Display issues but only with 2 monitor setup.

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bgunner

bgunner

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Feb 13, 2009
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I'll start with my system specs first:
AMD Phenom II x4 965BE @ 4079 MHz @ 1.392V Core voltage
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO @ 52°C full load using Intel Burn test, 34°C idle with ambient temp of 22°C
Asus Sabertooth 990FX r2.0, HT @ 2320 MHz, NB @ 2560 MHz
G.Skill Ares 2x4 GB 1866 @ 1862 MHz @ 9-10-9-28 @ 1.57V. The extra voltage is to stabilize the ram at this frequency.
Seasonic X-850 Power Supply
OCZ Vertex 3 60 GB SSD for Win 7 x64 home premium OS & Kingston V300 120 GB SSD for games.
Seagate barracuda 1 TB and Hitachi Deskstar 500 GB HDD's for storage and games.
XFX AMD Radeon HD 7970 Double D core @ 970 MHz and memory @ 1575 MHz
Antec 902 Case custom modified for wire routing

OK, now that you are familiar with the the parts lets get down to the issue:

When 2 monitors are hooked up my main monitor will go, well it is hard to explain so I will give pics:

and



This only seems to happen when 2 monitors are hooked up and it does not do it all the time, seemingly random times. I have tried different drivers all the way back to 13.4 and the newest beta driver 14.7 with no change.

If i unplug the main monitor the scree swaps over to the second monitor and shows the same thing. This tells me that the monitors and cables are good and the issue lies some where else. I suspect the GPU is bad but I want another opinion on this.

The GPU is not over heating and stays around 69°C while playing Crysis 3. The only time it throttles is if I stress test the card. Heat is not the issue on any component in my system. removing the OC from the card does not help either

Any suggestions are welcome and thanks for taking the time to read this.
 
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Rapajez

Rapajez

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Jul 17, 2014
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Just to clarify:

If you swap cables behind the GPU, the issue follows the port? The monitor on the right-side goes bad? Or the issue remains with whichever monitor windows sets to primary?

How about if you just change the primary desktop from within Windows' Resolution menu. Does it still follow the primary monitor?

I guess there's a small chance there's something funky in your Windows install, or with some other random driver (audio even). Maybe a fresh Windows install with the latest drivers is worth a shot, before you write off the card?

Otherwise...is the GPU still under warranty?
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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Feb 13, 2009
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No it is not a port issue. I have determined this because no matter what port I plug into the issue remains. It is which ever monitor Windows has designated primary.

I can not change the primary monitor in Windows resolution because I can not see it to do it. It is a good suggestion but I can't try it to see what would happen. I can not force this issue to happen to even test that suggestion untill it decided to do it again.

I would rather not reinstall teh OS unless it is absolutely necessary because of how my drives are set up. All my user data is on a storage drive and not the ssd's along with the fact I have 7 drive letters that I would need to remember and readjust once all is said and done. It is possible it is a software issue but because I can not force this to happen I can't test for it.

Yes my card is under warranty. It actually has a lifetime warranty. I have been in contact with the company But I am very hesitant to send it in. 1. because they want me to pay for shipping, 2. because I can not make it happen it is very likely they wont be able to also. Then in that case they will send it back to me and then I'm back in the same situation.
 
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Rapajez

Rapajez

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As for the Windows window, use these steps to move the window without "seeing" it:

Hold down the ALT key.
Press SPACEBAR.
Press M (Move).
A 4-headed arrow will appear. When it does, use your arrow keys to move the outline of the window.
When you are happy with its position, press ENTER.

Maybe the refresh rate or resolution in that menu are jacked up?

You can try updating some of the other drivers, like the audio. Sometimes they can have weird interactions with the video driver. You can also be sure you're doing a "clean" driver install with the latest.

I feel your pain, but unless someone else chimes in, Windows refresh and GPU replacement may be your only options left. You can try to backup everything on your boot drive, and leave the rest of the drives unchanged/unplugged during the re-install. You can backup steam games/saves to external drives within the GUI, and quickly re-install drivers with "SlimDriver" and applications with "Ninite.com". (Those are both cool sites/utilities, if you have time to check them out.)
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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Feb 13, 2009
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Next time it happens I will try to move the window over to the second monitor and give it a shot.

As for my Audio drivers, they have not released a new in over 1 year maybe even 2 with one exception the addition of windows 8 and 8.1 compatibility but that is a specific download and same driver number. I have a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer audio card and by today's standards it is old.

I have reinstalled my os with this setup in the past and it is just a pain. I can do it and know what needs to be done to save my data but we are talking 12 -24 hours to set things back up and get all links, strait and symbolic, set up again. Just FYI, I keep all my drivers on my storage drive and backed up on a flash drive so unless there is a bran new update I have them all on hand. :)
 
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dovah-chan

dovah-chan

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Feb 5, 2014
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A fresh Windows install doesn't stop it. It's happened to me on Windows 7 to a fresh Windows 8 install which I did when I got my 840 EVO so there was no possible chance of any residual files.

It's unlikely it's any other device or driver as this error has happened to me ever since I got this GPU. It's gone through 3 different motherboard upgrades and 2 CPUs and 4 different RAM DIMMs from different companies.

The issue does only remain on whatever is the designated primary monitor.
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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Update: turned out that it was all AMD drivers above 13.12. All 14.x drivers caused this issue. Since the release of 14.12 the issue has been fixed. This was a driver issue that AMD refused to acknowledge and repair for close to 1 year.

Since updating to the newest drive the situation has been resolved. At least now I can use the mantel API with out screen issues.

After further testing It is the fact I am overclocking the card.
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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Feb 13, 2009
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After months of testing i found this: it happens with the Tahiti Chips, 7950, 7970, 280 and 280X while running dual monitors and OCed. Once the Overclock is removed the issue stops OR if you run just a single monitor while OCed the issue stops. happens still with new drivers.

Cards personally tested: XFX 7970 Double D :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150665
and an Asus R9 280 Direct CU ii :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121867

Both have this issue and in different machines. Starting to think it is a driver issue and handling web browser info and videos. Only sure fire way to avoid this is to not overclock when using more than one monitor.

If anyone has any more info on how to get around this I sure would like the input.
 
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