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Display is green & blue only -- card or monitor issue?

isaw

isaw

isaw

Associate
Joined
6 Aug 2004
Posts
60
Hey guys,

I'm essentially trying to troubleshoot an issue for my bro back in Canada. I sent him my old XFX 7800 card. He's slapped it into a brand new machine/build -- Asus A8N SLI Premium, 2 gig, 535watt psu, etc. He says that when it's powered up with a new install of winxp pro sp2 (store bought) the entire display is only shades of green & blue.

I've asked him to check the cable connections, to ensur ethey are secure and tight. I'm also asking him to check the drivers but he did get the latest off nvidia.

Is it possible that a borked vid card would behave this way? Green and blue only? I figured if a card is fuct it wouldnt work at all -- not half way.

I know it's a tall order -- "What's wrong wth it?" -- but seeing as how he isnt really 'pooter savy and he waited ages for this card, i do feel obligated to get it working (late bday prezzy!)

Anyhow, if anyone's had this issue and can say its reason X or Y, etc, or give me a few more suggestions i'd appreciate it!

Thanks!
 
Get him to do a print screen, and get him to send it to you. The print screen will come from the cards buffer. If the screenshot it in correct colours, you know it's to do with the monitor / or connection from the card to the monitor.
 
Mekrel said:
Get him to do a print screen, and get him to send it to you. The print screen will come from the cards buffer. If the screenshot it in correct colours, you know it's to do with the monitor / or connection from the card to the monitor.
Click to expand...
Great advice.
 
Ok.. The image my bro sent me looks fine -- no colour issues, etc.

The monitor he's using is my *old* monitor from around 1999 -- a KTX b17bl (17 inch CRT).

He's bought a dvi -> analogue adaptor as he didnt have one. He's swapped the vid card outputs and one of the them looks even worse on the monitor.

I know we're on PAL here. Back in North America it's NTSC. Now, prolly a stupid question which I acknowledge in advance, but are vid cards here manufactured for a specific region as in, the XFX i bought off OCuk is only for PAL regions? It sounds stupid even asking the questions but I am just trying to eliminate nagging questions i have.

Or, perhaps the *output* of the card is fuct..? I'm tempted to buy him an LCD monitor ($269 CAD! forgot how damned cheap things are out there) just to test it out.

Anyhow, thanks for the original idea - at least the card itself seems ok. :)
 
No, cards are deisnged for everywhere, being as you can change the refresh rate.

My guesses are three things:

1. Monitor drivers, and setting the right refresh rate for the resolution he is using. Make sure both are done.

2. Either the cable or the converter he is using has a dodgy pin/cable. Make sure everything is screwed in tight. (Most likely issue from my view, especially those converters)

3. Check around in the drivers control panel, long time since I had an nvidia card so can't help much, but have a play with the settings.
 
I know on ATi cards you can change the output setting from PAL to NTSC with little sliders on the card, you might have to consult the manual as this may be an ATi-only thing.
 
Yeh, i'm banking on the cable or the adaptor plug as well.

I found a thread in a forum (http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Board=PCMus&Number=190147) that mentions almost the same issue - and it turned out it was a screwed up pin on the guy's vid card port. I've asked my bro to check his and he says they look ok. And the one on the adaptor.

Might be the monitor drivers. I'll have to speak to him tomorrow. That or get an LCD screen ordered for him! ;)


thanks guys!
 
i was just about to post about a similar problem, this usually blue forum is now blue and green :confused: only just started tonight, i hope my x800xt is'nt borked or my Dell 1905
 
$anch3z said:
i was just about to post about a similar problem, this usually blue forum is now blue and green :confused: only just started tonight, i hope my x800xt is'nt borked or my Dell 1905
Click to expand...
Post a screenshot and we'll tell you if it's the monitor.
 
untitled.jpg


the shading around the text only appeared in the shot for some reason :confused:
 
So if thats ok then it must be my lcd thats b0rked :( i have tried both dvi and vga and the picture looks the same
 
Last edited:
Well, it's sorted now!

He had a mate pop round and swap screens - still no go.

So he opened up the machine, took out the card, put it back in and then swapped the current SLI power rail (listed as SLI #2 on the psu cable) to SLI power rail #1 -- and presto -- all good.

So I'm thinking it was either:

a) bad SLI power rail on the psu
b) didn't have the card properly fitted into the mobo

I'm thinking b) to be honest simply cos I figure a faulty or non-working rail wouldnt result in bad colours -- it just wouldnt work. But I dunno.

Point is, he's happy it's working. And due to his "student" budget, he WON'T have to worry about running in SLI so the second power rail is not an issue.

But thanks to you guys for the help -- especially the screen shot issue - saved a lot of hassle on my end! :)
 
Gommsta said:
I love a happy ending. Where's my cigar? :D
Click to expand...

Castro won't part with them readily...

how about a congratulatory pat on the back and my gratitude? :D

true, you can't bank it but hey - it's the thought that counts!
 
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