Graphics card issue or VGA issue?

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 18:36

The problem is that whenever I use DVI on my AMD 7850 by Sapphire, the card is absolutely flawless, no problems what so ever, but that means I have to use a monitor that is well, it's not a personal favourite, it's blurred in comparison to my Dell monitor.

But every time I use VGA (My dell monitor only supports VGA), I get horrible lines down my screen while gaming. It is more recongisable on darker backgrounds, but it looks like horizontal lines going vertically up and down the screen kind of behind the picture. It's rather hard to explain.

I was thinking that because this is a newer graphics card, is it just not compatible with analogue inputs (VGA) because both HDMI and DVI work perfectly.

honosuseri · 23 Dec 2012 at 18:39

Have you tested the Dsub monitor on another rig? Even a laptop should have the output to test the screen.

Sounds like the panel is damaged, sounds similar to what happens to laptop screens

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 18:42

I thought that was the issue also, I tried this on 2 other gamings rigs (my friends and my uncles) and it was the same, I used my card obviously.

Oh, I forgot to mention. If I insert my old 5770, use the dell monitor and VGA cable? The lines disappear.

honosuseri · 23 Dec 2012 at 18:46

If the screen is ok on a different GPU then it's ok fella. Are you using an adapter on the 7850 DVI-VGA?

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 18:49

honosuseri said:
If the screen is ok on a different GPU then it's ok fella. Are you using an adapter on the 7850 DVI-VGA?

Not currently mate, I'm currently using a DVI -> VGA cable, I have tried the splitter, but the same outcome.

honosuseri · 23 Dec 2012 at 19:05

Vanhishikha said:
Not currently mate, I'm currently using a DVI -> VGA cable, I have tried the splitter, but the same outcome.

Are you using that cable on the 5770? Maybe that cable is the weak link.....check the pins perhaps?

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 19:20

Yeah, I use the exact same cables on the both cards. It's really strange right? I've tried everything:

Different cables, different rigs, different monitors, the works, I just don't know where to go from here in all fairness. >_>

honosuseri · 23 Dec 2012 at 19:25

Vanhishikha said:
Yeah, I use the exact same cables on the both cards. It's really strange right? I've tried everything:

Different cables, different rigs, different monitors, the works, I just don't know where to go from here in all fairness. >_>

I'm getting a little lost to be honest :/

So the monitor is fine with another rig or when using another GPU? Correct?

Your 7950 GPU works as DVI and HDMI but when outputting to any monitor from the DVI port to any screen with a VGA input the picture is pants? Correct?

Is the DVI ouput dual link only perhaps? I know that you cant convert DVI-DL to analogue......maybe that's the answer

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 19:46

honosuseri said:
I'm getting a little lost to be honest :/

So the monitor is fine with another rig or when using another GPU? Correct?

Your 7950 GPU works as DVI and HDMI but when outputting to any monitor from the DVI port to any screen with a VGA input the picture is pants? Correct?

Is the DVI ouput dual link only perhaps? I know that you cant convert DVI-DL to analogue......maybe that's the answer

I'll help clarify, I may of been misleading, I apologise for this.

My dell monitor or any other monitor that uses VGA cables while connected to the 7850 shows lines going up and down the screen while gaming. But if I were to use my 5770, these lines do not appear.

If I use a DVI or HDMI cable on my 7850, the lines are not there, it is perfect.

Your 7850 GPU works as DVI and HDMI but when outputting to any monitor from the DVI port to any screen with a VGA input the picture is pants? Correct?

Yeah, this is correct. I don't understand why it is, maybe like you said, it's dual-dvi only?

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 19:48

Vanhishikha said:
I'll help clarify, I may of been misleading, I apologise for this.

My dell monitor or any other monitor that uses VGA cables while connected to the 7850 shows lines going up and down the screen while gaming. But if I were to use my 5770, these lines do not appear.

If I use a DVI or HDMI cable on my 7850, the lines are not there, it is perfect.

Yeah, this is correct. I don't understand why it is, maybe like you said, it's dual-dvi only?

edit: The worst thing is though, obviously the 5770 is a much worse card in terms of graphical performance, but even if I did switch back to that card in an effort to remove these lines, I cannot then use my WIFI card as the 5770 gets in the way, as my wifi card is obviously PCI and because of the bulkyness of the 5770, it will not fit in it's slot correctly, so it's just problem = problem = problem, which sucks, lol.

honosuseri · 23 Dec 2012 at 19:50

Which exact GPU do you have? If OCuk dont stock it just link me the GPUs manufacturers webpage.

If I know what the card is I can check the spec. Some GPUs have twin DVI outputs, one is DVI-DL the other will be ok to convert to an analogue signal. I guess the big clue would be if the card came with a DVI to VGA adapter.

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 20:44

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-306-SP

Here you go man, thanks for the help.

honosuseri · 23 Dec 2012 at 20:47

Vanhishikha said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-306-SP

Here you go man, thanks for the help.

Did you try both of the DVI ports then? Note it has DVI-I and DVI-D listed, the later being digital wont work with VGA (analogue)

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 20:50

Vanhishikha said:
edit: The worst thing is though, obviously the 5770 is a much worse card in terms of graphical performance, but even if I did switch back to that card in an effort to remove these lines, I cannot then use my WIFI card as the 5770 gets in the way, as my wifi card is obviously PCI and because of the bulkyness of the 5770, it will not fit in it's slot correctly, so it's just problem = problem = problem, which sucks, lol.

honosuseri said:
Did you try both of the DVI ports then? Note it has DVI-I and DVI-D listed, the later being digital wont work with VGA (analogue)

Mine only came with 1, it came with 1 x dvi, 1 x hdmi and 2 x mini-display.

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 20:50

Here it is sorry, I posted the wrong link, my mistake.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-295-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=411

honosuseri · 23 Dec 2012 at 21:45

Vanhishikha said:
Here it is sorry, I posted the wrong link, my mistake.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-295-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=411

You are hard work lol

Well i watched an unboxing and it should have come with a DVI to VGA adapter. Try using that and a VGA lead to the monitor.....out of interest compare the pins on the DVI to VGA lead you have to the ones on the adapter. iirc there are ones that have a lil + and ones that have a -. Maybe that makes a difference with your screen?

Is most odd. Worth checking the resolution and refresh rate incase that is causing issues, I wouldnt want to flash the BIOS on the GPU unless you can confirm it resolves an issue you have. really starting to clutch at straws now :/

Vanhishikha · 23 Dec 2012 at 22:51

I have tried using a standard VGA cable with the adapter previously, I could always try it again though I suppose.

I'll upload two pictures of the DVI - VGA cable and the splitter, just so you have a rough idea of what's going on.