Cannot use Ambient mode with AW3423DW

[MaluNoPeleke]

Describe the bug As of release 7.2.2 and accordingly to #194 the Dell Alienware monitor AW3423DW is supported. I just discovered alienfx-tools and want to use it to synchronize the RGBs of this monitor with the screen content (called Ambient mode I guess). After launching the application and detecting the monitor I set it to "Ambient" but the RGBs just slowly rotate colors, even with a static screen.

To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Start alienfx-gui
2. Click on 'Effects mode dropdown' and set it to "Ambient"
3. Click on "Refresh"
4. See error

Expected behavior The RGB should mirror the current screen content color.

Screenshots

System (please complete the following information):

• Model: AlienWare AW3423DW
• OS: Windows 11 insider

Additional context I cannot select any other tab in the window such as "Colors", "Ambient" or "Haptics". Only "Devices and Grids" is selected/visible by default.

[T-Troll]

but the RGBs just slowly rotate colors, even with a static screen

This happened because you need to set up Ambient - screen zones not defined yet. So colors not changed, using your default settings.

I cannot select any other tab in the window such as "Colors", "Ambient" or "Haptics". Only "Devices and Grids" is selected/visible by default.

Aha. This is the bug. Let me check, seems like some data is not set correctly after detection. For now, just try to restart app - dit it works correctly after this?

[T-Troll]

Yes, it was a bug after "Detect" button pressed and data applied. Fixed in 7.4.3.1.

[MaluNoPeleke]

Thanks for the quick fix, now I was indeed able to switch to the other areas but after defining ambient zones and clicking on "Refresh" the LEDs still change colors slowly as before. Anything else I missed?

[T-Troll]

Do you have DirectX installed? (install if not yet) Did the colors of "screen zones" represent real screen colors correctly? (press "Reset"/choose other screen if you have more, then one if not). BTW, read tool's readme - there are some hints why it can not work (in "requirements" and "issues").

I've checked it at my system, all correct.

[MaluNoPeleke]

Yes, I have DirectX installed and the colors of the screen zones represent real screen colors correctly. Here is a video of the issue: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qGJdf8Vc6mNLswUv9

[T-Troll]

Got it.

Seems like something/someone took control about lights. If it was RGB keyboard, i've said global effect active. Can you please check just plain color set? Did it work? If not, i need to check your AWCC settings.

PS: Also, it's a good idea to stop AWCCService/check "Disable AWCC" at Settings. But, seems like the issue is deeper a bit...

[MaluNoPeleke]

I have checked that option already but that doesn't help.

[MaluNoPeleke]

Changing Colors doesn't do anything either: These are my other settings: What I can observe with ambient mode selected: whenever I click in a window or change an element of the screen content the RGBs turn purple for a second and then start pulsating again. If I run AWCC it looks like this (didn't set up anything there yet): If I change colors there it works as expected immediately.

[T-Troll]

Good, so it's not a hardware issue, just configuration. I may break it inside tools, or it's a result of incorrect initialization (we spend a lot of time to do it right way then add support).

I need to check what do you have into "FX" settings of the AWCC (choose monitor device first), fortunately i can read German. Also, it was a post at Alienware reddit - this can be monitor menu issue, latest firmware have some bugs there.

Anyway, we need to check what happened on hardware level later on, so please install USBPcap - i'll provide you test version and tell what to do.

[MaluNoPeleke]

This is how the FX area looks like (still untouched):

[T-Troll]

Thank you.

What is interesting here - you set lights to color, but backlights are breathing! Please check back panel lights settings (monitor back picture at up-right).

Anyway, seems like color set (or device reset again!) is broken. Can you, please:

1. Close AWCC
2. Open Services
3. Stop AWCCService
4. Run some CLI commands, like alienfx-cli set-all=255,0,0 or alienfx-cli set-all=0,0,255

Did it change monitor light's color?

[MaluNoPeleke]

This is the output:

C:\Program Files\AlienFX Tools>alienfx-cli set-all=0,0,255 alienfx-cli v7.4.3.1 Dell API not found, 1 low-level devices found. Done.

The color always changes to purple for a second, no matter what kind of RGB combination I use. When alienfx-gui is not running the changing colors stop and switches back to static color. Here is another video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/TX4kbWrBhDCtXLBYA This is how the monitor OSD looks like:

[T-Troll]

Thank you, things starting to be clear.

So what we have? CLI change color (GUI share the same code, but more complex way), but something in system or monitor configuration reset it back immediately. And seems like it's not AWCC.

Unfortunately, i doesn't have this monitor at my table, so i can only think and guess what is the reason for this behavior...

... Interesting case! Let me think a bit. Meanwhile, try to Reset lighting and set "Effects" on, then check what happened. And, most probably, we need to check what happened at USB level - both from AWCC and my apps (USBPcap is for this).

[MaluNoPeleke]

This is how it looks like after reset: The effects setting provides three options: Spectrum, Rainbow Cycle and Comet. USBPcap is installed, what to do with it?

[T-Troll]

Ok, let's try, First, please get this CLI version - alienfx-cli.zip It has older device init command (it provides side effect - all lights will be white). Stop AWCCService and check set-all command like before. Did it work now?

If not, we will grab your version of AWCC interface to check.

[MaluNoPeleke]

No, still same behavior as before, just with a slightly different output on cmd:

alienfx-cli v7.4.3.1 Dell API ready, 1 low-level devices found. Done.

Which file of AWCC do you need?

@translucentfocus does it work for you?

[T-Troll]

Thanks for the information. Uff... We need to do it a hard way.

Can you, please:

1. Install USBPcap (you are already do it AFAIR).
2. Run USBPcap
3. Check what USB hub have monitor connected (the list of devices will be print into it's console) and select it
4. Select any file name (f.e. data.pcap)
5. Keep it running
6. Open AWCC
7. Set some monitor lights (better use simple colors - red, green, blue, etc)
8. Stop USBPcap (switch to it's window and press CTRL+C)
9. Share file from p.4 here

I want to check how AWCC init it now, as well as possible interface changes.

[translucentfocus]

No, still same behavior as before, just with a slightly different output on cmd:

alienfx-cli v7.4.3.1 Dell API ready, 1 low-level devices found. Done.

Which file of AWCC do you need?

@translucentfocus does it work for you?

I haven't tested on the sample we have... but I see you're using Windows 11... does Windows 11 use DX12 for the desktop compositor? I know DX12 doesn't allow access to required information. @T-Troll will probably know, but I just wasn't even sure Ambient mode would work in Windows 11.

I also wonder if HDR being enabled in Windows matters? And HAGS (Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling)? My understanding is that only DX12 GPUs support HAGS, (Pascal and onward) so I wonder if turning on certain settings cause Windows 11 to render the desktop in DX12 mode?

[T-Troll]

@translucentfocus, yes, you are right about DX12, i even mention it into readme. But it should work for desktop, at least. But here we have another issue - light control simple broken at his device. We are trying to configure out why it happened.

JFYI: Here is the issue of monitors support story - https://github.com/T-Troll/alienfx-tools/issues/194

[MaluNoPeleke]

Here it is but this time even AWCC couldn't change the color and the OSD of the monitor behaves laggy and cannot reset AlienFX Lightning anymore. Maybe the firmware (MB102) of the AW3423DW is buggy?: data.zip

[T-Troll]

Sorry for delay.

Here it is but this time even AWCC couldn't change the color

Set "Custom" - "On" at monitor

It's a mystery. You have the same device ID as before, but it used a completely different interface to set lights! But, being honest, more simple one.

I don't know, is it a firmware or different hardware mode. Anyway, let me implement it.

UPD: Ah, i see. AWCC spam monitor with commands all the time. So better stop AWCCService before change settings - OSD should stop to be luggy. This log is useless in this case (but help me to understand one command i don't know before), so please make AWCC work first then repeat.

[MaluNoPeleke]

Okay, stopped AWCC in the services.msc first, updated AlienFX to latest version (7.4.4.1) and changed colors again: data.zip

[T-Troll]

To make sure - is it a log from AWCC or my GUI? If first, did AWCC change colors now?

[T-Troll]

Ohshi... Seems like i found a source of this issue. Please check this test version (both CLI and GUI inside) - TestRelease.zip

It should work now.

[MaluNoPeleke]

Yes, it works, but it is flickering purple in ambient mode with every refresh: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qu5UfAtV7gem2wCd7 Static colors work correctly now :) data2.zip

[T-Troll]

Got it. Did the same happened in case you just press "Refresh" button in UI (not in Ambient mode)?

[T-Troll]

NB: I configure out you have the same light into the 2 groups involved into Ambient. So it set 2 times with different color, which can provide this effect. It's useless, in fact. I will provide check for double light set (not only Ambient one) into the next release.

[MaluNoPeleke]

Okay, great

[T-Troll]

But what about just set some color and press "Refresh" button? Did it provide other color flash as well?

[T-Troll]

Please check 7.4.6, it's having previous fixes for your device, as well as lights de-duplication and some other bug fixes.