Sapphire Active Displayport to Single-Link DVI Adapter Fail?

SLRist · Post by **SLRist** » 23 Dec 2011, 11:42

I had one of these Sapphire adapter cables (purchased from Amazon UK) connecting my third Samsung SyncMaster 940 BF (1280 x 1024 resolution) to my Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1GB:

This worked fine - the cable was instantly seen by Windows 7, and I was able to set up Eyefinity across my 3 identical monitors.

After about 4 days of use - mostly playing HalfLife 2 and Counter Strike Source in Eyefinity mode - the game went jittery (across all 3 screens) and I had to re-boot.

After booting - the cable is no longer recognised by Windows. Removing it and replacing it and rebooting has no effect.

Is this a known issue?

Is it likely that the cable is dead or the DisplayPort in the graphics card?

Is it worth me getting a replacement, or would I be better choosing something else instead? There seems to be some difference of opinion on the forum reading through some related posts, but I can't find this particular cable referenced.

Many thanks.

Post by **Haldi** » 23 Dec 2011, 14:36

No Warranty? RMA?

SLRist · Post by **SLRist** » 23 Dec 2011, 15:37

No Warranty? RMA?

Yes, it has a warranty - I can just return it for an exchange - assuming it's the cable that has failed. I'm wondering whether I should instead get a refund and go with a VGA adapter (although I'd prefer to run my screens digital) or get one with USB power.

Are these cables are known to be decent? - assuming you're running relatively low resolution.

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 24 Dec 2011, 09:24

Id get a replacement adapter and see if that works. If it fails again, I would try another adapter. It's not particularly good to use vga on a digital panel. Plus the vga adapters can have the same problems.

SLRist · Post by **SLRist** » 24 Dec 2011, 13:52

Id get a replacement adapter and see if that works. If it fails again, I would try another adapter. It's not particularly good to use vga on a digital panel. Plus the vga adapters can have the same problems.

Fair comment, thanks. Reading some posts, I was worried that it didn't have USB power, but I figured that Sapphire must understand the limitations of their own technology, right?

KryptoNyte · Post by **KryptoNyte** » 25 Dec 2011, 16:51

I got 14 months out of that exact adapter before it failed. Here in the US, they have a 3 month warranty.

jl003 · Post by **jl003** » 26 Dec 2011, 21:18

I have the same adapter. It worked fine initially. After a month or so, my pc would come back from sleep or hibernate and my third monitor using this adapter would not be detected. Unplug, replug worked fine for a few months.

After that, I started to have the issue where it would come back after unplug/replug but it would not support the monitors max/recommended resolution (1920x1080) with 1280x1024 the highest it would support. My troubles and failed attempts at solving them are detailed in this thread.

Kryptonyte: Could you describe what you mean when you say yours failed? Do you have a similar issue as me, or did it just completely stop working one day?

I am currently looking around for a replacement active adapter to solve my issue, any recommendations? It sounds like there aren't any options that are better than the other and that it's sort of a crapshoot finding something that actually works. What did you guys end up with?

Post by **Delphium** » 16 Feb 2012, 13:00

@SLRist - can you confirm that your GPU has a 2nd displayport output, has the adaptor been tested with the alternative output?

If it still fails, then its a sure sign the adaptor has failed. if it works, then it could well be the port on the GPU.

Davros · Post by **Davros** » 26 Feb 2012, 17:02

I have the same adapter, you have me worried now :(

Skripka · Post by **Skripka** » 26 Feb 2012, 17:31

Yea, I purchased a MiniDP->DVI adapter from Sapphire with "Eyefinity Support" written all over the box from Egg. 3rd monitor not even seen by Windows. Went to Apple store (only B&M store that stocks MiniDP adapters), bought a miniDP->VGA adapters. Works basically. Though I get link failures when Windows puts my monitors to sleep.

redrat · Post by **redrat** » 01 Mar 2012, 10:46

I also have the same adapter, So far, in about 1 month and a bit not a problems.
Yesterday i took the PC apart to 'edit' some cables on the PSU for better WM, and when reconnecting it, i had to replug the adapter to be recognized.
Why i actually replied... When i got the adapter, i ordered two of them. Decided to do so after reading numerous articles about how these are subject to fail at any time.
This way, when the current one fails, i can use the other while returning the broken one or if its out of warranty, till i buy a new one.

I think we can consider these adapters consumables :)
And those that use Eyefinity, should be able to afford a cheap adapter like this Sapphire (in Poland its about 20-25 euro) every now and then.

redrat.

markso125 · Post by **markso125** » 01 Mar 2012, 14:19

Ironically enough that same adaptor came apart on my wifes puter, the plastic casing holding the wires apparently got warm and split apart and it fell off the back of the puter. Replacement should be here tomorrow thanks to Amazon prime. :Sp

markso125 · Post by **markso125** » 01 Mar 2012, 14:20

Ironically enough that same adaptor came apart on my wifes puter, the plastic casing holding the wires apparently got warm and split apart and it fell off the back of the puter. Replacement should be here tomorrow thanks to Amazon prime. :Sp

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