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January 23, 2007

Embarrassingly high end video problems

I'm ashamed to acknowledge how high-end my computing system is, but I'm throwing myself on your wisdom and your mercy...

I had two LCDs hooked up to my nvidia 8800gtx (from Asus), each at 1280x1024, DVI, set in "span" mode so they functioned as one large desktop. It worked fine. Then yesterday I replaced one of the monitors with an Acer AL2223W wide screen. If I connect the Acer via digital, the Windows Display Property box and the Nvidia prop box both say I've set it to 1680x1050, the standard widescreen res. But:

1. The display is fuzzy beyond acceptability.

2, The internal sw of the monitor says it's in fact set to 1600x1200

3. If I set it to 1600x1200 via the Windows Display Property box, it actually sharpens up quite a bit. Not totally, but a lot. Most other resolutions make it fuzzy again.

4. If I attach the Acer via its analog plug, it's crisp as overdone toast (in the good sense). Analog works.

I returned the first Acer (after talking with their "support" folks - Asus was far more knowledgeable) but I get exactly the same results. I've tested the digital cable and it's fine.

I'm stumped. Any suggestions about what's going on? [Tags: nvidia widescreen dual_display 8800gtx acer al2223w spoiled_computer_user]

Posted by D. Weinberger at January 23, 2007 03:19 PM


Comments

Hi David,

4 years ago I had to cope with a similar problem when trying to attach my Samsung LCD screen via DVI to an ATI video card: the analog worked but I wanted the DVI to work. Received no good answers from manufacturers at that time, but after a few months a computermagazine editor explained to me that it was related to an incompatibility between the software of the videocard and some kind of signal of recognition that is send by the monitor.

Anyway, I solved my problem via exchanging the videocard. That seems not an option for you. I guess you need to try another screen...if you want the DVI.

Good luck!

Best regards,
Marcel

Posted by: Marcel de Ruiter | January 23, 2007 04:15 PM


My guess? You don't have a "driver" installed for your new monitor. You wouldn't think it would matter, but all a monitor driver (sometimes called an .INF, since that's all it is) is is a list of modes that the monitor supports.

Get the driver for the Acer monitor (if it came on CD, or download it from the Acer site). You might have to do some fiddling in Device Manager under the "Monitors" category, including uninstalling existing items listed there, letting them re-install, and pointing them to the location of the new Acer monitor driver. Or, if it's obvious which monitor in Device Manager is the new Acer one, simply "Update Driver" on it, and point to the new driver.

That should let Windows drive the monitor at native resolution - the fact that's blurry, and your DVI cable is not the issue probably comes from being run at a non-native resolution.

Hope that fixes it! :-)

Posted by: Josh Bancroft | January 23, 2007 04:17 PM


Marcel, I can't return the card at this point and I'm reluctant to return the monitor. Maybe the card will come up with a better driver.

Josh, I can't find an Acer driver for the monitor. I tried removing all five (!) monitors from the device manager, but it immediately reinstalled them all. Good idea, though.

I would love for Windows to drive the monitor at its native resolution. Display Props says that it is driving it at 1680x1050, but the monitor says it's only getting 1600x1200 through the DVI connection. Analog works fine.

Thanks for the info and tips...

Posted by: David Weinberger | January 23, 2007 11:02 PM


Obviously, you need to upgrade to Vista.

(Sorry.)

Posted by: Adam Fields | January 23, 2007 11:50 PM


Monitor drivers can often be found on the manufacturer's website, have you looked there?

Posted by: Branko Collin | January 28, 2007 05:21 PM


I just got the exact same monitor and I haven't had any problems with the DVI. I use an nVidia graphics card with Windows XP Home. My guess is that it's the ATI video card drivers. Doing a Google Groups search may help you find someone that experienced the same problem and how they got it fixed. The very last thing I would do is to upgrade the entire OS, that would probably result in a whole series of issues to resolve.

The only problem I'm having now is an OpenGL issue with one application. Other than that, everything is perfect.

Posted by: Kernon | February 4, 2007 08:33 AM


I just got the exact same monitor and I haven't had any problems with the DVI. I use an nVidia graphics card with Windows XP Home. My guess is that it's the ATI video card drivers. Doing a Google Groups search may help you find someone that experienced the same problem and how they got it fixed. The very last thing I would do is to upgrade the entire OS, that would probably result in a whole series of issues to resolve.

The only problem I'm having now is an OpenGL issue with one application. Other than that, everything is perfect.

Posted by: Kernon | February 4, 2007 08:33 AM


I have exactly the same problem. 8800gts video card + al2223w= fuzzy picture. Tested on 3 other monitors with no problem, but only with the ACER. I have tried a brand new cable with no luck. I have searched enlessly and not found any monitor drivers. I do not have any other video drivers installed (brand new system).

I am going to return the monitor.

DS

Posted by: Darren | February 7, 2007 04:51 AM


It's not the monitor that's causing the problem, it's the video card drivers. Apparently reverting to the 96.xx versions, particularly 96.89 gets rid of the issue.

If you'd rather stick with the faster but buggy drivers, this thread should help:
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=23064&view=findpost&p=140188

Posted by: Christine | February 12, 2007 04:01 AM


Acer Laptops do not work well with Vista or Googel earth have been told by acer to call vista vista tells me to call acer to fix bios. Needs to be updated by acer they are not there yet and are way to slow to fix these problems they will not own up to.

Posted by: Logan Hind | February 18, 2007 12:41 AM


D. Weinberger,

I have the exact same thing happened to me. I just built a custom rig with 8800GTS and a 22” monitor. My monitor supports max resolution of 1600x1050 @ 60hz. DVI my monitor was fuzzy and whatever I did it would not improve. I looked at my settings and my monitor said 1680x1200 with weird frequency. I hooked up the VGA and all is good now. I'm going to trouble shoot each component and try tp get the DVI to work but I'm not holding my breath.

Posted by: Larry G | March 2, 2007 01:57 PM


I have an NVIDIA 7300gt & it tells me NOT to connect 2 monitors to the 2 DVI on th back of the card. ONE of the monitors must be connected DVI the other analog w/ the supplied adapter plug. Just a thought... without 2 complete DVI driver circuits built into the board, you can't run 2 monitors in the same mode. Seems only a few very expensive cards will do that.

Posted by: C.Smith | April 2, 2007 01:21 AM


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