Strange computer monitor problems with new setup, please help! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Rococo · 06-17-2003, 10:03 AM

Since I setup my new 9500np card, I've been a few problems arrise with my monitor.

First of all, this is my new computer setup:

Asus P4P800
P4 2.4c ghz
512 ram
windows xp pro, sp1
directx 9.0a
monitor: Samsung syncmaster 957MB
sapphire radeon 9500non pro

(might be modded to 9700, not sure read this post:
http://tfproject.org/tfp/showthread....threadid=12258)

So the first problems I've found is that the computer monitor will not be in it's proper size and refresh rate after I've had the computer off for a while. When I look in device manager, the drivers have gone back to "default" and if I tell it the computer to scan for new hardware it goes back to it's proper drivers and I can set the proper refresh rate.

Second, I see some strange "moire like" patterns that come and go on the screen. They're small lines that seem to jitter up and down, but it goes away after a while.

Third, when playing battlefield 1942, the monitor's refresh rate adjusts itself to 60hz from the regular 85hz when in the game. Is this normal?

So overall, I have no idea what to do here, I have the latest radeon drivers but I'm not sure if this is my video card or the monitor or something in on the motherboard. I never encountered these problems when using my old voodoo3 3000 card. If anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated!

mtsgsd · 06-17-2003, 10:46 AM

did you ever have this running properly before you attempted the mod? That should have been done so that you knew the card was in good working order.

Best bet is the mod isn't quite there. Seems like the graphic card is Identifying itself to the pc as a different card (maybe radeon 9500?) during boot. The changes you made might not be booted up or in effect untill it's too late for the XP hardware detection to see it during startup.

Rococo · 06-17-2003, 11:09 AM

I should have included this info, but no, it was not working properly even before the mod. The strange part is that it's intermittent. The monitor's drivers are loaded properly when I restart or even shut-down for a short while. The only times that I've seen this problem is when the computer has been off for a couple of hours.

trialzin · 06-17-2003, 11:46 AM

IF your using the 3.4 drivers try going back to the 3.2, I had troubles with the 3.4 catalyst drivers

darkure · 06-17-2003, 07:32 PM

The change when playing BF1942 might be caused by the resolution you are running it at. If if is higher than the desktop resolution then the monitor just can't keep up with demand and has to drop down to a slower refresh rate. You might also check to see if V-Sync is turned on.

mtsgsd · 06-18-2003, 09:07 AM

Ok, since it works even after shutdown down for a short time, it's not a driver issue, or a config problem.

<oops. Just realized that you're talking about the monitor, and it's drivers, not the VC card. Left in the comments regarding that just for the heck of it.>

When you are restarting, the monitor stays on. The question is, do you shut off your monitor when you shutdown the PC? I'll bet you do, or at least when it's going to be off for more than a short time. I'll bet it's a problem with the monitor itself. Windows depends on info it gets from it to know what it is and what drivers to load. The moire would hint at a monitor problem as well.

The monitor remembers the screen adjustments you make for every resolution that you have run and (of course) made adjustments to. After you get the right drivers, can you change screen resolutions and still have the screen the way you set it? If not, that's the monitor.

The scan rate depends on the driver settings. You can tell it to use a specific refresh rate, or the optimal rate defined by the driver for that monitor. If the driver is the generic one, the refresh will be set to 60hz, kind of a "safe mode". When the new driver is loaded, you might have to go back in and make any tweaks that you have done, at least for the refresh.

<This is what I wrote when I thought it was the VC causing the problem>
This has to be a problem with volitile memory. I really doubt the cmos could have anything to do with it, but just to be thourough, make sure nothing is changing there. You don't have to go into the BIOS to correct anything right? That leaves the VC.

Go back to my first post. Do you have a way to get hold of another card of this type? Better yet, is it new enough that you can trade it in as defective? This would let you rule out that as a source if it doesn't fix the problem.

06-17-2003, 10:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rococo Insane	Strange computer monitor problems with new setup, please help! Since I setup my new 9500np card, I've been a few problems arrise with my monitor. First of all, this is my new computer setup: Asus P4P800 P4 2.4c ghz 512 ram windows xp pro, sp1 directx 9.0a monitor: Samsung syncmaster 957MB sapphire radeon 9500non pro (might be modded to 9700, not sure read this post: http://tfproject.org/tfp/showthread....threadid=12258) So the first problems I've found is that the computer monitor will not be in it's proper size and refresh rate after I've had the computer off for a while. When I look in device manager, the drivers have gone back to "default" and if I tell it the computer to scan for new hardware it goes back to it's proper drivers and I can set the proper refresh rate. Second, I see some strange "moire like" patterns that come and go on the screen. They're small lines that seem to jitter up and down, but it goes away after a while. Third, when playing battlefield 1942, the monitor's refresh rate adjusts itself to 60hz from the regular 85hz when in the game. Is this normal? So overall, I have no idea what to do here, I have the latest radeon drivers but I'm not sure if this is my video card or the monitor or something in on the motherboard. I never encountered these problems when using my old voodoo3 3000 card. If anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated! Last edited by Rococo; 06-17-2003 at 10:07 AM..

06-17-2003, 07:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
darkure Addict Location: Dodging the ice pick	The change when playing BF1942 might be caused by the resolution you are running it at. If if is higher than the desktop resolution then the monitor just can't keep up with demand and has to drop down to a slower refresh rate. You might also check to see if V-Sync is turned on. __________________ COYW

06-17-2003, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
mtsgsd Addict Location: Wisconsin, USA	did you ever have this running properly before you attempted the mod? That should have been done so that you knew the card was in good working order. Best bet is the mod isn't quite there. Seems like the graphic card is Identifying itself to the pc as a different card (maybe radeon 9500?) during boot. The changes you made might not be booted up or in effect untill it's too late for the XP hardware detection to see it during startup.

06-17-2003, 11:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rococo Insane	I should have included this info, but no, it was not working properly even before the mod. The strange part is that it's intermittent. The monitor's drivers are loaded properly when I restart or even shut-down for a short while. The only times that I've seen this problem is when the computer has been off for a couple of hours.

06-17-2003, 11:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
trialzin Tilted	IF your using the 3.4 drivers try going back to the 3.2, I had troubles with the 3.4 catalyst drivers

06-18-2003, 09:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
mtsgsd Addict Location: Wisconsin, USA	Ok, since it works even after shutdown down for a short time, it's not a driver issue, or a config problem. <oops. Just realized that you're talking about the monitor, and it's drivers, not the VC card. Left in the comments regarding that just for the heck of it.> When you are restarting, the monitor stays on. The question is, do you shut off your monitor when you shutdown the PC? I'll bet you do, or at least when it's going to be off for more than a short time. I'll bet it's a problem with the monitor itself. Windows depends on info it gets from it to know what it is and what drivers to load. The moire would hint at a monitor problem as well. The monitor remembers the screen adjustments you make for every resolution that you have run and (of course) made adjustments to. After you get the right drivers, can you change screen resolutions and still have the screen the way you set it? If not, that's the monitor. The scan rate depends on the driver settings. You can tell it to use a specific refresh rate, or the optimal rate defined by the driver for that monitor. If the driver is the generic one, the refresh will be set to 60hz, kind of a "safe mode". When the new driver is loaded, you might have to go back in and make any tweaks that you have done, at least for the refresh. <This is what I wrote when I thought it was the VC causing the problem> This has to be a problem with volitile memory. I really doubt the cmos could have anything to do with it, but just to be thourough, make sure nothing is changing there. You don't have to go into the BIOS to correct anything right? That leaves the VC. Go back to my first post. Do you have a way to get hold of another card of this type? Better yet, is it new enough that you can trade it in as defective? This would let you rule out that as a source if it doesn't fix the problem.