Dual Monitor on ATI Radeon 9800 Pro - Colour problems

Dom · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7

I have just bought a second iiyama Prolite E435-S LCD monitor to use
dual screen in Windows.

The problem I have is that whichever monitor is connected to the D-Sub
connector has problems with the colour...

One monitor display is really yellow, or if I swap the cable to the
other monitor, this one is really blue/purple.

This problems starts even when in DOS, so it's not a Windows setting...

The even more frustrating thing is that if I press the "Auto Setup" on
either of the monitors, the colour flicks to being perfect while it's
doing its auto stuff, then flicks back to the weird colour when its
completed?

Does this sound like a cable problem? I can't think what else would
cause this or how to fix it... HELP!!

Gary S. Terhune · External Since: Mar 17, 2004 Posts: 4357

No, it doesn't sound like a cable program. It sounds like a drivers
installation issue. Whatever the temporary settings are that create good
color, they aren't being saved at the end of the procedure.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Dom" <junkcatcher.RemoveThis@triplestones.net> wrote in message
news:HL2Of.62404$Dn4.37532@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
> I have just bought a second iiyama Prolite E435-S LCD monitor to use
> dual screen in Windows.
>
> The problem I have is that whichever monitor is connected to the D-Sub
> connector has problems with the colour...
>
> One monitor display is really yellow, or if I swap the cable to the
> other monitor, this one is really blue/purple.
>
> This problems starts even when in DOS, so it's not a Windows setting...
>
> The even more frustrating thing is that if I press the "Auto Setup" on
> either of the monitors, the colour flicks to being perfect while it's
> doing its auto stuff, then flicks back to the weird colour when its
> completed?
>
> Does this sound like a cable problem? I can't think what else would
> cause this or how to fix it... HELP!!

Dom · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> No, it doesn't sound like a cable program. It sounds like a drivers
> installation issue. Whatever the temporary settings are that create good
> color, they aren't being saved at the end of the procedure.
>

Thanks for the reply!

Sorry, I didn't make it very clear... The "Auto Setup" is a button on
the monitor, so there is no way to update drivers or anything.

The problem starts as soon as the system is turned on and shows the
system diagnostics before booting Windows...

Any other ideas?

Gary S. Terhune · External Since: Mar 17, 2004 Posts: 4357

Yes, that changes things. If the monitor won't retain settings, it is either
a problem in the monitor or an incompatibility with the video adapter.
Either way, the "good" settings aren't retained because they force the power
demands beyond inbuilt circuit breakers. It then reverts to default, "safe"
settings. My guess is that the monitor itself is on the fritz. But it might
just be an incompatibility.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Dom" <junkcatcher.DeleteThis@triplestones.net> wrote in message
news:Ao3Of.71123$K42.12083@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> > No, it doesn't sound like a cable program. It sounds like a drivers
> > installation issue. Whatever the temporary settings are that create good
> > color, they aren't being saved at the end of the procedure.
> >
>
> Thanks for the reply!
>
> Sorry, I didn't make it very clear... The "Auto Setup" is a button on
> the monitor, so there is no way to update drivers or anything.
>
> The problem starts as soon as the system is turned on and shows the
> system diagnostics before booting Windows...
>
> Any other ideas?

Dom · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Yes, that changes things. If the monitor won't retain settings, it is either
> a problem in the monitor or an incompatibility with the video adapter.
> Either way, the "good" settings aren't retained because they force the power
> demands beyond inbuilt circuit breakers. It then reverts to default, "safe"
> settings. My guess is that the monitor itself is on the fritz. But it might
> just be an incompatibility.
>

I'm using a D-Sub cable which I've borrowed, because I've mislaid the
one which came with my original monitor. The second monitor didn't have
one because I bought it on e-bay and I guess the seller wanted to keep it.

Do you think the 'proper' cable might improve things if I can find it?

I've just read the in the monitor's manual that when you press the "auto
setup" button the screen will "darken" for a few seconds while the setup
is carried out. This suggests to me that maybe the particular cable I'm
using is amplifying/not limiting the signal or something and therefore
the "darkened" image actually appears normal? Does that sound likely?

Thanks for the previous advice... It's a great help!

Dom · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Yes, that changes things. If the monitor won't retain settings, it is either
> a problem in the monitor or an incompatibility with the video adapter.
> Either way, the "good" settings aren't retained because they force the power
> demands beyond inbuilt circuit breakers. It then reverts to default, "safe"
> settings. My guess is that the monitor itself is on the fritz. But it might
> just be an incompatibility.
>

Oh with regards to compatibility with the graphics card...

I used to use the original d-sub cable which was supplied with the
monitor before buying a dvi cable and had no problems.

Now, with this borrowed cable, the original monitor's colours are tinted
too if I plug in by d-sub... but tinted a different colour from the
newer monitor. Weird...

Gary S. Terhune · External Since: Mar 17, 2004 Posts: 4357

Well, I guess it's possible the cable is at fault. Are you saying that you
switched the monitors and got the same results with the other one?

It *might* be that some limitation of the cable mimics conditions that the
monitors see as something to protect against with default settings. Let us
know if/when you get it figured out, OK?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Dom" <junkcatcher.TakeThisOut@triplestones.net> wrote in message
news:MB4Of.22197$57.14817@newsfe3-win.ntli.net...
> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> > Yes, that changes things. If the monitor won't retain settings, it is
either
> > a problem in the monitor or an incompatibility with the video adapter.
> > Either way, the "good" settings aren't retained because they force the
power
> > demands beyond inbuilt circuit breakers. It then reverts to default,
"safe"
> > settings. My guess is that the monitor itself is on the fritz. But it
might
> > just be an incompatibility.
> >
>
> Oh with regards to compatibility with the graphics card...
>
> I used to use the original d-sub cable which was supplied with the
> monitor before buying a dvi cable and had no problems.
>
> Now, with this borrowed cable, the original monitor's colours are tinted
> too if I plug in by d-sub... but tinted a different colour from the
> newer monitor. Weird...

Dom · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Well, I guess it's possible the cable is at fault. Are you saying that you
> switched the monitors and got the same results with the other one?
>
> It *might* be that some limitation of the cable mimics conditions that the
> monitors see as something to protect against with default settings. Let us
> know if/when you get it figured out, OK?
>

Yeah... I've tried both monitors using the same cable and output on the
gfx card.

When I use the DVI - DVI cable on either monitor, the picture is
absoulutely fine. When I use the D-sub - D-sub cable on either monitor,
the picture is heavily tinted - My original monitor is tinted
blue/purple, the new monitor is tinted yellow/green...

I'm gonna turn the place upside down today and look for the original
cable, or maybe just buy a new cable and give that a try.

I'll let you know how I get on!

Thanks again.

Dom · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Well, I guess it's possible the cable is at fault. Are you saying that you
> switched the monitors and got the same results with the other one?
>
> It *might* be that some limitation of the cable mimics conditions that the
> monitors see as something to protect against with default settings. Let us
> know if/when you get it figured out, OK?
>

Just bought a brand new cable and have exactly the same problem... Grrrr

I had a friends LCD monitor plugged into the d-sub port on my computer
the other day and it was fine... I just can't understand this....

Dom · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Well, I guess it's possible the cable is at fault. Are you saying that you
> switched the monitors and got the same results with the other one?
>
> It *might* be that some limitation of the cable mimics conditions that the
> monitors see as something to protect against with default settings. Let us
> know if/when you get it figured out, OK?
>

I found these postings... Looks like I'm not the only one to suffer!
At least I know that I'm not just being dumb I guess...

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33407