Is my video card bad?

karmasalad

Senior member
Jun 2, 2001
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I just put together a new system (Q6600, P35-DS3P) using an MSI Radeon 2600 PRO card with dual DVI, and there's an odd flickering going on with my secondary LCD.

My primary LCD is a Samsung 215TW, connected via DVI. Secondary LCD is a Samsung 770TFT, which is analog-only, so it's connected via a DVI-to-VGA adapter. I am using the latest Catalyst drivers.

Everything looks fine on the 215TW. Before I install the Catalyst drivers, the 770TFT is fine too, although it just mirrors the primary's screen. Once I install the drivers and extend the desktop to the second monitor, it begins to flicker. Switching around which is primary/secondary doesn't seem to resolve the problem.

The flicker isn't constant. It only seems to happen when something requiring a rapid screen redraw happens. For instance, I can replicate it by going back n forth between two folders very rapidly using my mouse's back and forward buttons. It also happens when I'm watching video on the secondary monitor.

I've switched around the DVI ports, but the same thing happens. I wondered if it might be a VGA problem, but I tried using a spare Dell LCD with a DVI connection, and it has the same flicker.

I was previously using the two Samsung monitors on my old P4 system with a Radeon 9600 with absolutely no problems.

Does it sound like a bad video card? I don't understand why it doesn't have any flicker issue until I install the Catalyst drivers.