Direct3D available resolutions with ATI

[hspder]

Hi!

I assembled an Intel 925X-based PC, with a PCIe ATI X700 to connect to a widescreen monitor via DVI that has a 1280x720 native resolution. I'm running WinXP SP2.

The Catalyst 4.11 drivers did set the correct resolution for the desktop, and the desktop looks fine @ 1280x720. It also works @ 1024x768, by the way, and even 1600x1200, 1920x1080, etc. Very flexible.

HOWEVER...

In 3DMark05, Aquamark and any other Direct3D app or game, I only have available resolutions up to 480 vertically, i.e., stuff like:

320x200
640x480
720x480
848x480
856x480

but NOTHING above that. Not 1280x720. Not 1024x768. Nothing else. Even though the Display applet in the control panel does let me pick many other resolutions, like the ones I mention above (1280x720, 1280x768, 1024x768, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, etc, etc, etc.)

Initially I thought it was the applications (3DMark05 and Aquamark3) I've tested first but this happens on EVERY SINGLE Direct3D game I've tested - and I've tested a lot. Except for FarCry, which simply crashes!

I'm very close to throwing the X700 out the window and getting an nVidia 6600, but I'll lose a lot of potential performance and if I do that, so I was wondering if...

Has ANYONE ever seen this before? Is there something I can tweak somewhere to force Direct3D apps / games to use higher resolutions.

HELP!

Best regards,

Hspder

 

[SrGuapo]

What version of DX are you using? It is possible that the install got borked and the D3D caps are all screwed up.

 

[hspder]

Hi!

DirectX 9.0c, and I did a clean reinstall several times already of both the drivers and DirectX (along with WinXP SP2).

dxdiag reports no problems either.

Best regards,

Hspder.

 

[SrGuapo]

Did you run the DX9 test for fullscreen in DX dialog? Have you tried any OpenGL apps out yet? Do you have any games like Half Life, Wolfenstein, Counterstrike that use OGL for rendering? If not, just go on google and try to find a simple fullscreen OGL app and try it out. If it has the same problems, I am guessing it has to do with the drivers...

 

[hspder]

Yes, I ran the DX9 test for fullscreen and it works - in 640x480, but it does.

I'll check out an OpenGL app, I haven't done that yet... Not that it solves the problem, but I guess that more info never hurts.

 

[Viper96720]

Thaf's the games problem not a dx problem. You have to manually change config files to run the resolution you want. With some games you can't even do that. Then your stuck using whatever resolutions the game menu offers.
http://www.widescreengamingfor...5251198ca4475c044c42ae
they got solutions for most popular games how to change the res.

Didn't notice you don't even get normal res offerings. Try reinsalling drivers, dx, and the game.

 

[hspder]

Hi!

So I ran the Return to Castle Wolfenstein demo (OpenGL) and it works beautifully @ ANY resolution I throw at it, including 1280x720 (which is what I want).

So as I suspected the problem is "limited" to Direct3D...

I've reinstalled WinXP SP2 (since you can't just resinstall DX9c, it won't let you) and the drivers multiple times - both older and newer versions - and it doesn't make a difference. Direct3D stuff is stuck @ 480 vertical max.

All games I own are D3D...

 

[SrGuapo]

When you installed the newer version of DX (DX 9.0c), did you make sure to uninstall the previous version? Usually it isn't an issue, but it gave me a hell of a time upgrading from the DX 9.0 SDK to DX 9.0b SDK... Did you try to find the older drivers (catalyst 4.10 or whatever) as well, just to make sure it isn't that particualr driver?

 

[hspder]

My WinXP CD has DX9c streamlined, so it installs DX9c always and directly - no upgrade involved.

I reinstalled the whole thing a couple of times already, no difference.

I also tried several previous catalyst drivers - 4.10, 4.05 - besides the newest 4.11. No change.

 

[SrGuapo]

You may want to download the Runtime from MS and try installing that over your current one. I can't really imagine what the problem is: it doesn't sound like DX or the drivers... Have you tried emailing ATI about the problem?

 

[hspder]

Hi!

I've downloaded the runtime and tried to run it - it refuses to do anything saying it's already installed. There are no command line options to force a reinstall...

I tried swapping out with an X300 and no changes, same thing.

I'm going now to try and swap out the card with an nVidia to see what happens...

 

[hspder]

Hi!

So I uninstalled everything ATI in the machine, grabbed a 6600GT, put it in, installed latest nVidia drivers, and ran 3DMark05. All resulotions came up in the drop down first time, including my target one.

I did not have to reinstall XP or DirectX for that matter. Just replacing the ATI with the nVidia did the trick.

Then I went back and reinstalled the ATI and software - problem came back.

So it's a problem with ATI.

Since the nVidia control panel is generally much better too, I'm staying away from ATI from now on. I've put the 6600GT back in and am returning the X700.

Thanks everybody for their suggestions...

Best regards,

Hspder.

 

[Jojo7]

I know this is kinda late and it may be a longshot, but did you try installing the monitor drivers?

 

[hspder]

Hi!

No monitor drivers are available for this widescreen monitor...