Dual monitor question. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

-Ever- · 08-08-2004, 11:37 AM

The whites are brighter on my secondary monitor, and it almost seems to be getting a sharper picture. And when I say secondary, I mean that it's physically set up to be secondary. Here's what I've got running.

-Dell 1901fp on DVI
-Dell 1901fp on Analog
-Radeon 9700 gfx card.

I've got the main monitor (ie "1" in settings) set to be the primary monitor. Both have the same resolution and refresh rate.

Here's one thing I noticed. When adjusting the screen Via the buttons on the monitor, I cannot controll Contrast on the monitor set up through DVI. Could this be it?

Thanks for any info.
-Tim

LNCPapa · 08-08-2004, 01:15 PM

You don't control any of those settings when on DVI - so you'll prolly need to "fiddle" with the settings on the one on DB-15 until you get it the same. Another option (not sure I'd go this route) is to put a DVI -> DB-15 adaptor and hook them both up analog. I wouldn't do this though - but it's a possible workaround. These little adaptors are usually only a couple of dollars.

amokk · 08-10-2004, 03:29 AM

There's not a real lot you can do about this. For some reason one monitor just doesnt look the same. I have had friends with this problem on different brands/model monitors, even when both are exactly the same as yours. I have't heard of a workaround yet. Hope you find something

Dragonlich · 08-10-2004, 09:59 AM

I've heard of people having that problem, but have never seen it myself. At work, we do have a beamer on a secondary connector that keeps changing the brightness and contrast; resetting the computer solves that, so it seems to be software-related.

hrdwrjnkie · 08-10-2004, 01:42 PM

Different video cards will also have different software that will allow you to 'tweak' your display a bit, too. My 9800xt will let me change everything from color balance to gamma on either monitor.

theburner · 08-10-2004, 03:34 PM

I too have identical monitors off a Radeon 9800 Pro. One is sharper and brighter than the other.

I played around for awhile, and finally just changed my primary to the clearer monitor.

Krycheck · 08-10-2004, 08:27 PM

I guess I'm not the only one with this problem.

I have two Sony 17" lcd's on my ATI X800 and the secondary monitor is blurry. I've done the calibration but no dice. They both have the identical settings but the second one is still blurry and has ghost shadows. Really sucks, hard to enjoy having dual monitors this way.

theburner · 08-11-2004, 04:55 AM

Once I switched my primary to the "clear" monitor it wasn't an issue. I only use the 2nd monitor for secondary issues, so I am not really over there much. However.. I would never go back to a single monitor ever again. Dual monitors are the way to go!

gibingus · 08-11-2004, 05:27 AM

i use a pretty high end oxygen card built for CAD and modeling and i have this issue too. no matter if i switch them around, whichever one is the primary is brighter. i hoped it would change when i went from win2k to xp, but it didn't... i think it is just a matter of splitting the signal at the card.

Krycheck · 08-11-2004, 09:05 PM

Well I switched the monitors at the card and changed which is the primary and that seems to make it better.

All this time I thought I had a bad monitor.

08-08-2004, 11:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Dual monitor question. The whites are brighter on my secondary monitor, and it almost seems to be getting a sharper picture. And when I say secondary, I mean that it's physically set up to be secondary. Here's what I've got running. -Dell 1901fp on DVI -Dell 1901fp on Analog -Radeon 9700 gfx card. I've got the main monitor (ie "1" in settings) set to be the primary monitor. Both have the same resolution and refresh rate. Here's one thing I noticed. When adjusting the screen Via the buttons on the monitor, I cannot controll Contrast on the monitor set up through DVI. Could this be it? Thanks for any info. -Tim __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

08-08-2004, 01:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
LNCPapa Crazy Location: Notre Dame	You don't control any of those settings when on DVI - so you'll prolly need to "fiddle" with the settings on the one on DB-15 until you get it the same. Another option (not sure I'd go this route) is to put a DVI -> DB-15 adaptor and hook them both up analog. I wouldn't do this though - but it's a possible workaround. These little adaptors are usually only a couple of dollars. __________________ No mercy for the bandwidth impaired

08-10-2004, 01:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
hrdwrjnkie Upright Location: Middle of nowhere and getting lost fast.	Different video cards will also have different software that will allow you to 'tweak' your display a bit, too. My 9800xt will let me change everything from color balance to gamma on either monitor. __________________ I build, therefore I am.

08-10-2004, 03:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
theburner Canadian Beer Ambassador Location: Cumming, GA	I too have identical monitors off a Radeon 9800 Pro. One is sharper and brighter than the other. I played around for awhile, and finally just changed my primary to the clearer monitor. __________________ Take Off Eh!

08-10-2004, 08:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Krycheck Sultana ruined my evil persona Location: Los Angeles	I guess I'm not the only one with this problem. I have two Sony 17" lcd's on my ATI X800 and the secondary monitor is blurry. I've done the calibration but no dice. They both have the identical settings but the second one is still blurry and has ghost shadows. Really sucks, hard to enjoy having dual monitors this way. __________________ His pants are tight...but his morals are loose!! Last edited by Krycheck; 08-10-2004 at 09:24 PM..

08-10-2004, 03:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
amokk Upright	There's not a real lot you can do about this. For some reason one monitor just doesnt look the same. I have had friends with this problem on different brands/model monitors, even when both are exactly the same as yours. I have't heard of a workaround yet. Hope you find something

08-10-2004, 09:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	I've heard of people having that problem, but have never seen it myself. At work, we do have a beamer on a secondary connector that keeps changing the brightness and contrast; resetting the computer solves that, so it seems to be software-related.

08-11-2004, 04:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
theburner Canadian Beer Ambassador Location: Cumming, GA	Once I switched my primary to the "clear" monitor it wasn't an issue. I only use the 2nd monitor for secondary issues, so I am not really over there much. However.. I would never go back to a single monitor ever again. Dual monitors are the way to go! __________________ Take Off Eh!

08-11-2004, 05:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
gibingus Insane Location: 38° 51' N 77° 2' W	i use a pretty high end oxygen card built for CAD and modeling and i have this issue too. no matter if i switch them around, whichever one is the primary is brighter. i hoped it would change when i went from win2k to xp, but it didn't... i think it is just a matter of splitting the signal at the card. __________________ if everyone is thinking alike, chances are no one is thinking.

08-11-2004, 09:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Krycheck Sultana ruined my evil persona Location: Los Angeles	Well I switched the monitors at the card and changed which is the primary and that seems to make it better. All this time I thought I had a bad monitor. __________________ His pants are tight...but his morals are loose!!