PCA Forums

OK, I need some expert advice on a monitor problem i have. Actualy the monitor is fine (i have two identical) Acer 17" LCD, 8ms responce. I have a geforce 6600 GT which has two DVI ports on it (and comes with adaptors for analogue outputs). The problem is that my second monitor looks way different than my primary one.

I switched them around (the cables on the back of the computer) and the screweyness changed monitors too. So i assume that the problem is in the computer, probably the graphics card.

i switched the screwy monitor DVI to analogue and the problem remains (with the added problems of analog). this was a nearly $400 purchase for me (the second monitor), and i dont want it to go to waste.

I tried un installing the graphics card drivers and that didnt change anything.

the difference in the monitors is that while the primary display has nice rounded characters the other one's characters have letters & numbers that look "eaten", aka, not all the way there, in some displays. the second display is also blueish and darker. it even looks a bit fuzzy sometimes. i was using a 15" second display unitl i could afford this one and it was working fine off of the analogue converter.

should i try fiddeling with the fitting of the card in the slot? could there be something wrong with the cable? (oh, the analogue cable works though). is there a hardware problem with my card?

if anyone could please help me i would be very thankful.

what resolution/refresh rate have you set each monitor at in the Display Properties control panel? you will have options to choose "extend desktop" or "clone", etc...and much more when using dual monitors.

It sounds to me like a problem with the card. Since you've swapped the displays and the problem goes to the other display that confirms it's not the display.

Are you using any extension cables? They can add noise to the signal.

It's possible it's a driver problem, but I would suspect a hardware issue. I'd try to arrange an "Advanced" RMA with the video card manufacturer. With this type of RMA they send you a replacement first, then you send back the old card after you receive the new one. Usually they want a credit card bumber as a guarantee but you won't be charged unless they don't receive the old card within 4 weeks.

there are no extension cables, just some power bars, but they are on the floor.

it turns out that my bro just bought the exact same card. he is on vacation right now, so i think i will just try to change out the cards myself.

if it turns out to be a card problem, then can i swap my card with them?

if it turns out to be a mother board problem, what should i do? and how can i help my bro with his comp, since he is basicly building a clone of mine. if the issue goes away with his then i must have a faulty mobo right?

i have gone through all of the dual monitor stuff on the display pannels and graphics card windows.

ok, i swapped the cards and there is no change. i guess it is either software (i doubt this because the problem happens even before the bios posts) or it is my mobo. but what is wrong with my mobo? everything looks happy. all the jappanese capacitors are smiling back up at me. i know i could switch out my mobo for my bro's, but you know how much of a pain that could be.

please, any other suggestions?

ok, sorry for the tripple post, just want to keep people up to date.

i booted with my old monitor plugged into the port that was causing the problems, and it is fine.

then i booted with the ports switched from their origional possition, and now the opposite monitor port is causing the problem.

this is very weird (just in case you were wondering). i suppose the problem could be in the card still, but be a general problem with all geforce 6600 GT cards. the only thing is that i would be expecting a recall or something if there was that much of a problem with them.
what do i do now? i am confused out of my mind because it seems to be neither a software problem nor a hardware problem. its not like any wires are broken, because the problem can change monitors and monitor ports. do graphics cards have a bios? could it be updated? i am thinking of sending my PC in for professional help soon.

it looks to me like its a problem with the cable, before you said that it worked fine with the other monitor and the analog cable, if it was the card then it shouldnt matter what cabble or monitor you are using.

Can't be the card. When you swapped monitors I assume you swapped cables, right? If so then it can't be the cable or the monitor.

You're down to a driver issue. I can't possibly see how it could be a mobo issue.

I switched the monitor and the cable at the same time (i only unplugged the cable from the computer when i switched it). And i now know that the reason the analog monitor was looking good was because of its resolution. when i change this resolution down it looked fine to.

i installed drivers as suggested by BFG Tech and it did not fix the problem. i was instructed to contact DFI for mother board support.

here is an expert of my email to them.

I have recently purchased a second LCD 17” flat panel monitor for my computer. I have a Lanparty UT 250 Gb mobo. The second screen looks much more pixilated than the first one that I had. It is also much darker and more bluish. The reason I am contacting you is because when I switch the monitors plugs on my computer (I have geforce 6600 GT card) the problem changes monitors. When I change graphics cards out for another identical one I have the same problem (and I’m not about to buy a third geforce 6600 GT just to be sure). The port that causes the problem can be changed by rebooting the comp with only the monitor that had the problem on. When the computer has booted that monitor looks natural. To be honest, either setting is fine with me, the more pixilated or the more fuzzy, but both monitors have to be the SAME.



When I first started using this computer I noticed that the screen I was using looked slightly washed out compared to the 19” I was using before. I quickly got used to the fuzzyness and forgot about it. Now I have a pixilated monitor and it looks weird to me, but I’m sure I could get used to it.


Most important details:


I can change the monitor port that outputs the odd signal.

I can make either monitor fuzzy or pixilated

I have replaced the graphics card with another identical to it with no change what so ever.



My current theory on what the problem is:

I am guessing that some guy thought to himself (his name is Frankie) “Gee, I bet that it would be way easier to read text if it were a bit washed out onto the screen. Maybe I will just change how crisp the display is on this new mother board.” But then a second guy came along and went “oh look, Frankie forgot to finish the settings for the second monitor for a dual monitor display, I better do that for him”. And that is why I am looking at two screens with different settings. (all i want is to get at those settings) Neither one is “bad” but I really wish they were the same. I have been saving for this monitor for quite some time and I would really be happy if you could help me get it working.

all i want is to get at those settings

you can try using an analog cable with a DVI dongle.

i tried switching my monitors around again and the problem seems to be linked to my monitor now. im so confused, but im contacting acer now.