Problem: HD5870 CF <-> Flickering External Monitor

Hello,

at first: yes i have used the forum-search and found a few threads but i think my problem is something else!

Yesterday a dell technician replaced my 4870's with brand new 5870's.
So i was pretty happy BUT now i've got really annoying problems with my new crossfire system:

I use an external monitor via display port, which worked like a charm with the old 4870's. But now i get a lot of "flickering" its like the display port "shuts down" and comes back up again. The monitor is completely black (equals no input?) and than turns back again. The Monitor stays black for like a second or so. Sometimes it just stays black and i have to pull the plug to change back to the m17x-display.

This "flickering" appears in windows AND in games (appears random).
FYI i have the latest dell-driver and flashed the vBIOS after the patching.
I had this issue with the older vBIOS, too. So thats not the source.

Is this issue known? Please tell me, that there's fix for this...

Thank you!

Additional information: i use the dell-adapter form display port to DVI-D (bizlink). maybe there's a problem with the 5870's and the adapter?

 

Shouldn't be an issue with the cards themselves.
I have a feeling it is a driver problem.

Do a full uninstall of the vid drivers (uninstall, reboot into safe mode, run ccleaner multiple times, reboot normal, run ccleaner again etc...) then install the new drivers (11.1a is my suggestion as some have had flickering issues with the 11.2 drivers).
Update your CAP profiles and give it a go.

Good luck

D.

 

thanks debaucher for the first advice.

at the moment i am Doing a full back-up. after this i will definately give the 11.12 and 11.1a a shot.

btw where can i get the "older" 11.1a driver?

 

Well the clean installation of the 11.12 did not fix the problem. i still suffer from those "black-outs".

Any advice?

UPDATE: well i tried all the drivers and it seems that with the dell-driver the "black-outs" do not appear that frequently but it's still incredibly annoying. with the standard VGA-driver (from windows 7) there are no problems at all. so this has to be a driver/display port issue.
I really need help...

 

It probably is a driver issue, with a lag in detection of the external display. Does this happen only when initially connect the external display, or does it go black randomly during use? I was not sure based on what you described. If the latter is true and not only when initially connecting, then you may have something wrong with the replacement parts.

Assuming this only occurs when initially switching to external monitor, this may be something you can fix in the CCC options. I don't use an external monitor with my M17x R2, so I have not tested this myself. In the Advanced Display Settings, verify you are on automatic detection. (See screen shot attached.) There may also be some other settings in CCC that will help.

Also, have you tried toggling FN+F6 to set the external display as the primary monitor?

 

Hi Mr.Fox

the problem appears randomly during use!
After initially connecting the display it works without problems for a short period of time. Than the trouble starts.

And yes i have tried FN+F6. The problem appears every time the external display is used (no matter if i duplicate / extend or just use the external device).

 

Hmm, that's puzzling. You may have a hardware issue, but I'm still not 100% convinced that it's not a driver problem or a Windows power saving glitch. Did you check the setting that I mentioned in CCC in the previous post? I could not tell from your response that you did. It could also be the display port adapter and not the actual video card hardware.

Here are a few more things you can try to remedy this issue... Go into CCC and first make sure both settings for PowerPlay are "Maximize Performance". Click apply, to make those settings permanent, and then disable (uncheck) PowerPlay. Now, make sure your Windows power scheme is on High Performance, not Balanced or Power Saver. Edit the High Performance profile to make sure all available CPU and GPU related settings are 100%, never or maximum, disable any display dimming or display turn-off features, etc. Essentially, you want the High Performance profile to be truly high performance and run everything at top speed without conserving any power or performance in both battery and plugged in modes.

After making the above changes, grab this download AMD GPU Clock Tool v0.9.26.0 For HD 5870 download from Guru3D.com and set the following: Engine at 701, Memory Clock at 1000, and VDDC Voltage at 1.0500. Click the buttons to Set Clocks and Set Voltage. Make sure the setting to apply changes to all devices is either checked or grayed out, then click OK. A screen shot is attached so you can see what I am referring to here.

See if this eliminates or reduces the issue for you. My thought process here is the power saving downclocking features on the HD 5870's may not be putting out enough power to drive the external display continuously. The above should override the downclocking.

For peace of mind, you should know that the AMD GPU Clock Tool settings are not permanent. You have to run the tool to make the changes every time and the settings go away whenever you shut down your system. Furthermore, the settings I told you to change are the factory maximum defaults. These settings are not overclocking the GPUs, it is merely stopping the GPUs from throttling back to save power. It is not dangerous to your GPUs.

If this helps, reboot and see if only the changes in your CCC PowerPlay settings and Windows power scheme are enough without running the AMD GPU Clock Tool.

If none of the above tests correct the issue, you should call 1-800-ALIENWARE for support. It may be a problem with your new video modules, and they may already know what to do to fix it for you.

 

You are not alone!

I constantly have my laptop (SLI GTX260Ms) hooked up to my Samsung 2233rz and experience what you're talking about. I use a DisplayPort to DVI-D Dual Link Adapter ( link) because the monitor is DVI only and I could only get 60hz using a HDMI>DVI adapter.

I never experience the problem when I have the laptop hooked up to my TV via HDMI and I never experience it in games unlike yourself. There are periods when it never happens (its perfect right now) and periods where it happens constantly and occasionally the monitor will go on standby as if it has lost the connection from the laptop, but the laptop screen doesn't turn on as it seems to think the external monitor is still fine.

I've found that when the problem is happening, I can make it stop by extending my desktop onto the laptop's monitor so both screens are active. Try it!

Have tried a host of different drivers also. Drives me nuts at times...

 

hi

Mr.Fox:
Thank's for the input.

I have tried the disabled-power-settings and the "overclock". I still get the same problem. So it seems that i have to call AW on this (speaking for hours to barely competent guys... )

menengroth:
yes that is exactly the adapter cable. there is just this one on the market (only with different names). It sucks having a kickass 30" and not beeing able to use it properly.

Well i guess that's it then... by the way when can i get a m18x as a replacement?

 

Empty, may I ask what monitor you are using? Is it 30" or smaller?

 

Torai it's a Samsung Syncmaster 305T. DVI-D only

You know what puzzles me...that menengroth got the exact same problem with Nvidia-hardware. That makes me think the adapter cable could be the problem BUT why was is working perfectly with the 4870's?

This is really pissing me off :/

 

Okay i am still trying everything and now it seems like the problem might also be related to the usb-port the adapter cable gets its power from.

for my earlier attempts i plugged the adapter into an usb-hub (it has an external power supply).

However if i plug the adapter into the m17x itself i get an error (see attachement) when connecting the external display.

i know its in german but well maybe u know this error. it tells you that there is a problem with the display port connection. Due to this problem it is not possible to use the highest resolution and refreshing rate (strangely it is running on 2560x1920, i can't change resolution or refreshing rate! It is all greyed out).

Well now: NO flickering-problems anymore BUT i cannot watch blurays and cannot play games, because the control center tells me that the display connection is faulty.... what the hell?!
Also control center is kinda bugged now if i plug the monitor in (see also attachement).

Any ideas?

Thank's!

 

Is this the issue we have in games that there are a bunch of threads for about flickering? The only time I ever see that is gaming. Matter of fact, just bad company on external monitor hdmi.

 

it has to be related to the adapter cable, initially I thought it was a driver issue with windows7, as it doesn't happen to me in games, and it never happened on my previous monitor using a HDMI>DVI adapter. I have the usb cable plugged into my eSATA/usb combo port and it's fine.

does your 30" monitor have any other connections you could try? I'm forced to use the dual-link adapter so the monitor can run at 120hz and it only has a DVI port.


@getfound nope

 

GetFound:
No it's not the same problem as the "other guys" have.

menengroth:
sadly the monitor ONLY has the one DVI-D connection. I really feel like throwing this piece of s**t out of the window.

Hm i was just thinking could i try the HD4870's driver from dell? Because with this driver AND the 4870's it worked.... so is it worth a shot or will it corrupt win7 or something like that?

 

should be okay dude, those drivers aren't tailored for specific cards, so the 4870 driver you used to use should work with your 5870s just fine.

have you tried extending your desktop onto both monitors? for me it stops the issues immediately, and I can then swap back to just the external monitor shortly afterwards and it won't blackscreen. (start + P, then click extend - easiest way)

 

yes changing the "display mode" does solve the problem temporarily but sometimes it doesn't even last 1 minute. and this is not possible in games. i always lag out when i do this....

 

That's what I suspected and why I asked you Now, since yours is a 30" monitor which must use Dual-link DVI adapter with USB (I am using Apple Cinema Display 30, basically its' the same thing) I am 99% sure that the flickering problem is due to the adapter cable.

I assume you are using the DisplayPort to Dual-link DVI cable like this?
DELL DisplayPort to Dual Link DVI Adapter for OptiPlex / Latitude / Alienware Laptops / Precision/ Precision Mobile Workstations : Desktop Accessories | Dell

I experienced the same flickering problem. Not all the time but sometimes. Since 2560x1600 is a very high resolution, in order to be able to drive that resolution the cable must be powerful enough (that's why the USB is required)
I dont know why there are always a number of people suffering from flickering with their dual-link DVI adapter. If you take a look at this, you'll see that the Apple product is even worse:
Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter - Apple Store (U.S.)

I tried to play Bad Company 2 with the adapter got from Dell (using SillyHoney's Xfire 5870 ). No flickering in that game, but there is flickering under normal use (not all the time). And for other game, I have no idea.

Since this problem has been out for a long time and there's no perfect adapter out there (may be due to low demand) I guess there's no way to completely solve this issue. THe only thing I can suggest you do, is to return/buy another adapter and give it a try.

I just wish all the laptops replaced VGA port with DVI-D just like my old MBPro so we can use 30" monitor natively and directly.

 

You literarily speak out of my mind!

Well i will give dell a call tomorrow and insist on getting a new adapter (just for the fun of it). and after that another one.....and after this some more crappy adapters yeah i am an ***hole

It's really nice having an extremely expensive display which you cannot use with your extremely expensive notebook

You can't even sell this 30"-thing on ebay because there is almost no market for these displays. Right now i am thinking about buying a new display. 3D isn't possible with the M17x R2 or is it?

Thank you all! +Rep everyone

 

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

today the new adapter arrived here.
plugged it in and.................... it works exactly as it's supposed to work.
no problems for 6 hours. i guess i am in the green with the new adapter (which has a new firmware).

So to anyone with this problem: CALL DELL AND GET A NEW ADAPTER!
Do not waste your time changing drivers and stuff... just get a new adapter and go out with you girl

So long.

 

that's great man, glad you got it working =P

 

SWEET! We are very happy for you. +1 rep for the update

Can you post a photo of the new adapter? Does it look any different, or have any different identifying numbers on it?

 

Hey,

the adapter looks exactly the same. at the moment i am not at home but i can post the serial numbers and stuff on that thing when i get back.