DVI-D port does not work on my GTX 660 Ti [edit: figured out the problem]

[Leros]

I just installed an EVGA GTX 660 Ti into an existing computer and I cannot get the second DVI port to work.

This GPU has a DVI-I port and DVI-D port, but I can only get a signal out of the DVI-I port. I have two identical monitors both connected by DVI-D cables. Both monitors work on the DVI-I port, but neither work on the DVI-D port.

I assumed the card was defective so I got a replacement. I'm having the same problem with the replacement.

Is possible this is a power problem? My PSU has dual 18A 12v rails. The instructions say I need 24A on the 12v rail, but I assume that means system wide. The GPU has an entire 18A rail to itself. I wouldn't think that power would be a problem unless I was doing something GPU intensive and I'm not getting a signal at boot time.

 

[Leros]

I just put a 650w PSU with a 52A 12v rail into the computer and I'm still having the same problem.

I tried the GPU in another computer too, same problem. Maybe I got another defective one?

 

[ShintaiDK]

Just to be sure, the monitors are digital and not analog? If analog it expains the problem.

And do you have any picture if you connect 1 monitor to one port at a time? The BIOS and windows loading should happen there.

 

[VirtualLarry]

BIOS bug? Not enabling that port for display? What kind of cables are you using, OP? Is the EDID getting read properly?

 

[Leros]

Just to be sure, the monitors are digital and not analog? If analog it expains the problem.

And do you have any picture if you connect 1 monitor to one port at a time? The BIOS and windows loading should happen there.

Both of the monitors are using DVI-D cables, so totally digital. I get a picture out of the DVI-I port with either monitor connected to it, but no picture out of the DVI-D port with either monitor connected to it.

 

[Leros]

BIOS bug? Not enabling that port for display? What kind of cables are you using, OP? Is the EDID getting read properly?

I just upgraded the BIOS to the latest version. No improvement.

I don't get any output signal from the DVI-D, so it display nothing during BIOS and my OSes (Ubuntu and Windows) don't see it. It's like the DVI-D port isn't connected.

 

[Leros]

By the way, I returned the card again, so I'm on my third card. I think I've basically ruled out a hardware problem with the GPU at this point.

I spoke with EVGA support and they don't see to have any ideas for me. I'm supposed to get a call back from somebody next week.

 

[Anarchist420]

Did you wait for Windows to boot?

 

[ShintaiDK]

If you unplug both monitors. And then only plug one into the port. Do you see BIOS screen? if yes, then its a software issue. If no, then its either your monitor or cable I guess. You already excluded the option of being GFX card.

 

[lehtv]

Have you tried a different cable?

 

[Leros]

Did you wait for Windows to boot?

I get no signal at BIOS. If I boot into an OS, the OS only detects the monitor on the DVI-I ports. It is as if the DVI-D port is not connected.

 

[Leros]

If you unplug both monitors. And then only plug one into the port. Do you see BIOS screen? if yes, then its a software issue. If no, then its either your monitor or cable I guess. You already excluded the option of being GFX card.

Both monitors work on the DVI-I port, so the monitors and cables are fine. The cables are DVI-D cables, so it shouldn't matter if the port is DVI-I or DVI-D.

Only using one monitor at a time results in no changes. If the monitor is plugged into the DVI-I port, I get a signal. If the monitor is plugged into the DVI-D port, I do not get a signal.

 

[Leros]

Have you tried a different cable?

I've tried three different monitors, all with DVI-D cables. They all work on the DVI-I port, but not the DVI-D Port.

 

[Leros]

I'm getting pretty fed up with this. I really don't understand it.

1) I've excluded the problem being the graphics card because I've tried 3 different cards.
2) I've excluded the problem being the monitors/cables because I can get each monitor/cable to work on the DVI-I port or another graphics card
3) I've excluded that it's a motherboard compatibility problem because EVGA has reports that my motherboard works with this card. And that I have the same problem with this card in another computer.
4) I've excluded the problem being software because I don't even get a signal at the BIOS, which EVGA says I should.

It seems like there is nothing left. At this point, I'd like to just return the video card and try a different model, but Fry's won't let me return because I lost one of the power adapters. They were willing to do an even exchange, but that's it.

I'm about to go buy a DisplayPort cable since my monitors have that and the graphics card does too. Hopefully that works.

 

[Leros]

The Display Port cable doesn't work either. I've tried on two different monitors with the graphics card in two different computers.

Maybe there is a problem with one of my computers that is damaging the graphics card except for the DVI-I port. It's weird that my old graphics card works just fine though.

 

[SolMiester]

was the old GPU 2 x DVI-I?.....DVI-D is digital only period.....where I is both analog and digital....this might explain why the monitors dont get signal on DVI-D port.
What are the monitors?

 

[SolMiester]

Both of the monitors are using DVI-D cables, so totally digital. I get a picture out of the DVI-I port with either monitor connected to it, but no picture out of the DVI-D port with either monitor connected to it.

Must be single link otherwise they wouldnt fit DVI-D socket, which could mean the cables are using analog DVI-I on the DVI-D output....

 

[Leros]

The old GPU was dual DVI-I. The old GPU is an ATI 4850

The cables are DVI-D cables going into DVI-D ports on the back of the monitors.

The monitors are Dell P2210s (Dell link). I also tested with an old LG LCD.

Must be single link otherwise they wouldnt fit DVI-D socket, which could mean the cables are using analog DVI-I on the DVI-D output....

I don't understand this comment. How the could the monitors be using analog on a DVI-D cable?

Also, none of that explains why DisplayPort doesn't work either.

 

[Leros]

Well f*** me.

In one last ditch effort, I bought a new motherboard thinking that maybe the first graphics card was defective and took out the motherboard with it. It had the same problem.

Before giving up altogether, I tried plugging one monitor in via DisplayPort and it worked. Huzzah! So I plugged my 2nd monitor in via DVI. Lo and behold, the DisplayPort monitor went dark and the DVI monitor came live.

Apparently this graphics card only drives one display by default (in the BIOS or in the OS with no driver). I booted into Windows and installed the driver and both screens now work. Now I just need to install the driver in Ubuntu and see if I can get both screens to work there (I spend 99% of my time in Ubuntu these days)

1) I'm a moron for not trying to install the driver
2) I've never seen a video card before that didn't drive all displays by default

 

[ViRGE]

2) I've never seen a video card before that didn't drive all displays by default

Odd. It's always been the inverse here. My work machine will fire up the 30" monitor at boot, but the 24" won't come alive without drivers. But I'm glad to see you got your problem worked out.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Well f*** me.

In one last ditch effort, I bought a new motherboard thinking that maybe the first graphics card was defective and took out the motherboard with it. It had the same problem.

Before giving up altogether, I tried plugging one monitor in via DisplayPort and it worked. Huzzah! So I plugged my 2nd monitor in via DVI. Lo and behold, the DisplayPort monitor went dark and the DVI monitor came live.

Apparently this graphics card only drives one display by default (in the BIOS or in the OS with no driver). I booted into Windows and installed the driver and both screens now work. Now I just need to install the driver in Ubuntu and see if I can get both screens to work there (I spend 99% of my time in Ubuntu these days)

1) I'm a moron for not trying to install the driver
2) I've never seen a video card before that didn't drive all displays by default

Last card I saw that used all displays by default was a PCI card

Good to see it solved.

 

[thomaspm002]

scuseee meeee please help me out , im having just the exact same issue as you do but i dont get how u fix it and i dont want to waste much more money on it . I want to see if u could help me out by explaining me your fix cuz i dont get how to "booted into Windows and installed the driver and both screens now work." i wonder too if u ended up using the Dispolay port and the DVI-I or both of the DVIs ?.

Ive done lots of research and your post is the most usefull at the net and well . I would aprreciate if u could take a bit of your time and help me out with this big problem of mine . thanks !!!

 

[phgachoud]

Just having same problem, hope somebody finds an issue...
Had a GT430 with exactly the same material before and worked on boot so I'll search on the GTX660 bios...

 

[vijayvenkat]

How did it do in Ubuntu?

Well f*** me.

In one last ditch effort, I bought a new motherboard thinking that maybe the first graphics card was defective and took out the motherboard with it. It had the same problem.

Before giving up altogether, I tried plugging one monitor in via DisplayPort and it worked. Huzzah! So I plugged my 2nd monitor in via DVI. Lo and behold, the DisplayPort monitor went dark and the DVI monitor came live.

Apparently this graphics card only drives one display by default (in the BIOS or in the OS with no driver). I booted into Windows and installed the driver and both screens now work. Now I just need to install the driver in Ubuntu and see if I can get both screens to work there (I spend 99% of my time in Ubuntu these days)

1) I'm a moron for not trying to install the driver
2) I've never seen a video card before that didn't drive all displays by default

 

[Leros]

Worked out of the box