8800GTS won't display 1920 x 1200

[chrome0011]

So, every time I restart, my 24" Dell resets to 1680x1050, without the option to go to 1920x1200 in the properties menu (this is xp). I have to go into the nvidia control panel and make a custom resolution every time.

This is because it doesn't remember it, either. It has a custom resolution there, at 1920x1200, but the color depth is always set to 8 bits.... which is strange... which forces me to set it up again--after every restart. Which is getting old.

I've done a clean driver install and even installed the 2405fpw profile from dell. So, I don't have any idea what's going on here... driver issue maybe?

Thanks to all responders!

 

[robisbell]

make and exact model of video card and monitor, please.

 

[chrome0011]

Evga 8800gts 320MB PCI-E 640-P2-N821-AR
Dell 2405fpw
EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI

 

[robisbell]

looks like to do 1900x1200 you'll need to sli it with an exact same make and model. the card is doing the highest level it can when you pull down the list, I'd not try to force a higher resolution, some people report the cards fail if forced to run at un-supported resolutions for too long. caan you do SLI? the 1680x1050 is probably the highest the card will do in single mode.

 

[chrome0011]

Well, I'm not sure that's the case. According to this spec sheet from EVGA:

http://www.evga.com/products/pdf/320-P2-N811.pdf

Says that 1920x1200 is supported, as well as much higher resolutions.

 

[robisbell]

from what I've read people have not been able to do that without going sli, so far I've come across 8 different people having similar issues, most are evga card, and some are other manufacturers. the drivers only read what the video chipset tells them.

 

[chrome0011]

I doubt that the 8800 isn't capable of this resolution, given that cards 2 generations ago could do it easily. Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

[robisbell]

well, what's the highest resolution the drivers will let you go?

 

[chrome0011]

See my first post. Robisbell, I'm pretty sure the 8800 can do 1920x1200, and unless you can show me some documentation that somehow refutes the spec sheet provided by EVGA, then I think we should try to think of something else.

 

[Severian]

My EVGA 7900GT easily does 1920x1200 on my Soyo 24" LCD, no resolution hacks necessary. I'm currently running the 163.71 nvidia driver.

 

[robisbell]

well, I had to dig up the spec sheet on the monitor and the video card. I know why you can't do 1920 x 1200.
Monitor
Max Sync Rate 76 Hz

video card rate for 1920 x 1200
85Hz at 32 bit to 100Hz at 8bit
and the note on the manual for the video card states

"refresh rates shown are the highest obtainable and are monitor dependent. Resolutions, isel depths and refresh rates are driver dependent and may not be available in all applications or operating systems."

the monitor can not handle the rate the card puts out for that resolution and cycles to the nearest resolution it can display at 32bit.

 

[chrome0011]

Ok, robisbell, I'm pretty sure you're wrong there.

I switched the Dell over to the other DVI port (had another LCD attached to the other) and it worked fine.

Problem fixed, thanks to all.

 

[robisbell]

okay, glad the info from EVGA and Dell is wrong. then the video card is defective.

 

[chrome0011]

I don't think the info is wrong, or that the card is defective. I'm sure it has something to do with the driver support when there are two monitors attached.

 

[robisbell]

you never said there were 2 monitors attached. if one of the dvi will not run the monitor and the other will, I'd say the cards defective, I did not see anything in the manual to indicate anything special about the ports.

 

[chrome0011]

Exactly, there isn't anything special about the ports.

In my humble experience, defective parts are a rarity. I seriously doubt that the port would work at all if it was defective, and it certainly wouldn't display 1920x1200, even if forced in the control panel.

These symptoms point to a software/driver issue, not a hardware issue.

I'm curious, what would your diagnosis have been if I had mentioned that there were two monitors ?

(there are three, actually...)

 

[robisbell]

okay. are all 3 monitors the exact same model? I'd do more testing before syaing for 100% certainty. I'm curious what happens when you try the other 2 monitors on the port that does not supposedly work. I take it you're running 2 8800gts cards then in sli?

 

[chrome0011]

Nevermind, thanks anyway. Just glad it's working.

 

[robisbell]

well, as long as you are happy. good luck.