Graphical issues (Ghosting?) on a new machine!

[RastaManBob]

Hi,

I've recently purchased a pre-built "Value" PC from OcUK (Link: Primo Oren). I opted to have Windows Vista 64 Home Premium installed.

Yesterday I was able to use the machine for the first time and I'm noticing some minor "ghosting" (I believe this to be the correct term?). This can be seen mainly on lines, but also some text. It is not hugely noticable but enough to cause me some concern.

I originally thought this would be related to the monitor however taking a screen shot and moving this around the "ghosting" sticks on the same part of the image - I guess this means it is some other graphics issue!

Below is an image demonstrating the problem:

Note the vertical line between the left hand border of the window and the tree options. You may have to look close to see this. You can also notice some image issues on the toolbar next to File, Edit, View and Help. All graphical issues are always to the right of the actual text/image. As an example you can see something minor to the right of "Help".

Can anybody suggest what might be causing this and how to fix it?

Thank you!

 

[RastaManBob]

I'm using integrated graphics at the moment.

I'd rather not attempt a new card as I bought a pre-built machine as I don't have the time at the moment to spend too long messing. Other than this I'm very happy but as you can imagine, this niggle really could do with resolving!

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[RastaManBob]

Hi all,

Thank you for all of the replies! I'm sorry I've not been able to update sooner!

I've checked and shadows are on however I am almost certain this *NOT* shadows (Other people have noted this odd graphical behaviour).

I have tried other refresh rates and all of them appear to make this situation worse. It's presence is still there but much worse. I'm currently on 60 Hz (Default), as before, and this has the problem as minimal as possible.

I have taken the print screen and photo combo as requested. I must admit that I had great issue in trying to get a photo that captured what I was trying to display... The picture is very fuzzy which is no doubt a combination of a) me, b) poor camera, c) unideal conditions (Low light) and d) Incorrect camera settings (See: Me).

Below are three images. The first two are screen shots. They are identical however the first has been annotated to give an example of what to look for. There are multiple areas showing the graphical issue here however I've highlighted three as an example. Below is the same image clear of annotations.

Finally, the photograph. Very blurry but certainly you can see (Or at least I can!) the issues I am explaining. Certainly the vertical line between the red MC, MR, etc button and the first column (0, 1, 4, 7).

Link to photo (Large size!)

In essence what I am seeing is a very minor (And quite faint) "blur" to the right. Eg, imagine taking the image and slightly moving it all to the right... It's faint and can really only be seen in block colours/lines.

I really hope this info is good enough to help you give further pointers. If the photograph is really so terrible it requires another taken just say and I'll try again!

Thank you once more for your time and efforts.

Dan.

EDIT: Windows Update *JUST* updated some graphics drivers. The problem remains!

 

[RastaManBob]

I think I see what you mean on the photo. I would put it down to the monitor or the connection. Are you using VGA, and have you tried another cable? If you've tried another cable, it's definitely either the monitor, or a connection in the GPU somewhere (and I've have thought a problem with the GPU would be more noticeable). Using a VGA cable *could* cause it, although I'd say it's less likely to be that than a faulty cable or monitor. I have a similar issue on terrestrial TV, and I've put it down to the aerial taking an analogue signal. I imagine once we switch to digital in a month, that should fix it.

Also, do you have a games console, or sky box you could hook it up to temporarily? If you still get the ghosting with it, the problem is with the monitor

Thanks once more for the reply.

Firstly, can you confirm if you think I can rule that the graphics card is fine? I just want to rule that out if it is any of the "new" hardware. When you say "GPU connection" does this mean "inside" of the PC case? I'm hoping to stick away from opening this as it is a new PC with warrenty. As it is a new build, and professional built by OcUK, I wouldn't have thought it'd be poorly constructed, for example.

The monitor is relatively old and uses VGA. I don't have anything to test it with unfortunately... I don't mind if I *have* to buy a new monitor but don't want to only to find it is not to blame.

 

[RastaManBob]

Once again, thank you for all of your efforts.

The easiest thing to do would be to find another PC to test this monitor on, and another monitor to try on this PC, as suggested... I'll need to ring some friends tomorrow to see if anybody can come over and check with me. Right at this moment, however, this isn't possible.

In the mean time, following this investigation up is very useful, thank you!

ejr22: The image is I see is actually to the *right* of the "real" image. It sounds to me like you may have a similar issue to me, albeit going in the other direction

hyperst: Excellent idea and one I hadn't considered (You posting an example of your "OK" image). I get the *EXACT* same line issues with your picture as I do on mine. Can you confirm what this is telling me? That it is my monitor... or...?

Thank you all once more .

 

[RastaManBob]

im pressuming you have set vista to performance, that could be your problem , have you tried setting to let windows decide whats best and seing if you experience the same

It is currently set to "Let Window's select what is best for my computer"

Any idea where this is leading me...? Thank you.

 

[RastaManBob]

I see that the OP has clarified where he thinks he sees ghosting.

I've not changed my story since the opening post, see: "All graphical issues are always to the right of the actual text/image." in the first post.

hyperst: Problem still persists in that image (Albeit, seemingly a little better) as does it on ejr22's image below that. Essentially there always appears to a little "ghosting" to the right of the "correct" graphic... It just seems, however, to appear a little more obvious on block colours/lines.

 

[RastaManBob]

im pressuming you've reused your monitor and it was fine before? if so i would say that the onboard graphics of the mobo are not up to much really, as it is currently got the eye candy thats in vista turned off

I purchased this new PC as my old one became faulty last week. It appeared the PSU had blew up and taken the motherboard (And possibly more) with it... Due to it being so old I decided I'd go for a new computer. Between the old PC breaking and the arrival of this new machine the monitor has seen no use. With this in mind it is entirely possible (Though I do not know the likelihood) that the monitor could have also become damaged when the computer did (I have no idea what happened to the computer and can only imagine a power surge or something; Not really for this thread anyway).

In terms of the Vista eye candy I turned all of it off and manually selected the Windows Classic theme etc in order to make the transition from XP to Vista as smooth as possible for my parents (Who also use this machine) as they had XP set to Classic, even then. Otherwise, I think Window's is selecting any other options by itself.

I'd imagine the graphics, albeit onboard, should be good enough to not induce this kind of blur/ghost however... I'm crossing my fingers on the monitor suggestions and hoping to try with a known perfectly working monitor as soon as possible.