catalyst Control Center:
- Right-click on the desktop and click AMD Catalyst Control Center.
- 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 2560 x 1440.
- Click Apply.
To reset the Dell S3222DGM Monitor to factory defaults, refer to the Reset to Factory Settings section of this article.
The Dell S3222DGM monitor has two built-in diagnostics that are available:
- Self-Test Feature Check - The self-test feature check on the Dell S3222DGM monitor allows you to check whether the monitor is functioning properly.
- Built-In Self-Test - The Dell S3222DGM monitor has a built-in self-test that helps you identify if the screen abnormality is with the monitor or the video card (GPU) on your computer. When you notice screen abnormalities like distortion, clarity, horizontal or vertical lines, color fade. It is always a good practice to isolate the monitor by running the Built-In Diagnostics.
To learn how to run a diagnostic test, refer to the Running Diagnostics on Dell S3222DGM Monitor section of this Dell knowledge-base article.
The Troubleshooting section of this Dell knowledge-base article provides information about troubleshooting common issues with the Dell S3222DGM monitor. The section has troubleshooting steps on how to resolve power issues, video issues, color or clarity issues, distortion issues, horizontal or vertical lines, brightness issues or pixel issues and so on.
To navigate the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, use the buttons on the monitor. The monitor control buttons are usually on the right side, either on the side, front, or bottom of the monitor. To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press joystick on the monitor.
For more information about using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu and different menu options. Refer to the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide of your Dell S3222DGM monitor.
.Additional monitor information like the model number, firmware version and Service Tag can be accessed from the monitor's OSD (On-Screen Display).
- Press the joystick button on the monitor to enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu.
- Move the joystick up or down to highlight Others option in the menu and press joystick to select.
- Move the joystick up or down to highlight Model Number or Firmware Version option in the menu and press joystick to select.
- Press Button 2 to exit the OSD menu.
Dell S3222DGM supports both HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 1.4 connectivity with your PC. If the video or graphics card (GPU) on your PC supports HDMI 1.4, it is required to change the monitor to HDMI 1.4 mode.
- Press the joystick (Button 1) on the monitor to enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu
- Move the joystick up or down to highlight Input Source in the menu and press joystick to select.
- Move the joystick up or down to highlight HDMI in the menu.
- Press and hold joystick for approximately 10 seconds until the HDMI configuration message appears.
- Press joystick to select Disable and change the display mode to HDMI version 1.4
Figure 8: Dell S3222DGM Control Buttons
Dell S3222DGM monitor orientation must always be in landscape mode. This includes any wall-mounted monitors and monitors on a stand.
Additional Information
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