DVI problem on video card

[JaYBirD0613]

I have a 9700 pro that I've been using for dual LCD monitors. I've tried using the DVI port numerous times, but it doesnt work on any LCDs. The strange part is that if I use a DVI-VGA adapter on that port, it will work with a VGA cable.

So obviously the port is able to send out the signal, but for some reason it wont display using DVI. And yes, I've tried multiple DVI cables.

Any ideas as to what could be the problem?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: JaYBirD0613
I have a 9700 pro that I've been using for dual LCD monitors. I've tried using the DVI port numerous times, but it doesnt work on any LCDs. The strange part is that if I use a DVI-VGA adapter on that port, it will work with a VGA cable.

So obviously the port is able to send out the signal, but for some reason it wont display using DVI. And yes, I've tried multiple DVI cables.

Any ideas as to what could be the problem?

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the DVI output is bad. If it doesn't work with multiple monitors and multiple cables (and you are sure the monitors and cables are OK), it must be the port. Unless you screwed something up in the configuration.

A DVI-I port is really a separate DVI-D and VGA port that happen to be wired to the same output. The "DVI->VGA adapter" just moves some pins around, discarding the DVI-D part and putting the pins carrying the VGA signal where they belong. It's entirely possible the "VGA" part is working fine, but the "DVI" part of the port is borked.

 

[JaYBirD0613]

That makes sense and explains why VGA is working.

Now to my next question. Can you recomend a good AGP card that will be able to power two 2405FPWs thats under $250?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: JaYBirD0613
That makes sense and explains why VGA is working.

Now to my next question. Can you recomend a good AGP card that will be able to power two 2405FPWs thats under $250?

If you just want to use it for 2D, any dual-DVI card should work (although I'd try to look for an ATI card if possible, since older NVIDIA ones have had issues with high-resolution DVI output). If you don't mind running one off of a VGA output, something like a RADEON 9200 would work just fine.

If you want to run 3D games at 1920x1200... look for an X850XT, but it still probably won't be fast enough for most newer games.

 

[JaYBirD0613]

I dont need to game at 1920x1200. Playing at 1280x1024 is fine. Will my 2405FPW recognize the game at that resolution and apply the black bars?

I also dont mind having one lcd on VGA, and the other on DVI. The performance and appearance is minimal right?

Ive been looking at a 6600 GS with 256MB. sound good?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: JaYBirD0613
I dont need to game at 1920x1200. Playing at 1280x1024 is fine. Will my 2405FPW recognize the game at that resolution and apply the black bars?

Depends on how you have it set up. You can run it 1:1, proportionally scaled, or scaled/stretched to fullscreen. It's no different than any other application, or your desktop.

I also dont mind having one lcd on VGA, and the other on DVI. The performance and appearance is minimal right?

Should be.

Ive been looking at a 6600 GS with 256MB. sound good?

What's a 6600"GS"? There's a 6600GT and a 6800GS, but (AFAIK) not a 6600GS.

A 6800GS/GT would be a better choice than a 6600-class card (though it does depend on what games you want to play). Also, having 256MB of RAM on any 6600-class card is pretty much a waste.

 

[JaYBirD0613]

yah I mean to type 6800 GS. Thanks for ur help!

 

[rbV5]

It could be a configuration or driver issue as well, 2405FPWs native resolution is 1900x1200 which is beyond the spec for single link DVI at 60Hz refresh.

ATI drivers do support that resolution over DVI however, but you can still test the port itself by using a reduced resolution and hotswapping the VGA and DVI inputs on the monitor while in windows. There have been a number of issues detecting digital displays.

If you are getting a new card, you really should look at a dual DVI card, there are inexpensive models now, and those displays will be at their best connected digitally at native resolution.

For AGP, 6600GT runs ~ $120 AR at newegg with dual DVI, and will offer better performance than 9700, 6800GS dual DVI is OOS at newegg ~ 235 shipped, Something in that range should suit you fine.

 

[JaYBirD0613]

I'm in Canada and I cant seem to find any AGP 6800s. So I'm stuck between a 6600 with 256MB or a 6600GT with 128MB. Which is better?