DVI to DVI Problem..

[mission]

So, i just bought the XFX Radeon HD5870. I hooked everything up, both PCIe 6pin connectors, and powered up.

Problem:

When i plug my monitor in via DVI[Card] > DVI[Monitor], no signal.
When i plug my monitor in via DVI[Card] > Analog Adapter > VGA[Monitor], it works fine.

When i plug my HDTV in via DVI[Card] > HDMI[HDTV], no signal.
When i plug my HDTV in via HDMI[Card] > HDMI[HDTV], it works fine.
When i plug my HDTV in via DVI[Card] > Analog Adapter > VGA[HDTV], it works fine.

In summary, when i use the DVI cable or DVI port without an Analog adapter, nothing works. I get no signal to any displays. (This is not in Windows).

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.avforums.com/forums/attachments/satellite-tv/130487d1248386820-dreambox-similar-dvi_connector_types.gif">Monitor: Dual Link DVI-D
Cables: Both Dual Link DVI-D and Single Link DVI-D
HD5870: Dual Link DVI-I</a>

Additional Information:

I found out this isnt just a 5870 problem, ive searched the endless seas of the web and found many with this problem dating as far back as 2005.

Same problem with my old X600 DVI videocard.

I guess i'll also add, that this no signal thing isnt IN Windows. I cant see system info such as BIOS or POST...as well as Windows.

Windows 7 64bit is the OS.

Just tried Windows XP SP3 and:
I installed XP while i was using HDMI > HDMI on my TV (Since that works fine). When i plug in the additional monitor via DVI > DVI, the ATI Drivers, and the CCC (Catalyst Control Center) detects that there's another monitor plugged in, but i cant enable it. When i do, it just refreshes the screen, and its back to disabled. Same think for when i go into Desktop Properties>Settings and try to enable the monitor.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[mission]

bump before i pull out my hair

 

[imported_Scoop]

Well since DVI -> VGA works fine, the output is ok. I don't know why DVI -> HDMI doesn't work though.

I had a similar problem with my 20,1" Viewsonic LCD. It started to lose its picture (via DVI) and sometimes when booting up, it took like ten or so minutes for the picture to show up and then it would go blank again. DVI -> VGA worked fine like in your case. I hooked up the system to my HDTV via DVI -> HDMI and got picture during POST but it either wouldn't load windows or some other thing 'cause it went blank after the loading screen. But I guess you don't get picture even during POST? Changed my brother's GPU to my system and the same result as in scenario 1 so the LCD was to blame. A new one fixed the issue. But I guess another monitor doesn't help your issue?

 

[mission]

Yea, same boat.

Maybe somethings wrong with the DVI port on my 20.1" LCD monitor?

But that doesnt explain why the DVI > HDMI to my HDTV doesnt work....

I currently dont have another monitor to test any other DVI ports with =\

 

[mission]

bump =(

 

[mission]

My monitors DVI port works fine on my friends 8800GT................

 

[mission]

bump....

 

[TemjinGold]

Have you tried a different DVI cable maybe?

 

[Pacemaker]

This may not be the issue, but it's the best thing I can come up with. Most DVI ports send a legacy analog signal that analog adapters (VGA in this case) use instead of the digital signal. If the digital portion of your DVI port is broken but the analog portion is good, that could explain the symptoms you are describing. Also as TemjinGold said it could be the cable.

 

[mission]

Thanks for the replies. Someone mentioned the cable being the problem over at tomshardware.

The same cable was used to make it work at my friends house lol.

Both cables work on other monitors.
My monitor works from OTHER DVI inputs.
My TV works from OTHER HDMI inputs.
Both my 5870 and my x600 have this problem.

The ONLY piece of hardware that i can narrow it down to is the motherboard...there MUST be a BIOS setting or something...

 

[mission]

Based on the Pacemaker said...its possible that the digital portion of the DVI out from the videocards are broken, but the odds of that happening to two different videocards? and one brand new out of the box?

 

[TemjinGold]

Originally posted by: mission
Thanks for the replies. Someone mentioned the cable being the problem over at tomshardware.

The same cable was used to make it work at my friends house lol.

Both cables work on other monitors.
My monitor works from OTHER DVI inputs.
My TV works from OTHER HDMI inputs.
Both my 5870 and my x600 have this problem.

The ONLY piece of hardware that i can narrow it down to is the motherboard...there MUST be a BIOS setting or something...

Best way to test that then is to plug your 2 video cards (one at a time) into your friend's machine and see if you still have that problem.

 

[mission]

Ugh!...ill be doing this later today. Ill post the results....which will likely be normal knowing my luck.

 

[mission]

Just tested both videocards in another computer...

DVI out's work perfectly fine.

The only thing i can narrow it down to is the motherboard of my computer or something...

 

[TemjinGold]

Out of curiosity, are you using the newest drivers?

 

[mission]

Of course...latest video drivers available on the site anyways. ive even tried just using the ones on the CD.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: mission
Just tested both videocards in another computer...

DVI out's work perfectly fine.

But did you test both video cards in another computer, using your cables, and your monitors? Gotta be careful when you are swapping things around and testing on another computer. Don't introduce a different cable or monitor into the equation to test the graphics card or motherboard. You have to use your exact setup.

 

[TemjinGold]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: mission
Just tested both videocards in another computer...

DVI out's work perfectly fine.

But did you test both video cards in another computer, using your cables, and your monitors? Gotta be careful when you are swapping things around and testing on another computer. Don't introduce a different cable or monitor into the equation to test the graphics card or motherboard. You have to use your exact setup.

While you're at it, you might also want to test your friends video card in YOUR machine and see if that still works.

 

[mission]

I wasnt able to take his videocard, as i live quite far from him...and taking my computer to his house is difficult, cause the damn thing weighs so much.

My monitor and cables work at my friend#1's house, on his 8800GT.
My videocards, both the 5780 and the x600 work at my friend#2's house, in his computer, using his cables and monitor.

In one way or another..everything works...except when its in my computer.

I tried resetting the CMOS, even though the BIOS was already at default.

I've heard some random but strange problems were the videocard wasnt getting enough power from the PSU to cause whacky problems...

 

[TemjinGold]

Buy a new mobo at a local store that has a good return policy. That way, you can test out whether it's the motherboard and still return the board after.

 

[mission]

I can RMA it with NCIX.com. That's where i bought it from, not to long ago.

Im talking with XFX tech...and someone suggested it might be a "EDID" communication problem.

not sure what that is.