Author Topic: Video Card / Dual Monitor Issue (Read 5369 times)

jungalo · « **on:** August 23, 2009, 02:50:35 PM »

Alright, so I recently purchased the Radeon HD 4350 so that I could hook up dual monitors on my computer. One of the monitors is an actual monitor while the other one is an HDTV. But whenever I do turn them both on there are a few things that keep happening and I am wondering if it's a problem with the video card or just a problem with the TV.

1. So the first thing that keeps happening is whenever I turn on the TV the screen flashes like 5-10 times and if I keep moving the mouse it will keep flashing over and over again. So i have to wait for it to finish whatever it is that it's doing and then I can use it again. I'm not sure if this is common with dual monitor set ups, but it's a pain.

2. Another problem is that when I turn off the computer with dual monitors turned on and then I turn the computer back on again with only the computer monitor turned on it's incapable of detecting the TV when it's switched on. BUT before the TV is turned on, the extended desktop mode is still enabled. It's only when I turn the TV is on that it becomes disabled. And then from that point you can't change the options on it because it says there is no second monitor.

3. Whenever I set the HDTV to the highest resolution it doesn't fill the screen all the way. (This part is the least of my concerns here)

4. And lastly, some of my folders keep freezing up and Not Responding. So I go through the task manager and force close it but when I do the start bar and all my folders disappear and all that is left is my desktop background. This only happens (as far as I can tell) when both monitors are enabled.

Here is the link for the video card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127436

And also I have an Inspiron 530. Not that I think that matters for this. So mainly what I'm wondering is, first of all is this normal for dual monitors and if not do you think it's the TV or the card? Or something else entirely.

Quantos · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2009, 02:56:08 PM »

What cable are you using to connect the TV to the computer?

HDMI, S-Video......

smeezekitty · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2009, 02:59:43 PM »

the thing about the folders is fairly normal
it takes alot more processing power to paint 2 screens
i think its not frozen but rather slow
and about the other thing try 2 computer moniters

jungalo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:08:50 PM »

Quantos: I'm using a DVI cable for the monitor and an HDMI cable for the HDTV.

Smeezekitty: Good to know about the folders.

Quantos · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:11:42 PM »

Quote from: jungalo on August 23, 2009, 03:08:50 PM

Quantos: I'm using a DVI cable for the monitor and an HDMI cable for the HDTV.

Are you leaving the TV on it's standard input selection, or are you manually selecting the input mode?
What resolution are you trying to drive the TV at?

jungalo · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:21:49 PM »

Quote from: Quantos on August 23, 2009, 03:11:42 PM

Are you leaving the TV on it's standard input selection, or are you manually selecting the input mode?
What resolution are you trying to drive the TV at?

I am leaving it on its standard input, other than selecting that specific HDMI port to be shown on the screen. Although I don't see any specific options in the menus to configure it so it's a monitor.

And the resolution is 1920x1080. I have tried all the others but none look as good (obviously) and the other ones usually run off the screen.

Quantos · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:23:54 PM »

The resolution could have something to do with it. Even with HDMI there are a lot of TV's that don't like a resolution that high. Try dropping it down to 1024x768.

What is the make and model of the TV?

jungalo · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2009, 04:18:49 PM »

Quote from: Quantos on August 23, 2009, 03:23:54 PM

The resolution could have something to do with it. Even with HDMI there are a lot of TV's that don't like a resolution that high. Try dropping it down to 1024x768.

What is the make and model of the TV?

Sorry about the delay, I tried dropping it down but the problems still persist. And the make and model of the TV are Philips 42PFL3603D/F7.

Here is a link to it on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-42PFL3603D-F7-42-Inch-1080p/dp/B001E3XAI6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251065696&sr=8-4

Quantos · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2009, 04:24:59 PM »

On page 24 of the manual it says to set the refresh rate at 60Hz, is that what you have?

jungalo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2009, 04:47:31 PM »

Quote from: Quantos on August 23, 2009, 04:24:59 PM

On page 24 of the manual it says to set the refresh rate at 60Hz, is that what you have?

To be honest I'm not entirely sure how to check this. Although I did notice when I was looking at the specifications for the TV through the program that came with the card it says the TV is 89Hz and my monitor is 59Hz.

Quantos · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2009, 04:48:42 PM »

Quote from: jungalo on August 23, 2009, 04:47:31 PM

To be honest I'm not entirely sure how to check this. Although I did notice when I was looking at the specifications for the TV through the program that came with the card it says the TV is 89Hz and my monitor is 59Hz.

Change the refresh to 60Hz on the TV, let me know how that works.

jungalo · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2009, 06:37:34 PM »

Quote from: Quantos on August 23, 2009, 04:48:42 PM

Change the refresh to 60Hz on the TV, let me know how that works.

Ok so I set the TV to 60Hz and the problems still persist. Once the desktop is extended onto the TV, if I change the channel from the PC to something else and then go back to the PC channel, the computer flashes a few times and then it doesn't detect the TV any longer. The only way I can get it to detect it again is to shut off the TV and turn it back on. But when I do this, all the settings for the TV are gone like the resolution and I have to reset them.

Quantos · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2009, 06:39:58 PM »

Did you install all of the software for the video card?

If so then uninstall everything but the video driver and try.

jungalo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:18:14 PM »

Quote from: Quantos on August 23, 2009, 06:39:58 PM

Did you install all of the software for the video card?

If so then uninstall everything but the video driver and try.

Ok, so I uninstalled everything (including the drivers by accident) the problems were fixed, although I couldn't make adjustments to the monitor settings and the display was stretched out. So I went to reinstall just the drivers but when I did the Catalyst program force installed itself and alas the problems return.

Quantos · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:24:13 PM »

Uninstall Catalyst again.

I'll get you to try working it through the Windows Display Properties.

jungalo · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:43:00 PM »

Alright, so I killed Catalyst and now the second desktop stays there about a quarter of the time when I change the channel and the rest of the time it doesn't. And the times when it does work the resolution is all jazzed up but other times it's not. However, every time I turn the TV on the screen flashes, leading me to believe that it's aware there is a second monitor for a brief second or two.

I'm just wondering, does this sound more like a problem with the card or the TV to you?

smeezekitty · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:44:54 PM »

the screen always flashes when connecting a new moniter
it should stop withen 30 seconds and display properly

Quantos · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:46:11 PM »

Neither yet, we're still trying things.

When you go into Display Properties, it shows you both screens that are available as 1 and 2, correct?
What happens when you select the monitor with the 2 on it and tell it to Identify Monitor, does it show on the TV?

jungalo · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:57:55 PM »

When the second one won't work, both monitors are shown but the TV is grayed out. I right click on it and Identify is grayed out. So I clicked extend desktop onto this monitor and then it works again.

smeezekitty · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:59:24 PM »

you are suppose to have that always checked

Quantos · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:59:44 PM »

Is there any way that you can test this with an actual second monitor?

I'm getting the feeling that it's something with the TV.

Oh, double check that you are still running it at 60Hz.

jungalo · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2009, 08:28:48 PM »

Quote from: smeezekitty on August 23, 2009, 07:59:24 PM

you are suppose to have that always checked

It keeps getting unchecked whenever I change the channels on the TV.

Quote from: Quantos on August 23, 2009, 07:59:44 PM

Is there any way that you can test this with an actual second monitor?

I'm getting the feeling that it's something with the TV.

Oh, double check that you are still running it at 60Hz.

It is running at 60Hz. And I pulled out an old CRT monitor and tested the VGA port on the video card while I had my other monitor still running and it was completely fine. No flashing or anything. However, I'm not sure if it would be different with the HDMI port or not, I need to get a hold of my friends monitor before I can test it out. Although I think it might be the TV cause I don't really see why using the HDMI port would really make much of a difference.

Quantos · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2009, 08:32:09 PM »

This will tell us what general direction to take.

With it being fine with the CRT we can rule out the video card I think. Of course I will suggest connecting your LCD monitor to the HDMI output that the TV was plugged into.

I don't actually think there is anything wrong with the TV either. I think it's just something that needs adjusting in a setting somewhere.

I'm gonna go read the manual again.

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Author Topic: Video Card / Dual Monitor Issue (Read 5369 times)

jungalo

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