Is it my DisplayPort adaptor or drivers that are knackered?

skyripper · 21 Dec 2011 at 22:47

I ran 3 monitors briefly about 3 months ago but went back to 2, as my 3rd monitor was a different model from the other 2. I was using 2x DVI, and 1x XFX Active DisplayPort to DVI. It did however work, as I was playing Dirt3 and Batmam:AA across 3 monitors, just one screen colour balance wasnt that nice.

Ive now managed to get a matching one instead. So I'm trying now to switch back to 3 monitors and its doing my head in.

All three monitors work fine one at a time via DVI. I can have any two of the 3 working at the same time over DVI.

If I enable the third using DisplayPort, I can only get it to run if I drop its resolution to something low like 1280x800. It worked one time at 1400x1050 as well, but only once. But its often taking several minutes to change from blank screen to enabled, even though the AMD drivers say its all on and working.. And if I reboot the DP connected screen stays blank.

I also cant make it consistently work with just one DVI and one DisplayPort.. or just DP on its own.

Have tried the 11.7 drivers, 11.11 drivers, 11.12 drivers and the beta 12.1 ones. Am also about to try the earlier drivers from around the time when I built this rig in July/August time.

Oddly in the time its taken to write this post, I've managed to get all three up... if I drop my res to 1280x1024 across all three monitors. Thats extended desktop though, not Eyefinity.

Gahhh...

skyripper · 21 Dec 2011 at 23:00

I can get Eyefinity across all three if I set the res to 800 x 1800 (thats 3x 800x600!!).

Still takes a good 20 seconds for the DP connected monitor to come to life though.

skyripper · 22 Dec 2011 at 00:13

Decided its probably the hardware. Tried a range of drivers from last year thru to the beta 12.1s and no differences.

Even the vanilla windows drivers recognise the monitor is there, attempt to set it and nothing comes on screen.

Back to 2 screens for now..

J.D · 22 Dec 2011 at 00:21

Sorry mate, I only use my CRT yes I said it CRT!!!!! for gaming and my LCD TV is just an extended display so I can't help you one bit.

Hopefully someone with a clue about this may shed some light for you. Good luck.

Surveyor · 22 Dec 2011 at 01:01

J.D said:
Sorry mate, I only use my CRT yes I said it CRT!!!!! for gaming and my LCD TV is just an extended display so I can't help you one bit.

Hopefully someone with a clue about this may shed some light for you. Good luck.

There are a lot of other threads that you may not be able to help in as well :rolleyes:

J.D · 22 Dec 2011 at 01:44

Surveyor said:
There are a lot of other threads that you may not be able to help in as well

It was a bump for the guy as nobody had replied.

What was your input other than trying to bring me down in this thread?. Not only are you plainly being personal towards me but also contributing nothing whilst hypocritically stating that I'm not very helpful :rolleyes:

.

If you've got a problem with me, please keep it to yourself but if you want to openly expose me for never helping on the forums, feel free to go through thousands of posts to see if I've ever actually helped someone. Why would you go to that length?. Well you seen an opportunity for a spiteful remark so you may just be crazy enough to go do that.

I swear, some people on these forums seriously need to get out the house. Such terrible attitudes and not even face to face...... I hope you have a merry christmas Surveyor, seems like you need one.

Orcvader · 22 Dec 2011 at 01:49

Have you tried the old monitor that was working before again? Another DVI cable? Another DP port?

Surveyor · 22 Dec 2011 at 01:50

@ J.D

There was no need to bump his thread after 8 minutes.

It had hardly disappeared into the depths of the forum.

But I'm glad you haven't lost your sense of humour and didn't over react to my post

J.D · 22 Dec 2011 at 02:01

Surveyor said:
@ J.D

There was no need to bump his thread after 8 minutes.

It had hardly disappeared into the depths of the forum.

But I'm glad you haven't lost your sense of humour and didn't over react to my post

Yeah true, I was rushing about and didn't look at the time as I had about 3 (ocuk) pages of tabs open. I have never tried eyefinity but have read countless of other users who have on these forums. It was just a quick thought to bump it as I knew someone would be able to help on here. I didn't check the time but I'll do it in future boss. You drive hard, but no pain, no gain I suppose

.

skyripper · 22 Dec 2011 at 09:38

Right, well I'm not sure whats going on between JD and Surveyor, but hopefully some mistletoe and brandy butter will sort it.

Orcvader said:
Have you tried the old monitor that was working before again? Another DVI cable? Another DP port?

Tried all three DVI cables which all seem to work fine with the DVI ports, and all three monitors too. Tried both DP ports as well.

The only consistent failure point seems to be the DP adaptor, so I'm wondering if its died or whether ATIs HDMI/DP drivers need a kick in the proverbials.

MeMeMeMe · 22 Dec 2011 at 09:57

Could it be the DP adaptor? Maybe get another one, test it, and if it's the same, return it under the distance selling regulations.

But first, I'd try completely uninstalling AMD drivers, use driver sweeper to make sure they are gone, *then* connect up the monitors how you want them, then reinstall the drivers.

skyripper · 22 Dec 2011 at 10:27

Tried all that with the exception of Driver Sweeper which seems to have been removed from its own website. Odd.

As for ordering a replacement and testing. Could be an idea.

EDIT: reread your suggestion. My mind must be more morally corrupt than yours as I thought you said order the same and send back the dodgy one... but you didnt.

MeMeMeMe · 22 Dec 2011 at 11:01

I had a problem with my multi-monitor system that I couldn't fix till I followed the above procedure using Driver Sweeper.
I think this is the developer's site:
http://phyxion.net/item/driver-sweeper.html

skyripper · 22 Dec 2011 at 13:00

thanks for the link above. All my google-fu could do was land me on the guru3d page where they've stopped hosting it.

Have now tried the following - remove all but one monitor via DVI, uninstall ATI drivers, run Driver Sweeper, reboot (sometimes twice depending on BSOD), add one monitor at a time, install ATI drivers, reboot.

No change. Can run DP connected monitor only at 1280x1024, and it takes several minutes to appear. I'm going to try and source a replacement DP adaptor.

Orcvader · 22 Dec 2011 at 13:08

Have you tried the old monitor again yet?

skyripper · 22 Dec 2011 at 13:53

Orcvader said:
Have you tried the old monitor again yet?

Well I'll be a monkeys uncle. I lugged the old monitor out of the other room, connected it up on the DP adaptor and it works perfectly.

Leaves me a bit stuck now though. I have 3x Viewsonic VX2260WM monitors, debezzelled and on monitor arms... and the only monitor which likes the DP adaptor is a Viewsonic VA2231W which has a different panel type.

Glad I only paid second hand prices for the latest monitor now!

BaDBoY_uK · 22 Dec 2011 at 13:58

Still not sorted mate?
Let me get it right then? You cannot get Eyefinity on all three?
What card is it?

skyripper · 22 Dec 2011 at 23:00

Kinda sorted now. I can get eyefinity using 2 matching monitors and the different one on displayport, but none of my matching monitors works with the displayport adaptor.

So been using 3 monitors in eyefinity all afternoon with the mismatched monitors and I'll make up my mind later as to what to do about it permanently.

Its a VTX 6950 2GB card.

Orcvader · 23 Dec 2011 at 00:40

Well the only conclusion I can come to is the adapter not liking the matching monitor. Only way to properly check this though is to get another system with displayport and test it on there...