Hello. I recently attempted an upgrade from a 5670 to a 7950 that did not go well. My issue is similar, but not identical, to the one described at http://www.sapphireforum.com/showthread.php?30961-Radeon-7950-HDMI-out-issues.
My current setup with the 5670 is that the HDMI output goes to an HDMI switch. From there, I have two potential outputs - an LCD monitor and an HDTV. The HDMI switch allows me to... switch... between the two destinations. For normal PC usage, it directs output to my monitor. When I'm watching a video on the couch, I switch it so that it directs output my HDTV. This HDMI switch has LED lights that indicate which of the two outputs is currently active.
I installed the 7950 over the weekend. First suspect thing was that the LED lights on this HDMI switch were no longer eluminated. After some trial and error, I found that the card wouldn't send a signal to my LCD monitor unless I bypassed the HDMI switch and had a direct HDMI cable connection between the card output and the LCD monitor input. After that, the card didn't recognize the monitor automatically; I had to go through Catalyst and select the "detect monitors" option. Only then was a signal sent to my LCD monitor.
And this signal was pretty fragile. If I disconnected the HDMI cable from the card and/or monitor, and reconnected it shortly thereafter, the output signal was no longer sent. I had to go through Catalyst and run the "detect monitors" option again.
Additionally, I could not get the new card to send a signal to my HDTV, even if I hooked up an HDMI cable directly between the two devices (bypassing this HDMI switch). This last flaw was a showstopper for me.
I've already sent the card back. I experience none of these issues with my older 5670. I'm still interested in an upgrade, and the 7950 is the price/performance combo I'm drawn to. I haven't found much on the web detailing an issue like this, perhaps because I'm not using the same keywords others would use - I'm looking for 'selective HDMI output' or something along those lines, which doesn't turn up many hits. I'm curious - has anyone else run into similar trouble? Should I attribute this to a bad card and order another, or would you advise me to avoid the 79xx line altogether?
Sorry for the long post. Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.
My current setup with the 5670 is that the HDMI output goes to an HDMI switch. From there, I have two potential outputs - an LCD monitor and an HDTV. The HDMI switch allows me to... switch... between the two destinations. For normal PC usage, it directs output to my monitor. When I'm watching a video on the couch, I switch it so that it directs output my HDTV. This HDMI switch has LED lights that indicate which of the two outputs is currently active.
I installed the 7950 over the weekend. First suspect thing was that the LED lights on this HDMI switch were no longer eluminated. After some trial and error, I found that the card wouldn't send a signal to my LCD monitor unless I bypassed the HDMI switch and had a direct HDMI cable connection between the card output and the LCD monitor input. After that, the card didn't recognize the monitor automatically; I had to go through Catalyst and select the "detect monitors" option. Only then was a signal sent to my LCD monitor.
And this signal was pretty fragile. If I disconnected the HDMI cable from the card and/or monitor, and reconnected it shortly thereafter, the output signal was no longer sent. I had to go through Catalyst and run the "detect monitors" option again.
Additionally, I could not get the new card to send a signal to my HDTV, even if I hooked up an HDMI cable directly between the two devices (bypassing this HDMI switch). This last flaw was a showstopper for me.
I've already sent the card back. I experience none of these issues with my older 5670. I'm still interested in an upgrade, and the 7950 is the price/performance combo I'm drawn to. I haven't found much on the web detailing an issue like this, perhaps because I'm not using the same keywords others would use - I'm looking for 'selective HDMI output' or something along those lines, which doesn't turn up many hits. I'm curious - has anyone else run into similar trouble? Should I attribute this to a bad card and order another, or would you advise me to avoid the 79xx line altogether?
Sorry for the long post. Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.
