Is it my monitor, video card, or some setting i'm missing? It's giving me headaches!
 

So here's my story. I decided that i wanted to update from my overclocked GF3 Ti200 to a brand spankin' new Radeon 9800Pro. So i did. Now it seems, when i use almost any resolution, i get the "flashing" effect on my monitor. I've set my refresh from 75 to 200Hz and still no improvement. I've also tried the 3.4, 3.7, and 3.9 drivers to no avail. Using the DVI with D-Sub adapter vs. straight D-sub does nothing to improve it either.

I'm new to ATi cards so i'm starting to think there may be a setting somewhere that i need to change and all will be right with the world, but going from a 2.5 year old card to a brand new one and having this issue is maddness! Another note, when playing games there appears to be no flashing issue, everything is fine.

OS=WinXP Pro with latest patches from Windows update
CPU=AthlonXP 1600+
RAM=1G PC2100 DDR (3 sticks)
Video= ATI Radeon 9800Pro

Thank you very much for your help, i'm going crazy over here with this flashing. If you need anymore info, just let me know.

Everything we needed......except for monitor type.

Also, it would be nice to state the resolutions you've been using.

It's a Dell branded Sony flat CRT. Model Ultrascan P780.

I've been using 800x600, 1024x768 and above.

i guess your monitor is broken

But it's been like this with two monitors now. One old one (1998) and one new one.

The flashing effect is a known problem with the new GeForce FX 5900 Ultra series as well as Radeon 9800 Pros. I had to send two $500 videocards back to NewEgg because of it. For the FX 5900's, there is no fix -- seriously. I'm not sure how ATI has dealt with the problem concerning the Radeon 9800 Pro. I just wanted to let ya know that this is a widely known problem. I'd check out ATI forums and look up flashing problems. The eVGA forum I went to about the flashing problem had a thread about that exact problem -- with 972 replies. That was this past summer. There's probably information in some forum out there about it; I'd check'em out. Good luck!

-Lasereth

Thank you very much! This is the first ray of hope that i've had in this issue. I just hope i still have my receipt if i have to return it.

Well i've found similar issues, but they all seem to be a flashing back and forth between your desktop and a black screen. That's not exactly what i'm getting. I'm just getting a refresh issue i think. I've even loaded in the drivers from Dell and it doesn't fix it. I think i'm going to have to just call and talk to ATI support unless anyone has any ideas.

Alright, i just replaced the card and it's still happening.

I'm starting to think that i'm just too damn sensitive to the monitor refresh and my eyes are picking up the flicker. Again, if anyone knows anything that may help, please let me know.

If you're a male, that's kinda impossible unless you have a special condition. Female are usually suspected of being able to see the flashing or the refreshing of monitors. I see it sometimes but that's nothing to worry about.

I've heard of problems where Windows are having trouble in adapting from older vid card to the 9800 pro. I don't have a clue about what's different from the 9800 to older cards but I suspect that it may lie within the BIOS setting. Check your AGP setting to ensure that it is accepting the 9800 Pro.

Before you mess around with the BIOS, try putting the radeon card in another computer and see if it works. If it does, hook your monitor on that same card. If the problem persides, then its he monitor. If there's no problem, then it's probably has something to do with the motherboard or BIOS.

Here's something...

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/14019/

I have two SOYO based, KT 600, liquid cooled boards using 3200XP and 3000XP processors. I use different types and configurations of memory. (512 mb x 3 Corsair XMS pc3200, 512mb x 2 Corsair(standard) pc3200, 512mb x 2 Mushkin matched pc 3200.

I run a Radeon 9800 pro 128 in one, and a GeForce FX5900 Ultra 256 in the other. I play with anti-aliasing on and other such buzz words as I play Lock-On (just got it today) and other flight and combat sims on a big screen tv.

I have had glitches, but, no "flashing".

Explain further please. More system info. Narrow down the flashing thing.

Later,

Feelgood, i'll look into that more when i get home from work. Thanks!

And Poof, the "flashing" that i'm talking about is what you sometimes see when you have your monitor refresh rate set to 60Hz or lower and you can see the "flashing" refresh. This happens though when i have it set at 75Hz or higher and at any resolution. It is not a flash between my desktop and a black screen or something of that nature.

Most of my system info is at the top, what other info do you need?

Ahhh, my mobo isn't there: Soyo Dragon+ KT266

i get "flashing" (and other screen gremlins) on my monitor at work, but it's because i use a KVM switch and crappy extension cables between the monitor, keyboard, mouse and the switch itself. if you're using (shitty) extension cables or a KVM switch like i am, that could be a factor.

and by the way, are you plugged into a well-grounded outlet or battery backup? i know that if a fan or lamp is plugged into the same outlet as other equipment, it could cause disturbance.

Thanks for the ideas. As far as i know i have a good ground and i've never had this issue until i installed the new videocard. I don't have any heavy lamps or fans around my computer besides case fans. But basically i plut into a surge protector that i've used for years and that goes into a grounded outlet.

I'm thinking bad connection or you need to reset your monitor. The optimum resolution for that monitor is 1024*768 at 75 or 85mhz. Nothing higher. Just because the card can do 200 doesn't mean your monitor can. Hit the reset button and do a test as per Dell's instructions: http://support.ap.dell.com/docs/moni...En/trouble.htm

I've actually done that as well. I've even tried 800x600@75Hz and i get the same thing.

Last night i checked out the AGP settings in my BIOS and about the only think i could see to change was the AGP aperture setting, which i set to 128. Upon reboot...same issue. I guess i have no ideas anymore but if you have any let me know and i'll try every one of them.

on my Ultrascan P991 monitor at home, there's a reset button-- i don't know what it's called, but it resets and "shakes" the screen up a bit. did you try pushing that? that usually works for me when the screen starts looking funny.

also, have you tried adjusting your color settings along with your resolution settings?

other things i would try are: try reseating the video card, or try it in another computer to ensure that the card's not fucked up.

or if no one else can see this flashing, your eyes may have just developed a sensitivity to the refresh rate.... a programmer friend of mine can't look at my monitor, it gives him headaches (he says), and it doesn't bother me.... my refresh is set at 75 or 85Hz.
his sensitivity has gotten so bad, he needs glasses.

thats called the degauss soopafreak, it generates a magnetic field with an electro magnet wrapped around the tube. it usually cures discolouration thats often caused by the earths magnetic fields

he should switch to LCDs they dont have a refresh as such