Distorted display at boot time

[cycleman77]

Hi folks,

I recently built a new machine and during post, the screen is distorted. The distortion consists of lines going across the screen (similar to old CRT TVs that had rabbit ears) and the words/logos on the screen are 'echoed' horizontally. The effects persist through the Windows startup screen. When the user name and password prompt comes up, the distortion is gone.

This is consistent for all starts and reboots. The catch; this only occurs when I am using an Acer P243W (24" display). When I connect the machine to a Sceptre X20WG (20.1" display), there is no distortion what so ever.

Machine hardware:
AMD Phenom II X3 720
MSI 790FX-GD70
Corsair DDR3 1600 4GB
ATI HD4770 in Crossfire (2)
Corsair 750W PS
WD 750GB HD

Nothing is overclocked. All pieces are running at default speeds; even the memory, which is running at 1066. I am running Windows 7 RC1 64-bit. All drivers are as up-to-date as I can find. Even then, it couldn't be a driver problem because the drivers don't even come into play until Windows is up, right? There is a BIOS update available on MSI's website, but I have not tried it yet.

-Thanks

--edited because I can't spell--

 

[Aluvus]

Are you connecting the monitors with VGA, or DVI?

 

[cycleman77]

DVI - on both. Not at the same time. 🙂
I have also tried both DVI ports on card 1. No effect.
I have tried switching card 1 and card 2 (moving card 1 to slot 3 and card 2 to slot 1). No effect.

 

[Kirby64]

Makes me think this has to do with the monitor. During startup/windows bootup screen, the resolution is very low. The monitor has to scale that, and it might be doing it improperly. Try setting windows to a low resolution and see if you get the same problem. If so, it's the monitor.

 

[cycleman77]

I tried a number of different resolutions, and yes, if the resolution is too low, the same effects occur. In this case, too low is anything under 1680x1050.

I have had this display for a couple months and I didn't have a problem like this before. My old machine didn't exhibit any distortions at post/windows startup.

Tomorrow, I think I will swap video cards. I will take out the HD4770's and put in the HD3850 from my old machine.

 

[RebateMonger]

I have basically the same problem with Windows 7 x64 RC1.

The problem didn't exist with the Public Beta, but I'm seeing it with the RC. I'm using the Intel x4500HD display chip on an Intel G45-chipset motherboard.

 

[Chopstick217]

I had the exact same problem with my older 7950 GT video card. I tried multiple drivers and monitors. In the end, I RMAed the card and the problem went away. I also upgraded to a newer video card since.

 

[cycleman77]

I swapped out the HD4770's for a single HD3850. Post looked fine, but the distortion appeared at the Windows start up screen. It went away at the loggin screen.

So, with a 24 inch display, the following configurations show distortion at post, Windows start up, and any resolution below 1680 x 1050:
two HD4770's in Crossfire
one HD4770 (either one, I tried both)

The single HD3850 showed distortion at Windows start up only.

Using a 20.1 inch display, repeating the above setups results in no distortion at all during post, Windows start up, or low resolutions after logging into Windows.

If it was just the 4770's, I would RMA them and be done with it, but since the 3850 showed the same distortion, I'm not so sure.

Ok, how about this...
Since the 3850 only showed distortions at the Windows start up screen, I will remove Windows 7 and install Windows XP. If XP doesn't show distortion, I can attribute it the OS in the 3850 case and RMA the 4770s. If XP does show distortion.... well... then I'm stuck.

Might have to save this for the weekend. I'll see how tomorrow goes.

Either way, I'll update later.

 

[cycleman77]

Instead of installing XP, I just put a 4770 in my old machine. (Should have thought of this first, but oh well...)
Same distortion on the old machine with the new card.

I'm just going to RMA the 4770s.

Thanks for the replies 🙂