2009-04-25 20:20:57 LCD Monitor Problem?

Just today I've noticed I'm getting some weird stretched out blurring on static images on my LCD monitor.

It only happens with Windows applications though, I don't notice it on the monitor menu itself (you know that little menu that pops up when you hit the button on your monitor), so I'm thinking it might be either the cable or the graphics card.

I wasn't sure if Print Screen would pick up the problem, so I recreated it in Photoshop. It looks almost exactly like this, like everything has a motion blur filter applied to the right side:



Has anyone run into a problem like this and figured out what was causing it?
The monitor and cable are only a few months old, and the graphics card is about 6-7 years old.
I've tried the auto adjustment feature on the monitor, changing refresh rates, but none of that did anything to help.

I'm thinking of scaling down Hardware Acceleration or write combining, do you think that might show if it's a graphics card problem?

edit
I've tried searching Google but I can't think of the right terms to use.
I keep coming up with articles on motion blur.

2009-04-25 21:02:55

Is it really as bad as in that pic? Never seen that before.

Few things to try:
-Power off the monitor and leave it off for 10 minutes or so (if you haven't already, or if it's in standby all the time or something).
-Reseat the GPU.
-If possible clean AGP/PCI-e socket with compressed air.
-Re-install/update GPU drivers.

Also, I'd really be interested if the issue would show up in a print screen, and does this also appear when you boot up a game or something? Seems to be your GPU is the cause of this. But, it's hard to say really. Best thing to do is issolate the problem by trying another GPU, trying a different monitor, trying your monitor at a friends computer etc...

Good luck! :)

---
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JatoNL

http://www.myspace.com/jatonl

2009-04-25 21:22:47

Yeah, it's really that bad, a bit worse actually.
The thing is, I wouldn't be able to tell if Print Screen picks it up because I see it no matter what! lol.
With a background image or in a game I'm sure there would be too much going on to notice, but I do see it on the Bios boot up, so I guess that would rule out the graphics card, right?

I tried disabling Write Combining and scaled down Hardware Acceleration but neither one made a difference.

I tried powering off my monitor earlier this morning, and even shut down the computer for a couple hours but that didn't do anything either.

I'm trying to locate my old cable now (which I replaced because it was having flickering color problems), and I really hope that's the only culprit here.
I really don't want to spend a bunch of cash right now.

2009-04-25 21:26:41

I've seen that affect--may be not as extreme--with some Dell monitors. Try shaking the cable connections at both, the monitor side and the GPU side while looking at the monitor and see if you notice any changes.

I don't know the exact cause though, but on the monitors I tried that, it fixed the problem at least temporarily, then you would have to do it again.

---
Mods, stop changing my SIG! I'm going to end up banning you!

2009-04-25 21:39:37 In reply to LEBATO (2009-04-25 21:26:41)

Alas, cable wiggle doesn't help.
That was actually a problem my old cable had, but it produced different image problems.
The screen would get these flickering green and red color overlays that would only go away if you wiggled the cable, so I replaced it with this one which instantly fixed the problem.
(Samsung doesn't seem to be concerned with quality cables, heh. That thing was cheap as hell).

Anyway, since it was a different problem on that old wire, maybe I can still use it to troubleshoot this one.
Only one way to find out...

2009-04-25 22:04:53

Do you have another monitor? Try using another one to see if the problem is with the GPU or the monitor.

---
El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-04-25 22:19:22 In reply to PlumbDrumb (2009-04-25 21:22:47)

Well, the video is still being output via the GPU so I can't see why it would rule out the GPU. Especially when you say the GPU is 6-7 years old and the monitor and cables are just a few months old, it's hard not to blame the GPU. ;)

I'd definitely try reseating the GPU and clean out some dust, and best would be to try the GPU on another computer or try another GPU on yours. The cable could be the culpritt, but my money's on the GPU (not real money though, monopoly money).

---
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JatoNL

http://www.myspace.com/jatonl

2009-04-25 22:23:40

That was going to be my next step, BUT! I used my old defective cable and the problem is gone! Phew!

The color problem is back now, and actually it's less of a color overlay effect and more like entire color ranges get cutoff (red icons won't even show up, and sometimes green), but at least I can shift the cable around to get rid of the problem for a while.

Looks like I'm ordering a new one.

Anybody have a recommendation for a good VGA cable that isn't expensive?
The Startech cable I bought had a five star rating and Amazon customers raved about the quality.
It was only ten dollars, but I'm not sure if I should go for the same one this time.
I'd be willing to fork out 20 or 30 bucks for another high rated cable if anybody has one.

BTW, thanks for all the suggestions. I just tried the easiest stuff first, and thankfully it fell on the cable.

2009-04-25 22:29:08

Good thing I used monopoly money then! ;)

Glad it's just the cable though! :)

---
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JatoNL

http://www.myspace.com/jatonl

2009-04-25 22:36:39 In reply to Jato (2009-04-25 22:29:08)

haha! no doubt. I wish I could use it to buy a new cable.

2009-04-25 23:17:44

Just buy a shielded one to be on the safe side, other than that i can't imagine that the quality of different brands will differ much? Just to let you know, i have this really long VGA cable that has the exact same problem that you describe here, due to it being so long that the signal gets screwed up along the way. So i'm guessing that you got the problem because there is something interfering with the signal...did you add anything new to/around your computer that might screw stuff up? Like something with a strong electrical current or something?

---
El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-04-25 23:33:57

No, the monitor is the newest thing I've added in the past 3 years.
I get occasional interference when the washing machine or dishwasher switch cycles, but it doesn't cause the ghosting-like issue, more like roaming static.

Even though I was hesitant, I just bought another of the same model Startech cable.
If I made a mistake in doing so, at least it was only 10 bucks, plus I added a game and DVD to the cart to get free shipping :D
That should make me feel better!

This color problem is really getting on my nerves right now though, I hope they send it quick.

edit
here's a link to the cable:
http://www.amazon.com/STARTECH-COM-MXT101MMHQ-Coax...

it's over twenty from the manufacturers site.

2009-04-26 06:44:30

You know, it's hard to believe you guys don't have a cable recommendation.

Then again, now that I'm being rude about it you'd probably link me to some corn rope.

2009-04-26 06:49:27

What's VGA? ;)

2009-04-26 06:54:30

I'm gonna punch you at the next convention.

2009-06-28 18:19:08

Grift I ordered a DVI-d cable. Do you think that will halt the ghosting problem?

according to others DVI suffers from interference just as well as the D-subs.

Why didn't I have this problem with all my CRT monitors, in the same frickin place with all the same equipment!?
This shit just sucks, that's all.

2009-06-29 15:10:02

I wouldn't think that DVI would suffer from the same kind of interference issues (potentially) as d-sub.. just because it's a digital connection.

2009-06-29 15:22:05

I'll let you know if it works out.
I hope it does.

---
My mind makes things move

2009-08-17 02:59:19

Well, I just ordered a DVI cable, but I'm not sure if it will help, especially after reading this article:
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/1228...

Looks like interference and data loss can be even more of a problem with DVI, only manifesting itself in a different way.

Oh well, guess I'll find out in a few days.

2009-08-28 00:51:49

Got the DVI-D cable. Solved everything.

Case closed.

2009-08-28 01:09:40

It's not over untill I say it is!

......

Ok, case closed..

---
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JatoNL

http://www.myspace.com/jatonl