Problem setting up dual monitors

[Snowshredder102]

I currently have a 6970 and an using a Dell U3011 (2560x1600). I decided to buy a smaller monitor to use when I game so I can watch videos while I'm playing. It was an older Dell 4:3, 15" monitor that has a resolution of 1280x800. The problem is when I connect my smaller monitor in, it will force my U3011 to go to 1920x1080, which looks horrendous on a 30". It will not give me an option to go to its native resolution unless I disconnect my smaller monitor. I've fiddled with the settings to no avail and was hoping someone would have an idea of how I can fix this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ketchup]

What version of Windows are your running, and where are you trying to make the changes (OS software, video card software)?

If running Windows 7, I have found that the Windows Screen resolution page was best at getting me what I wanted.

 

[Snowshredder102]

What version of Windows are your running, and where are you trying to make the changes (OS software, video card software)?

If running Windows 7, I have found that the Windows Screen resolution page was best at getting me what I wanted.

I'm running Windows 7 and I'm going through the control panel and going to "Appearance and Themes" and going to "Change screen resolution". It's just every time I select extend the screen with my monitor it forces my U3011 to go to 1080p and gives no selection to go any higher. I'm really hoping this just isn't a limitation of Windows.

 

[Ketchup]

This isn't a Windows limitation, could be a limitation of the video card, cable, or monitor though. At work my laptop runs 1920x1080, one screen runs 1680x1050, and the other runs 1600x900.

So when you have the affected monitor plugged in and selected in the screen resolution menu, does it not show a higher available resolution?

 

[Snowshredder102]

This isn't a Windows limitation, could be a limitation of the video card, cable, or monitor though. At work my laptop runs 1920x1080, one screen runs 1680x1050, and the other runs 1600x900.

So when you have the affected monitor plugged in and selected in the screen resolution menu, does it not show a higher available resolution?

It just shows 1920x1080 as the highest, there's nothing that's grayed out or anything. When I unplug the smaller monitor it immediately goes back to 2560x1600 and becomes an option again. I am running two 6970's crossfired and even when I plug the smaller monitor to my second card it does the same thing. I may need to read further into my video card to see if it's limiting me.

 

[denis280]

I may need to read further into my video card to see if it's limiting me.

you have to set the resolution by the video card.not windows.

 

[Ketchup]

you have to set the resolution by the video card.not windows.

That's probably dependent on the card/driver.

Snowshredder102, what video drivers are you running, and does the AMD software have anything for this? I haven't had an AMD card in a while.

 

[Snowshredder102]

That's probably dependent on the card/driver.

Snowshredder102, what video drivers are you running, and does the AMD software have anything for this? I haven't had an AMD card in a while.

I'm running AMD's Catalyst, which is the control panel for my video cards. Messing through those settings still is not letting me change my resolution.

 

[Ketchup]

Any updates on this Snowshredder102? I thought of another question on this: what ports are you using for these connections, and what kinds of cables are you using? Also, does your system have integrated graphics, and is it enabled?

System specs in general would probably help here.