Active DVI > DP Adaptor - Testing A Solution For Flickering

[Dyre Straits]

ACCELL has the WORST customer support of any company I've ever dealt with!!! I sent an inquiry/problem report a WEEK ago and have yet to get even the decency of an auto reply to let me know they received the email.

I'm returning the two ACCELL adapters I've already bought and will NOT EVER buy another ACCELL-made product. None of the ones I've bought to date [THREE] have worked at all. AMD should withdraw the "certified" status of any of their products, IMHO.

[Flamin Joe]

I bought the new sapphire active display port to DVI adapter to replace the dell display port adapter. I was having problems with the dell one working with the newer ATI drivers. I was having problems with the display going black sometimes. After get the new Sapphire adapter I have not had anymore issues with the display going black with my 5850 card. I wish they had sold this adapter earlier. :D

I just went ahead and brought the HIS version of the same adaptor (chances are it's the exact same one since it has no branding). Problem FIXED. These new "2nd generation" active adaptors are the way to go. No more randomly losing display a boot time, changing resolutions, switching between Eyefinity/extended display, which means no more stuffing around unplugging/plugging in the adaptor! Woohoo!

FINALLY I'm done with all these issues which have plagued me since day one. :D

[ctolan]

Hi,

I just wanted to post my information here for others to see. I had a HIS 5770 with my 3rd monitor running on a Dell Active DisplayPort to DVI - see here http://www.scan.co.uk/products/dell-bizlink-active-displayport-to-dvi-%28dual-link%29-adapter-1080p-ready

It worked for a while at first but then I started to lose the DP connected 3rd screen as many others here have too.

I live with it for a while and eventually decided i either replace my 5770 or get one of these http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3468/quick_review_sapphire_radeon_hd_5770_flex_1gb/index.html this card would give me 3 screens without the need for the active adapter and I'd get crossfire too. So i figured it was worth a go. I didn't get the retail pack in the review above i got an OEM version from pixmania (i didnt know i was getting this, but whatever). The bundle i got didn't come with the HDMI to DVI adapter, so i thought i was screwed. I said i'll set it up andway and can get the adapter myself.

Ok so the interesting bit. On the new card I used the same Dell Active DisplayPort to DVI for the time being and it didnt drop the DP connected monitor at all. Screen was up for over 16 hours yesterday. So it wasn't the adapter in my case (or at least the adapter works now with a different card). I'll update this post if I have any change.

[matt73]

Picked one of these brand new apple active mini display port adapters http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571Z/A up on ebay for $70.00 and it works great on my new ATI sapphire 5970 which I have connected to 3 acer G24 monitors (1920 x 1200) x 3 = 5760x1200 with eyefinity. I also tried it with my visiontek 5850 which has a normal display port so I bought this adapter http://us.startech.com/product/DP2MDPMF6IN-6in-DisplayPort-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Video-Cable-Adapter-Male-to-Female and it works great on games such as Arma2 combined ops, ROF, F1 2010, BFBC2.
So for under $100 dollars this works for me :) I previously used a matrox triplehead2go digital for the last 2 years and only got a max res. of 3840 x 1080. :(

few links for adapters that may also work.
http://us.startech.com/product/DP2DVID-DisplayPort-to-DVI-Dual-Link-Active-Converter%e2%80%93USB-Powered

http://us.startech.com/product/MDP2DVID-Mini-DisplayPort-to-DVI-Dual-Link-Active-Adapter–USB-Powered

http://us.startech.com/product/MDP2HDMIUSBA-Mini-DisplayPort-to-HDMI-Adapter-with-USB-Audio

[Exmortis]

I use the powercolor single link active DP > DVI adapter, works like a charm, no issues what so ever. Was 30 bucks cdn.

[matt73]

I use the powercolor single link active DP > DVI adapter, works like a charm, no issues what so ever. Was 30 bucks cdn.

Ya I Tried one of these adapters with my set-up too, but I could only ever get 2 monitors to work at a time?? unless maybe it works at a certian or lower resolution? What resolution do you run it at?

[ghallion]

After replacing the Accell adapter with the new sapphire active display port to DVI adapter all my problems were solved. Flickering problems were becoming very frequent for some reason (didn't have them that frequent at first). Changing the usb port of the adapter helped a bit but the problem was still there. The sapphire adapter was the cure in my case. I have been using it for the past two months without having even one time a monitor flickering or any other kind of trouble. Highly recommended if nothing else works and it's much cheaper than the Accell adapter.

[stolid]

I ordered a saphire active DP adapter. Will it still work fine if I use a DVI to VGA adapter on top of it as well?

[ctolan]

{CT} I just wanted to write a follow up on my experiences.

I was using a single 5770 with 3x19 inch monitors. Had 1 screen going black (not the flickering issue) so i got a 5770 with a HDMI output that will do 4 displays (3 without a DP adapter): http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-248-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1515

So my thoughts were to go crossfire and use a HDMI - DVI cable to cut out the DP adapter altogether.

At first i didn't need to, the 3rd screen stopped going black, but i did start to get the flickering on my center DVI connected screen (also I was getting issues with text on dragon age being too low - off screen). Eventually the 3rd screen started going black again.

I switched to my HDMI-DVI cable (removed the DP adaptor) and everything is now fixed. No black screen, no flickering and the text issue which from what i'd read was believed to be an issue with the game or the drivers is also fixed.

Could this mean the flickering issue was related to the active DP adapter, even though it was not on that screen. I dont know, but i'll post any updates if things change. Perhaps the clocks in the active adapter don't sync correctly or something. I'm guessing now so i'll stop.



*EDIT* Scratch that - i still have flickering. No black screen thought.

[steakdinner]

bought the sapphire adapter and got rid of the accell . big difference. no more continuous blinking. once in a while, the display port screen will blink or go out of sync but never a need to reach back and pull the plug from port to reset.

[Birks]

My Sapphire adapter died on me, but during the time it worked i rma my bizlink and the new one works like a charm.
Now i just have to muster the time to rma my sapphire adapter.

[S1L3N7D3A7H]

Anyone try the Monoprice active dual link adapter?

I have a post about it working @ 120Hz using a single monitor without ever having flickering issues.

Here is my post:

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=23271

[Jay.C]

Hello there all,
First off just say sorry if iv missed anything through the thread due to flicking through it after picking up on this and sounding like issue's i have now...

Just RMA'd my ROG HD5870 due to my centre screen flickering on the top third mostly and was found no fault but still dose it on return..... but didn't think it may be the Sapphire DP adaptor which is next to new may be at fault.

Again sorry for jumping in on the thread in the excitement finding something that sound's just the issue i am having..

Be interested hearing anything about this, it's just the bit's in the thread about powering with a USB socket and my adaptor do use USB to draw power

J.

[SgSpecial180]

Figured I'd toss my 2 cents in.

I've had the flickering issue since I went to Eyefinity w/an Accell B087B-002B DP/DVI adapter. All three screens would flicker when doing things like entering fullscreen mode or switching shows in Netflix. Also, sometimes when I booted up the LCD that is on the DP/DVI adapter would not even turn on and I would have to power off then on again to get it to detect. I tried the iPhone charger, but that didn't work. Recently I bought one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310281748003 and since installing it I have had no problems. I've only had it for a few days, so I will have to report back in time to see if it truly works but so far so good.

[S1L3N7D3A7H]

I can now confirm that the Monoprice Adapters work quite well; so long as you stay within the bandwidth limitations you wont have any link failures or flickering.

Here is my post about getting eyefinity to play nice with 120Hz monitors.

http://widescreengamingforum.com/forum/forums/multi-monitor-gaming/amd-eyefinity-discussions/17699/3-x-120hz-eyefinity-build-log-benq

Running them at 100Hz to stay within the bandwidth limitation of the adapters and for compatibility with most games.

Without all three monitors using displayport, your DVI monitor will exhibit screen tearing. I plan on getting a 6990 to solve this issue for me and the extra performance it will bring. Displayport monitor must be the primary display when creating an eyefinity group. You may also need to disable DDC/CI for your monitor and use powerstrip or ati tray tools to enforce/lock the refresh rate to prevent windows or the driver from changing the rate (possible link failures if not done).

Probably will not get 120Hz to work reliably until we get adapters witch support the max bandwidth of Dual Link DVI (330MHz).
The monoprice adapters support 268.5MHz of bandwidth. To support 120Hz without problem; you would need an adapter which supports 283MHz of bandwidth.

[flopper]

Have 2 apple adaptors active for 120hz.
major headache, couldn't even set eyefinity without screens going 640x280.
went and bought a usb charger, and got it to work.

wee...
BF3 now looks marvelous.

[c69]

Stop the insanity! Why is everyone having so many problems with screen tearing, artifacts, and expensive active adapters?

I recently purchased:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170692229239?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Which is a PASSIVE displayport -> VGA adapter. $12 shipped. Works great at 60Hz, 1920x1080

The other monitors are HDMI-> VGA, and DVI -> VGA. There were no problems configuring monitors in CCC, and when I disable eyefinity profile, I get my normal (centered) desktop back.

Unless your are going beyond 1920x1080 on a single monitor, don't mess with active.

[Blevar]

I have used HP Bizzlink DP>VGA adapter which (cost 20 euro here in Poland) and had some flickering when my GPU was getting hot. But since I bought XFX active DP>DVI adapter (20 euro one) the problem disapeared.
The funny thing is that it doesnt require any of those fancy usb plugs for more power. Its just a simple adapter.
Also tested on HiS 5770 1GB, XFX 5870 1GB and Sapphire 6950 2GB - didnt notice any problems with XFX adapter. (HP Bizzlink had some flickering on each of these cards which depended on GPU's temp.)

[suiken_2mieu]

Stop the insanity! Why is everyone having so many problems with screen tearing, artifacts, and expensive active adapters?

I recently purchased:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170692229239?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Which is a PASSIVE displayport -> VGA adapter. $12 shipped. Works great at 60Hz, 1920x1080

The other monitors are HDMI-> VGA, and DVI -> VGA. There were no problems configuring monitors in CCC, and when I disable eyefinity profile, I get my normal (centered) desktop back.

Unless your are going beyond 1920x1080 on a single monitor, don't mess with active.

Well actually there's no such thing as a dp->vga passive adapter, dp doesn't support vga natively as it is digital. It just pulls the power off the dp port to convert the signal to analog.

[davidm71]

Hi,

Lately I've been noticing some flickering during games like Fear 3 and Just Cause 2 that were never there before. Looks like trying to watch a scrambled cable channel. Seems like it started after upgrading from 12.3 to 12.6 or 12.7. This is with eyefinity multi-monitor setup with two dvi's and an active display port mini adapter to dvi on a triple xfire 6970 rig. Disabling crossfire mode has no effect as it still persists.

So I tried testing each video port one by one to see if I could pin it down to a bad dvi port or maybe displayport adapter. Each port tested out cleanly without flicker individually. However with all three monitors attached in mirror mode (eyefinity turned off) the displayport monitor flickered and would spread to other monitors only if eyefinity was turned on.

Gets even more curious when rolling back to 12.3 the problem disappears and the flickering went away. So either I have a bad displayport adapter or there is something wrong with these new drivers?

Any ideas?

Thanks