Info: Problem with video card & projector

[Rich A]

I hope this helps some others who may be wrestling with this (or maybe someone can suggest a fix for me)

For a long time I've run my SnapStream BTV using the VGA output of an Nvidia graphics card to a DLP Projector. In short suffice to say it's been outstanding and perfectly reliable.

In anticipation of adding HD capability, I changed my graphics card to an ATI Radeon 9600. Doing so has created an agrevating problem.

The PC is on 24/7 and never shut off or rebooted.

The only things turned on or off are the PJ and the sound amplifier.

After watching a movie, I shut off the PJ. The next time I turn the PJ back on, the entire screen is shifted to one side. So I minimize BTV and BM and then use the ATI graphics suite to re-center the PJ display. Then bring BTV and BM back up to full screen and re-adjust THEM also. Every thing is fine.

I shut down the PJ and go to bed. The next evening I turn on the PJ and bam. Everything is shifted again. This is really getting old. I've been living with this now for a few days. I've checked/changed/updated everything involving the ATI drivers. Checked all the Windows configs. Nothing stops this.

Now I've found out what "might" be causing this. It seems that the later versions of the ATI Radeons auto-sense the device that it is seeing (via the VGA port) Most time (as I was told by a tech in the shop) graphics cards can be set and forgot. But the ATI always looks at any new source to optimise it's output to match that display. I guess the ATI is having trouble figuring out what my Infocus projector is. That's all I can figure. Every time I turn on the PJ, the ATI card changes to something different. The refresh rate has come up at different rates at different times from 60 hz to 85 hz.

I have to check to see if there is any way to force the ATI to NOT update itself or preprogram the various parameters to never change ?? Anybody have any experience running a Radeon as the video source for a projector ??

[DanielS]

Interesting problem Rich, and something not uncommon for anyone actually wanting to run their PJ or monitor for that matter from an HTPC that's on 24/7. I haven't hit this problem, but only because I haven't yet gotten to using the VGA input on my Samsung DLP TV. HTPC#2 will stay connected to Component through the Yamaha Receiver; thus the input will drop when I shut off the amp. That's OK, because the VGA is connected to a KVM to my main monitor over in my office. But HTPC#1 will go VGA out to the DLP's VGA in. Thus I should run into the same problem as you with my AIW 9600 Pro with the latest drivers when I turn the TV back on? Wouldn't you say?

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by DanielS

Interesting problem Rich, and something not uncommon for anyone actually wanting to run their PJ or monitor for that matter from an HTPC that's on 24/7. I haven't hit this problem, but only because I haven't yet gotten to using the VGA input on my Samsung DLP TV. HTPC#2 will stay connected to Component through the Yamaha Receiver; thus the input will drop when I shut off the amp. That's OK, because the VGA is connected to a KVM to my main monitor over in my office. But HTPC#1 will go VGA out to the DLP's VGA in. Thus I should run into the same problem as you with my AIW 9600 Pro with the latest drivers when I turn the TV back on? Wouldn't you say?

I would think so. With HTPC #1 in Windows, what do you have the monitor configured as? Maybe my problem is unique to the Infocus PJ I'm using. I think in the case of the kvm switch they are designed to present a load to the un-used port, so that sort of thing would be less likely to happen.

Now that I think of it, I think I originally had the "monitor" type set for a generic LCD screen (when I was using the NVidia card) which seemed to closely match that of the DLP PJ. When I changed cards to the ATI, I don't think I re-set that. Maybe hard coding the monitor to a specific type will cause the ATI to stop trying to guess what it is. I think right now it's just running the windows "default" display device.

So what is your "display" device set for on the system that is feeding VGA to your DLP TV ??

[DanielS]

Originally Posted by Rich A

... With HTPC #1 in Windows, what do you have the monitor configured as? ... So what is your "display" device set for on the system that is feeding VGA to your DLP TV ??

Well Rich, that's just it. Right now I'm NOT feeding VGA to the DLP. I will be but I've been too busy. Video is via S-Video right now; HTPC#2 is Component, HTPC#3 is S-Video. Obviously, I spend most of my time on HTPC#2.

Currently HTPC#1's VGA is configured Viewsonic G810-6 so it has a load on it. That would bypass any ATI driver problem you are seeing.

[Rich A]

Still having the problem. I've put back into the system the old Nvidia graphics card. And the problem is still exactly the same.

Note, this system worked flawless for two years. I'm slowly going back to the original system. The old system was:

Geforce MX video card
PVR-250, PVR-350
Windows 2000 Pro

At present I'm back to where the only thing different is now
Windows XP Pro (with service pack 2)

I upgraded to XP in anticipation of SS someday supporting HD. I believe that may be a requirement. (only guessing here)

I should also mention one other addition .. that was the ATI HDTV Wonder. This is simply a capture/tuner card which is not enabled at this time. I originally had the ATI RADEON 9600 video card AND ATI's MMC so I could watch and record HDTV. But the MMC really caused varied problems with my BTV and BM. So I nuked the ATI MMC and replaced the ATI video card with the same Nvidia card that had work flawlessly for two years with Win2K.

So now .. the only real difference in the video area has to have something to do with either XP or Service Pack 2 or the combination of both.

This is NOT a Snapstream problem. Although it affects the SS display of course. Everytime I restart the projector the video is shifted (the actual windows GUI) to one side.

All windows and BTV GUI perfect. Shut down Projector. Everything else still running 24/7

Turn on Projector .. Windows GUI shifted about a foot to the right. (screen is 6 foot wide)

Adjust windows GUI and SS BTV so it's centered. Shut down PJ.

Restart PJ and now Win. GUI shifted one foot the Left. Make corrections and shut down pj.

Restart again .. now screen off set back to the right again. Arrrrrgggghhhh!

Anybody running a PJ with a similar problem or a guess as to what this might be?

[Rich A]

This time I think I've got it. Been running fine for a few days. I found a setting deep in the Nvidia video card settings that can be enabled if you are having trouble with the Nvidia card recognizing refresh rates etc. of the display device ( mosly when you have more than one display) I only have one but enabling it worked.

The option was in the NVidia graphics setup under "Tools". A check box to: Force TV Detection. With it enabled, it's fine. When not enabled the problem occurs. This is very strange to me though. I would imagine this check box would only work for the TV-OUT on the video card .. which I am NOT using. But it must have some kind of relationship with the VGA out as well. Very weird.

Now to see if there is a similar setting in the ATI video setup.

[BenH]

Go to displays / monitor properties . Click on monitor . I click off DDC detection so I can turn off monitor or power save monitor and it goes back to life with same refresh rate and settings . If I do not it used to with older drivers go to 60hz . I have not tested this after every update to drivers. I do not update every release either .

I hope this helps . Ben

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by BenH

Go to displays / monitor properties . Click on monitor . I click off DDC detection so I can turn off monitor or power save monitor and it goes back to life with same refresh rate and settings . If I do not it used to with older drivers go to 60hz . I have not tested this after every update to drivers. I do not update every release either .

I hope this helps . Ben

Thanks Ben,

I assume you are talking about a setup with the ATI Radeon 9600? I've reverted back to the old Nvidia card which works fine after I finally figured out what to do (see previous post).

When I go back to the ATI I'll check that out. I "do" want to go back to ATI as that card has the on card support needed for any posible HD decoding in the future. Right now I'm going to let the Nvidia do it's thing for a few more days until I'm satisfied at least that works. After which I'll install the Radeon and check out your tip ... Thanks again.

[BenH]

Yes Rich , I was lazy and did not edit to say ATI 9600. It is in the Signature though .

Glad it is working ok .

Edit - Rich - I am dial up and do not use the CCC ATI drivers that use that slow -easy to use - Dot net programing language . 4.10 drivers is up to date enough for me so far . No reason to upgrade when it all works and nothing fixed I need.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by BenH

Yes Rich , I was lazy and did not edit to say ATI 9600. It is in the Signature though .

Glad it is working ok .

Edit - Rich - I am dial up and do not use the CCC ATI drivers that use that slow -easy to use - Dot net programing language . 4.10 drivers is up to date enough for me so far . No reason to upgrade when it all works and nothing fixed I need.

I'm back after more days of trying to get this ironed out. The DDC check box isn't even enabled .. (it's off and greyed out)

I've got the Radeon 9600 re-installed and the problem is back. After much more reading and googling .. I found a note from the PJ people about a problem like mine that was fixed with a Projector firmware update.

I did that. Now the problem is even more pronounced. Every time I turn on the computer the windows GUI is shifted to the left. Used to be about a 2 inch shift (actual measurement on the six foot screen) NOW it's about 6 inches. ARrrgggghhhhhh. Guess I'll hop over to the AVS PJ forum and see if anyone else is experiancing this.

Meanwhile, I just have to get used to re-aligning the Windows Desktop display every time I turn on the PJ.

[BenH]

Is there a display driver that you use ? Try using a Viewsonic display driver . Be carefull though . I do not know projector. But you have had it go from 60hz to 85hz .

[StephaneM]

Hello,

Originally Posted by Rich A

Meanwhile, I just have to get used to re-aligning the Windows Desktop display every time I turn on the PJ.

Have you tried in CCC under "Display Options" to select the "Use manual detection only (I must click the Detect Displays buttton)" option?

You can also try to set the "Maximum Resolution" and "Maximum refresh rate" (should be 60Hz for a projector) under Monitor Properties X / Attributes.

I don't know if it will work but at least with my TV connected via VGA and with all version of ATI drivers I never have a problem with resolution / refresh rate changing when powering off the TV (it doesn't support DDC / EDID)

You can also submit your issue on the ATI web site.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by BenH

Is there a display driver that you use ? Try using a Viewsonic display driver . Be carefull though . I do not know projector. But you have had it go from 60hz to 85hz .

It never changes from 60 hz .. that's not the problem. However, for some reason, the "display" driver for the Infocus X1 projector never installed properly. In Device manager the error is "Windows can't start this device".

It's positively a Windows / ATI problem. The old Nvidia graphics (and others) always worked fine with just a "standard plug & play monitor" set for the monitor type. This new Radeon 9600 won't work with the PJ no matter what type of display device I set up.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Hello,



Have you tried in CCC under "Display Options" to select the "Use manual detection only (I must click the Detect Displays buttton)" option?

You can also try to set the "Maximum Resolution" and "Maximum refresh rate" (should be 60Hz for a projector) under Monitor Properties X / Attributes.

I don't know if it will work but at least with my TV connected via VGA and with all version of ATI drivers I never have a problem with resolution / refresh rate changing when powering off the TV (it doesn't support DDC / EDID)

You can also submit your issue on the ATI web site.

Regards,
Stéphane.

I'll check the CCC under "Display Options". Max res. and refresh "are" set properly .. 60 hz and I have set the resolution to various sizes for testing but that figure changes back to the card's max every time I shut off and restart the PJ.

For example .. with everything set to give me a perfect display, it's set for 60 hz and max res to 800x600 (I have tried all the different res by the way)

Shut down PJ and then turn it back on and the refresh is still 60 but the max res is then changed to the monitor's highest setting (something like 3k by something) But the actual res (800 x 600) and refresh (60hz) never changes. Also this ONLY happens with the PJ as the video display device. Other monitors, LCD and CRT work fine.

I just thought of something .. perhaps I should save the working parameters as a "new" profile and see what happens? So far I've only been using the standard default profile of the video card. I'll also check the CCC too.

Thanks guys ..