Periodic screen "flicker" with ATI in dual monitor mode?

Stupid poll: Should read:

(ATI Mobility X1x00 GPU users only) Are you experiencing occasional "flicker" on the laptop LCD when using dual monitor mode?

I've noticed that a number of people have been having the same issue with ATI graphics cards and dual monitor on newer Core/Core2 laptops. Just to get a feel for how many people have this issue here:

- ATI X1600, X1700 graphics card or similar (NOT nVidia)
- when using dual monitor configurations, LCD screen displays a flicker of garbage briefly (< 1 second) every few minutes
- the garbage appears to be enlarged bits of the screen or text
- the "flicker" occurs ONLY when using dual monitor configurations with the LCD (ex: LCD + DVI, LCD + VGA)
- the "flicker" occurs usually on the main LCD screen, or in some cases on both the laptop's LCD and the output

Thus far, a number of us V1Jp users seem to be experiencing this. I'm wondering if this is a more wider-scale issue.

 

Have you tried updating the video card drivers?

 

x1600 flicker occurs only on the 2nd attached monitor. i am using omega drivers.

 

I noticed this issue on my old Acer 8204 with an X1600 and also on Asus A8JP. Both times the flickering was experienced on the external LCD every few minutes.

Now I use an A8JS (Nvidia) and I've never experienced the problem.

 

I am seeing it both on the laptop and the extended monitor with my V1JP, with a x1700 card. It has done it with all graphics driver versions, even the latest.

 

Even though it's an external monitor, the signal is still being driven by the notebook graphics card: the drivers still matter.

Omega updates quite often - sometimes twice a month, so grab the newest modded driver.

That's a shame...maybe it's fixed in the still newest driver set? Otherwise it must be a hardware problem...that's too bad.

 

I think it flickered once or twice in it's whole life.Just a second though...

 

Just curious... what version of Catalyst are you using?

Maybe this problem was caused by fixing another problem...

Or maybe it's the type of panel. Do you know the maker of your LCD panel? You can use Everest to find out, or check the monitor under Device Manager and look for the hardware device ID. Mine reads "Monitor\CMO1523".

 

i had a flickering proble, but resolved it by using a 2-prone converter for my ac adaptor

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=106960&page=2

 

Mine is also CMO.
It's not longer happening but I think it was Catalyst 6.8.
I think it was reduced to 0 after I flushed to the lastest bios though.

 

I remember seeing that thread. We actually get something like that when interfacing laptops with our equipment at work. I can't remember if I tried it on batteries-only or not. I'll have to try it again and see if it makes a difference.

As far as a ground lift adapter, that's usually not a good idea since if you do need the ground, the excess will usually find its way to the nearest other ground reference through path of least resistance, even if it has to go through some other lower-power circuits in the process. I would be wondering if there were a different way, like if there were a VGA/DVI cable that could be modified somehow...

 

Meaning that even with the latest version you don't get it?

I guess we should take a look at their BIOS and see what they did.

Or maybe this might have something to do with the video card being modular on some models. I don't think the X1600 in the W3J can be removed, but I know that in the A8J series and the V1J they're removable. But on the A8J with the nVidia card, it doesn't seem to have this problem...

EDIT: On second thought, the W3J VGA module is actually removable: http://estore.asus.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=3388

Next order of business would be to determine if it's the same module...

 

I get this problem only with my LCD screen on the Laptop. Only flickers when I am using the laptop at home, when i'm out it's fine. My guess is it's due to interferance from being beside so many electrical devices, especially the other two 19" LCD's I have. Could be the same thing.

 

i get it when using the tv-out on my F3Ja. it's a split-second flicker and doesn't happen very often. in fact, of the people who have watched movies with me, i was the only one who noticed these subliminal messages

ASUS is trying to tell me something ...





must destroy Dell ...

 

Hrm... new Catalyst 7.4 doesn't seem to fix it. I'm curious as to whether it is a ground problem. VGA and DVI cables have grounds, maybe the ATI implementation doesn't have any sort of isolation from the monitor. Not sure if I want to tempt fate and get battery discharge problems, though...

 

It's not an electrical interference problem. It's like every once in a while, for only a fraction of a second, the screen resolution changes to 640x400 (or less), as you can see letters the size of a fingertip.
In my opinion it is a driver issue. I can live with it, but it would be very nice if they just fix it.

 

Something interesting that E.B.E. posted in another related thread which might be of interest to some people over here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=90502

I found that when running on batteries, it doesn't happen. Chances are it IS a ground loop from the ground being commoned up through the video card. They suggest cables with ferrite beads to try to reduce the effect, which might be a good idea since I'm currently not using ones with ferrite beads since they eat up more space in my bag...

 

An equivalent sort of thing happens with headphones that aren't properly grounded. The sound will hiccup (sort of like a skipping CD) or will switch to Mono then back to stereo. I see it all the time.

 

Could it be the BIOS that removes the grain that is causing this problem?
The original VGA drivers from the Asus website also do the flicker?
Yesterday I was using a external screen in dual view, and when I unpluged the external monitor, the Asus screen switched off and started to make a strange buzz sound and it crashed the Laptop.

 

If it's a ground loop it hasn't got anything to do with the BIOS. It's simply an electrical problem (and a dangerous one, too -- see the buzzes and crashes). I once burned my VGA-out on the laptop due to a grounding problem. So you'd better make sure you have good ground connections in the places you are using the laptop.

 

Thanks for the advice. How can I safelly check the ground connection on the outlet I use my laptop?
Best regards

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1984372#post1984372

here's some information from another thread that may help.

 

does this problem happen to notebooks only? desktop machines also use grounded power, would i see the same too with desktops?

 

Actually, I think I've gotten around the problem.

Unfortunately, it happens to me regardless of whether I'm plugged in or not, which eliminates grounding as a potential cause. It seems to be a Catalyst or ATI firmware problem. Still running 7.4.

I'm not sure if it's triggered by an errant subroutine or something since it sometimes happens on the external monitor and sometimes on the internal monitor.

What I've found is that if I restart WinXP with the other monitor turned on (ie: not coming out of hibernation) and then extend the desktop using the Catalyst tray tool to extend the desktop, it doesn't flinch/flicker. But it happens sometimes when I come out of hibernation.