PNY 6800 2D looks terrible

[Atomic]

Hi,

I have the PNY 6800 with 128Mb ram.

3D is awesome. I can do Doom 3 maxed at 1024x768 with no slow downs. Graphics look great.

2D however is terrible. Can't get the card to show clean text at any resolution above 1024x768. At 1024x768 it isn't that great either. The text is blurry and doesn't look solid on my 19" CRT. It actually makes my eyes tired after 10 or 20 mins.

When compared with a GF 4200 that I have on another computer, the difference is obvious. The 4200 has great 2D and clean text at high resolutions. I tried the 4200 instead of the 6800 in my Doom 3 computer and the 2D looks great.

This is my second 6800 and I'm having this issue.

Is there something that I'm missing? For $300 I would think that a video card would have decent 2D. At least good enough so that it's not fuzzy up to 1200x1024.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

 

[Cawchy87]

Mabye with the install of new drivers it auto set your monitor to 60Hz. Try cranking up your refreash rate on your monitor. (Properties -> settings -> advanced -> monitor (change it to AT LEAST 85 Hz)

 

[Scopolamine]

i notice this with my pny 6800gt too. But after removing the monitor and tightly secure it to the vga slot, the text becomes clear again. I don't know why that works but it works. It's NOT because the cable wasn't secured before because it was. Sometimes this happens for no reason. I think it's a PNY problem. Try this to see if it works. I think it's a PNY issue. I'm beginning to think PNY is really crap.

 

[Optimummind]

Scopolamine, why have to named yourself after a drug?

 

[Atomic]

Tried tighening the monitor cable connection. No dice. The text looks somehow fatter than it should. Looks like I'm running on a non native mode on a TFT screen(or whatever those thin screens are called).

I'm beginning to think that PNY sucks too.

Anyone else have any suggestions? I wanna try everything before I drag myself back to Compusa and try to get store credit since it's been over 14 days since I bought the card. That's what happens when you build a system right before you go on vacation.

Thanks!!!

 

[JBT]

Hmm not sure my PNY's 2D looks better than it did when I had a Radeon 9500 pro.

 

[Keysplayr]

I had mine on a KVM and had "double exposure" on text. I have since removed the KVM and directly connected the keyboard, mouse and monitor to my PC. Problem gone. Text beautiful. I guess I need to purchase another KVM as mine is pretty old.

Keys

 

[Atomic]

What resolution are you guys using?

Thanks!!!

 

[Scopolamine]

i'm running at 1024x768 @ 75Hz

And Optimummind, it's interesting that you notice my screen name. I named it after a drug because I am a med student and drug names have the most obscure sounding ring to them, which is what I want.

 

[JBT]

I run mine at 1280x960 @ 85 Hz

 

[Atomic]

Well,

Updated my motherboard bios, and 4 in 1 drivers. No change.

I get the feeling that Nvidia or PNY is trying to smooth the text on the screen, but this is giving the text a blurry effect.

I looked all through the nView uitility, but didn't find anything about smoothing the text.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!

 

[Abzstrak]

sounds like maybe a bad video card man, running my XFX 6800 at 1600x1200 and it looks pretty damn good... I'd return it

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: JBT
I run mine at 1280x960 @ 85 Hz

Are you using "Clear Text"? In windows XP "Appearence" options under "effects"?
My 2D is now crystal clear since I took it off the KVM. Try another monitor if you can.

 

[Atomic]

Yep,

I'm thinking about doing that. Maybe get a x800 since they only have PNY at Compusa and I've gone through 2 of them already. Gonna try to get store credit since it's been over 14 days.

Saw a couple other threads on the net about blurry text.

Might be due to low quality DAC.

Thx JBT and Scopolamine for the screen res info. Actually I'm running my comp at 1280x960 @ 85 Hz and it's very stressful on the eyes.

 

[Atomic]

Hey keysplayr2003,

that actually did make a big difference.
Got rid of the flat panel on wrong res look.
That was the setting I was looking for.
It still doesn't look quite clean, but I'm gonna try a few more things and see if I can get it to look right.

I'll hold off the Compusa trip for now.

Thanks!!!

 

[JBT]

Yes I have clear type on as well.

 

[Mucker]

I almost returned my Toshiba laptop because of a fuzzy screen. It was driving me batty until after a couple days use I found out to turn off font smoothing. The screen became focused after making the change...perfect for me. One has to remember a TFT display has square pixels so the text is going to look slightly blocky if you are running 1024x768 resolution which is native for my screen. It is much like viewing a TV, the closer you are to the screen, the more pixelated the images become. Don't look so hard for flaws in your TFT, after using it a while you won't notice it, the more important thing is that the focus is sharp so that you don't go cross-eyed! You may want to use a TFT dsiplay with a higher native resolution if it is bothering you.......


EDIT: Whoops, I thought we were talking TFT's here, guess I need to read more thoroughly........

m

 

[jimithing2077]

Originally posted by: Atomic
Hi,

I have the PNY 6800 with 128Mb ram.

3D is awesome. I can do Doom 3 maxed at 1024x768 with no slow downs. Graphics look great.

2D however is terrible. Can't get the card to show clean text at any resolution above 1024x768. At 1024x768 it isn't that great either. The text is blurry and doesn't look solid on my 19" CRT. It actually makes my eyes tired after 10 or 20 mins.

When compared with a GF 4200 that I have on another computer, the difference is obvious. The 4200 has great 2D and clean text at high resolutions. I tried the 4200 instead of the 6800 in my Doom 3 computer and the 2D looks great.

This is my second 6800 and I'm having this issue.

Is there something that I'm missing? For $300 I would think that a video card would have decent 2D. At least good enough so that it's not fuzzy up to 1200x1024.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

Just bought my PNY 6800 NU card from CompUSA and the 2D quality is exactly, if not better, than my old 9600 Pro. There are settings in the Nvidia panel to adjust the sharpness, that might help. Other than that maybe its just your monitor? Drivers ur using?

Mine works fine though, no complains to PNY from me

 

[jimithing2077]

Originally posted by: Atomic
Hey keysplayr2003,

that actually did make a big difference.
Got rid of the flat panel on wrong res look.
That was the setting I was looking for.
It still doesn't look quite clean, but I'm gonna try a few more things and see if I can get it to look right.

I'll hold off the Compusa trip for now.

Thanks!!!

btw, compusa has a "open box" return policy..you have to pay 15% of the retail price if you return it within 14 days

 

[Optimummind]

Originally posted by: Scopolamine
And Optimummind, it's interesting that you notice my screen name. I named it after a drug because I am a med student and drug names have the most obscure sounding ring to them, which is what I want.

I work in the pharmacy.

 

[Bar81]

Originally posted by: jimithing2077

Originally posted by: Atomic
Hey keysplayr2003,

that actually did make a big difference.
Got rid of the flat panel on wrong res look.
That was the setting I was looking for.
It still doesn't look quite clean, but I'm gonna try a few more things and see if I can get it to look right.

I'll hold off the Compusa trip for now.

Thanks!!!

btw, compusa has a "open box" return policy..you have to pay 15% of the retail price if you return it within 14 days

Although they will usually wave it if you claim it's defective.

 

[Bar81]

Originally posted by: Atomic
Hi,

I have the PNY 6800 with 128Mb ram.

3D is awesome. I can do Doom 3 maxed at 1024x768 with no slow downs. Graphics look great.

2D however is terrible. Can't get the card to show clean text at any resolution above 1024x768. At 1024x768 it isn't that great either. The text is blurry and doesn't look solid on my 19" CRT. It actually makes my eyes tired after 10 or 20 mins.

When compared with a GF 4200 that I have on another computer, the difference is obvious. The 4200 has great 2D and clean text at high resolutions. I tried the 4200 instead of the 6800 in my Doom 3 computer and the 2D looks great.

This is my second 6800 and I'm having this issue.

Is there something that I'm missing? For $300 I would think that a video card would have decent 2D. At least good enough so that it's not fuzzy up to 1200x1024.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

Had the same experience. Bought a BFG 6800GT OC and the same problem. Thought it might be the card so I bought another from another store halfway across the country - same problem with 2D. Took it as a sign and bought a X800 Pro and the problem went away. My first foray to Nvidia since the original GeForce and my last for a long while. nVidia's 2D has a LONG way to go before it can touch ATI's

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Bar81

Originally posted by: Atomic
Hi,

I have the PNY 6800 with 128Mb ram.

3D is awesome. I can do Doom 3 maxed at 1024x768 with no slow downs. Graphics look great.

2D however is terrible. Can't get the card to show clean text at any resolution above 1024x768. At 1024x768 it isn't that great either. The text is blurry and doesn't look solid on my 19" CRT. It actually makes my eyes tired after 10 or 20 mins.

When compared with a GF 4200 that I have on another computer, the difference is obvious. The 4200 has great 2D and clean text at high resolutions. I tried the 4200 instead of the 6800 in my Doom 3 computer and the 2D looks great.

This is my second 6800 and I'm having this issue.

Is there something that I'm missing? For $300 I would think that a video card would have decent 2D. At least good enough so that it's not fuzzy up to 1200x1024.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

Had the same experience. Bought a BFG 6800GT OC and the same problem. Thought it might be the card so I bought another from another store halfway across the country - same problem with 2D. Took it as a sign and bought a X800 Pro and the problem went away. My first foray to Nvidia since the original GeForce and my last for a long while. nVidia's 2D has a LONG way to go before it can touch ATI's

Hooray!!! More nvidia cards for us...

 

[tr1kstanc3]

bought an evga 6800nu from microcenter and the 2d was awful. the text was blurry and this was at 1200x900. exchanged for a new card and the 2d is fine. must be bad quality control?

 

[Atomic]

Well,

I think I'm going to keep it. Looks pretty good now. I just unchecked the the box that says "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts" under display properties->appearance->Effects.

This made things alot better. It's still not as good as my 4200, but it's not horrible. Actually when I put my 4200 in the computer that I have my 6800 in, the text looked clean right after boot up. I think the driver might set this for the 6800.

Anyway, I'm prolly not gonna go to CompUsa. Thank goodness. The only reason I bought it from there was because I had a $200 gift certificate. I usually shop at Fry's.

Thanks for the help.