Graphical issues (Ghosting?) on a new machine!

RastaManBob · 10 Oct 2009 at 18:02

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!

darkcooleo · 10 Oct 2009 at 19:37

err, this may be a bit simple but what about updating graphics card maybe? do you have another graphics card you could try to see if that helps?

RastaManBob · 10 Oct 2009 at 20:17

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!

darkcooleo · 10 Oct 2009 at 21:21

Have you tried updating the nvidia integrated chipset? have a mes around with monitor settings inc refresh rate. Have you got another monitor / TV? to check with or have you got a laptop / desktop that you can link up to monitor?

Dutchman · 10 Oct 2009 at 21:29

darkcooleo said:
Have you tried updating the nvidia integrated chipset? have a mes around with monitor settings inc refresh rate. Have you got another monitor / TV? to check with or have you got a laptop / desktop that you can link up to monitor?

+1 for checking and changing the refresh rate, I've seen a lot of similar issues being down to the refresh rate set in windows not being ideal for the monitor

niko · 10 Oct 2009 at 21:33

i cant see the problem at the moment (im on a low res laptop)
but its not just you have shadows enabled is it

,i dont know were this option is in vista but im sure someone can tell you

darkcooleo · 10 Oct 2009 at 21:58

niko said:
i cant see the problem at the moment (im on a low res laptop)
but its not just you have shadows enabled is it

,i dont know were this option is in vista but im sure someone can tell you

To see if shadows are enabled,

rightclick on my computer > properties > advanced system settings > performance 'settings'. - Maybe these settings will help, imo a bit doubtfull though.

darkcooleo · 10 Oct 2009 at 22:01

Dutchman said:
+1 for checking and changing the refresh rate, I've seen a lot of similar issues being down to the refresh rate set in windows not being ideal for the monitor

Cheers mate, was just throwing something into the pot.

Any chance you could upload some more pics or maybe a video - ' fraps ' is good to use.

AtreuS · 10 Oct 2009 at 22:55

I have saved and zoomed that image and i cant see what you are describing? can you redo the image with maybe a circle around the problem.

I cant see anything to the right of "help" apart from the grey bar colour?

Amonlym · 10 Oct 2009 at 23:59

tbh i cant see ANYTHING un-usual here O.o

if you ARE seeing something, it would suggests its an ffect being introduced by your screen rather tan the graphics card. if your on dvi, ensure its firmly attached. if its a vga cable try moving it away from any power wires, re-running the auto config and playing with clock/phase.

Hotwired · 11 Oct 2009 at 00:07

Looks like it's your setup. I see nothing there at all.

I had some problems adjusting my old CRT, could never get the balance right and it would produce faint red/someothercolour shadows at the side of sharp lines. Red one side and the other colour the other side. Could get rid of one by swinging the balance but it just made the other appear...

Really wound me up when doing pixel sketches in black on white because those shadows just wouldn't go away.

BIGBC · 11 Oct 2009 at 01:08

Erm, surely if it is a graphics card issue then a screen shot will show nothing. The problem comes when the graphics card takes the visual data and gives it to output, and screen shot just takes the visual data and puts it in an image, and so we are seeing an interpretation of it through our own GPUs + screens.

hyperst · 11 Oct 2009 at 01:24

i should think you would need to take a picture with a digital camera, as i see nothing in the screen shot either

D D Danneh · 11 Oct 2009 at 01:25

Take a photo of the screen, and a screenshot, at the same time. If we can see it on the photo and not the screenshot, it's an issue with your monitor.

ETNiES · 11 Oct 2009 at 02:41

i can't see anything :|

RastaManBob · 11 Oct 2009 at 20:52

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!

D D Danneh · 11 Oct 2009 at 21:05

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, you can rule out the PC entirely, it must be to do with the monitor.

RastaManBob · 11 Oct 2009 at 21:11

D D Danneh said:
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.

ejr22 · 11 Oct 2009 at 21:23

I think a few people on this forum need to go to an optician! In the first picture that the OP posted it is clear to see a vertical grey line that runs alongside the edge of the nVidia control panel, as he has described. For what it's worth I think I can see a another line that runs alongside the top edge? It is as if there is another, very feint, copy of the Control Panel placed approx 5 pixels up & left of the main image - is this what you see RastaManBob?

As far as I am aware ghosting problems are mainly caused by refresh rate issues or faulty connections. I can only reitterate what others have suggested - check, and double check VGA connection (use an alternative cable if possible), update graphics drivers (or perhaps try an alternative older set), try a bit of Googling for this also. It may help, it may not!

I should add that I found it more difficult to see the problem on the 2nd set of images than the first so perhaps it is me who needs the eye test!

BIGBC · 11 Oct 2009 at 21:33

ejr22 said:
I think a few people on this forum need to go to an optician! In the first picture that the OP posted it is clear to see a vertical grey line that runs alongside the edge of the nVidia control panel, as he has described. For what it's worth I think I can see a another line that runs alongside the top edge? It is as if there is another, very feint, copy of the Control Panel placed approx 5 pixels up & left of the main image - is this what you see RastaManBob?

As far as I am aware ghosting problems are mainly caused by refresh rate issues or faulty connections. I can only reitterate what others have suggested - check, and double check VGA connection (use an alternative cable if possible), update graphics drivers (or perhaps try an alternative older set), try a bit of Googling for this also. It may help, it may not!

I should add that I found it more difficult to see the problem on the 2nd set of images so perhaps it is me who needs the eye test!

Maybe you have the same issue.
I have looked at the image in photoshop, colour sampling each pixel in a horizontal line and where it should be a block of gray, it is a block of gray, and where it should be white it is white. There is no deteriation there.

However, I would never expect a screen shot to show such a problem as it is taking the same data used to make the image - unless windows is actively trying to put a line/shadow/ghost in there it would not show up in a screen shot on another screen/system.

Troubleshooting shouldnt be too hard; test your system on another monitor. Test your monitor on another system. Report back any occurance of the problem.