*SOLVED!* New 6800 Ultra - Doubling Effect in 2D

[guptasa1]

Hey all,

Got my BFG GeForce 6800 GT today (along with the other upgrades I was doing, including an Antec 480 watt PSU to make sure I had plenty of power). Everything is installed and running great.

EXCEPT, 2D for my new 6800 is AWFUL high-res. I get this doubling effect where icons, text, etc. almost has a shadow that's doubled or even trippled over to the right of it. Hard to explain, but it isn't pretty. This goes away at 1024 x 768 and under, but I run at 1600 x 1200, and it's very apparent. I *could* work around it, but this is just unacceptable. I'm going from a Ti4600 with a perfect picture at 1600 x 1200.

Here's what I've tried:
- Reinstalling latest nVidia Forceware
- Reinstalling mobo drivers (and yes, it's an older i850 based mobo with 4X AGP)
- BIOS is latest version
- All BIOS settings are as they should be as far as I know
- DirectX 9.0C is installed
- Checked monitor connections
- Checked monitor settings
- Played with refresh rate

Nothing seems to fix this. Haven't tried any of the beat drivers, but I just can't figure this out...unless I have a bad card, but something tells me that's not it...

Ideas? I know I'm not alone with this problem - I just wish I knew a conclusive fix...

Thanks!

 

[Rage187]

think there is a similar thread on this already, let me see if I can find it.



EDIT: Read here how to fix

 

[guptasa1]

Thanks. Saw this, but unfortunately no dice.

Not using a KVM here. Perhaps its my monitor, but I REALLY dun wanna get a new monitor. Or perhaps it's the vid card. =o(

As far as cleartype, it's not just text it's happening to. I do use Cleartype, but that's not the problem (did try turning it off - no dice - still problems elsewhere).

And by the way, it also does this in Win98. (Dual boot for some older games).

 

[zephyrprime]

It's definitely a problem with the electrical signalling and not the drivers or software. The video card itself must be cheaply made or defective or maybe it's your KVM. Try connecting the card directly to the monitor.

 

[guptasa1]

Well, I did find out it's also in 3D. Hard to notice there, but I did confirm it.

I am NOT using a KVM. The monitor is connected as directly to my monitor as is possible. DVI -> VGA Adapter -> Monitor. I used the same setup (even tried the same adapter) with my previous card and it worked flawlessly. There's really nothing to eliminate here.

*sighs* This is disappointing. It's unacceptable at this point.

My only hope is if there's some sort of BIOS fix, card update, etc... Any other ideas are welcome... I can't imagine the power supply is insufficient.

(I even went back in, took out the card, and reinstalled just to ensure it was seated properly...and I used different PSU connectors this time since it recommends from two different lines...no difference.)

 

[Rage187]

try another monitor.

 

[guptasa1]

Thought about that. Unfortunately, no other monitors around that support this res. Though, frankly, even if there were and it was the monitor, I'd be upset. If I can run 1600 x 1200 32 bit color with no problems on one card, I certainly should be able to on another... I'm wondering if I have a faulty card... If so, do I go the same brand or try another though? Heh...decisions decisions.

 

[guptasa1]

More wonderful news. It *DOES* happen at lower resolutions. It's just much less noticeable. But even at 800 x 600, if you look close or in a very apparent area, it's there.

 

[guptasa1]

Sorry I keep updating this, but I keep learning more.

Tried it with the one monitor I did have available. Now, the issue is this is a cheap monitor. 1024 x 768 max resolution, and what is there is pixilly/fuzzy (just the quality of monitor)...but...I couldn't see the usual distortion.

The problem is, it's so faint at that res that it might not be noticeable on that monitor. I'm not sure. I *think* it should be noticeable.

But...even if it is the monitor...why can't I do the same res on a new card I could on the old one? I mean...I understand not being able to do 2048 by whatever...a monitor limitation I can live with. But distortion on a perfectly good monitor (LG Flatron 915FT) is quite unacceptable.

 

[Kobra]

Had same problem with my viewsonic, it was the monitor.. I picked up a Samsung, and the problem was gone, and the picture is 10x better.

 

[guptasa1]

Two problems with that:

1. I'm very happy with my monitor overall. I really don't care to upgrade if there's a way around it.

2. How do I know for sure that's it in my case? Scared to death I'd get a new monitor and it'd still be there.

At any rate, thanks. Lookin' like it may be the monitor afterall.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: guptasa1
Two problems with that:

1. I'm very happy with my monitor overall. I really don't care to upgrade if there's a way around it.

2. How do I know for sure that's it in my case? Scared to death I'd get a new monitor and it'd still be there.

At any rate, thanks. Lookin' like it may be the monitor afterall.

Your making it real easy to help you here.

It definately sounds like your monitor took a dump. Coincidence? Probably.

 

[guptasa1]

Hehe - I know I'm stubborn...but you aren't going to believe this.

You know what it was? Just solved it. The monitor CABLE...

Here's the hilarious part. This is a gold-plated supposedly super-duper cable. In fact, I had another new unopened one. But I tried this old regular monitor cable, and problem solved! BOTH of the gold-plated ones do this. And they've worked well for other cards.

No idea, but it DID fix the problem, and the monitor's absolutely spiffy! LOL.

Gonna order a new cable (this old one's unreliable, hence it being old)...prolly a standard one, only DVI to VGA to eliminate the adapter, and I should be good!

Thanks all! I ALMOST didn't try this because I didn't think it had a snowball's chance in hell of doing it...

 

[Keysplayr]

Awesome, your problem is solved. Now update the thread title to say so. Congrats.

 

[guptasa1]

Updated. My only thought as to why this worked is the older cable is thicker, so perhaps better shielded? I dunno. I really can't fathom why this card would act differently than the other. I'm just glad it's solved.

 

[Kobra]

Interesting.. My viewsonic has a hardwired Cable, so no way I coulda checked that. I just assumed it was a bad monitor because any other monitor worked fine on the same setup. Probably was the cable.

I might have to open it up and soldier a new one on if I get the time.

 

[guptasa1]

Yeah. Fortunately this monitor has a detacheable cable, so it was no problem to swap one. I was so close to not even trying this because the only cable I had was that old one from a semi-defunct monitor (still works, but not that great).

The strange thing is, it's not that the cables I was using are bad. They're absolutely fine in most setups (I've used them before with a laptop to a different monitor as well as with my old vid card). It must be something about the way the signal's sent through it on the 6800. One would thing 1600 x 1200 at 32 bit color would go through the same on any card (especially two different nVidia models), but it just isn't so.

Played around a little more with the old-style cable...tested some games, Win XP, Win 98...all artifacting gone. It's the strangest thing. (But thank goodness! I'm glad I don't have to decide between trying a replacement card, shell out the cash for a new monitor, or going with another model card...)

Anyhow, it has nothing to do as far as I can tell with the secureness of the connection. I tried switching them out and even the brand new one (same style as what I was using) still in the package - those cables ALWAYS produce that ghosting. *shrugs*

But yeah, it'd be intersting to know in your case whether it's the cable or monitor. (Though I wouldn't know where to begin soldering a cable on a monitor - lol.)