Problem with New Wide Modes on ATI Cards - Official Thread

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 06 Aug 2008, 00:35

Followed the instructions on the website and the new resolutions aren't showing up like they should. I have an ATI HD 4870, so they should be supported.

1440x900 shows up in the dual head section, but not in the triple head section of the Powerdesk software. I have updated the firmware and software exactly as the instructions stated. Help?

Thanks

Uninstalling and reinstalling the Powerdesk software had no effect. If I have the correct firmware and correct software, why wouldn't they show up? On the troubleshooting information screen, it shows "Matrox Cable: Detected" And "Dual-Link DVI Support: Yes". I am using the cable that came with the TH2G.

Thanks again.

Post by **Paddy the Wak** » 06 Aug 2008, 14:26

I don't know what to say ... mine worked just fine apart from not getting the single screen res of 1920x1200.
I can live without that ... it is no big deal for me.

EDIT ... maybe your issue is an ATI one ... I take it you have the latest ATI drivers ?
Edit #2 ... when you did the firmware update did everything appear to go Ok ?

I don't think reinstalling just the PowerDesk software would be enough.
Did you backup the previous firmware ?
Maybe you should go back to that backup and try again ?

p2987 · Post by **p2987** » 06 Aug 2008, 14:38

I am not too sure about the 4870's compatibility with the new firmware as the card might be just too new.

Notice this in the footnote of the firmware download page:
1 Available only with certain NVIDIAÂ® (triple 1440x900 at 60Hz and 1680x1050 at 57Hz) and ATIâ„¢ (triple 1440x900 at 60Hz) GPUs.

I wonder why ATI only goes up to triple 1440 x 900 while Nvidia cards can go up to 1680 x 1050 ? Nvidia has better drivers?

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 06 Aug 2008, 16:44

Hmm, maybe the 4870 isn't tagged as supported because of how new it is. I had an 8800gts but it died a week or two ago, so I got a 4870. My 19" LCDs are 1440x900 native, so that's all I really need.

I do have the latest ATI drivers. I also backed up the old firmware. I'm not really sure what putting the old firmware back on and then reinstalling the new one would accomplish, but I'll give it a shot. I didn't get any errors throughout the process, either. Everything went smoothly, the new resolutions just aren't available for me to choose.

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 06 Aug 2008, 16:50

I should also mention that I am running Vista Ultimate 32-bit in case that matters. I'm still running in 3x1280x800 for the time being :(

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 07 Aug 2008, 03:31

For my sanity's sake, has anyone gotten this working with an HD 4870?

Thanks

p2987 · Post by **p2987** » 07 Aug 2008, 16:44

At Matrox site, their GXM Compatibility test shows that ATI HD 4000 series should support the new resolution of 3 x 1440 x 900.

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 09 Aug 2008, 04:55

At Matrox site, their GXM Compatibility test shows that ATI HD 4000 series should support the new resolution of 3 x 1440 x 900.

Yeah, the compatibility tool shows 3x1440x900 as my max supported, but the Powerdesk software won't show that as a selectable resolution. I've tried everything I can think of at this point. Reinstalling firmwares, reinstalling software, hacking the registry, using custom monitor inf drivers from Powerstrip... nothing works. I just don't get it.

xetura · Post by **xetura** » 09 Aug 2008, 07:16

Ok, I have a 3870x2 and had the EXACT same problem, but I fixed it.
When I first got my TH2GO I had this same problem, just with different resolutions. It would only show standard res and not widescreen.
So I just went through the same steps as I did before and all is well!

1. Uninstall all matrox software. Reboot if it asks you to before going to the next step.

2. While leaving your computer on, unplug your TH2GO from the usb and the DVI port going to your computers gfx card.

3. Then plug in the monitor of your choice directly into your computers gfx card, bypassing the TH2GO. Your screen should be working now(after it makes the usb DING sound).

4. Uninstall all ATI software through the uninstall utility in Control Panel and Reboot.

5. Install the video card drivers and reboot.

6. Once it's rebooted, check in the display properties to see if the correct monitor driver is installed. If it is not, install and reboot if necessary.

7. With the computer still on, unplug your monitor from your gfx card and setup your TH2GO like you had it at first(with all 3 screens plugged into the TH2GO and the TH2GO plugged into the GFX card).

8. Install the GXM drivers and reboot.

Note that the correct modes won't be listed in the GXM software(at least mine weren't) but it IS availible in the desktop properties. Hope yours works after trying this.

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 09 Aug 2008, 07:23

Ok, I have a 3870x2 and had the EXACT same problem, but I fixed it.

Thanks, I'll give this a try tomorrow.

xetura · Post by **xetura** » 09 Aug 2008, 07:41

Well, bad news. At least for me. The 4320x900 is fine on the desktop, but all my games flash when I use it. So this isn't a confirmed fix I guess. So much for flawless, lol.

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 09 Aug 2008, 07:58

Well, bad news. At least for me. The 4320x900 is fine on the desktop, but all my games flash when I use it. So this isn't a confirmed fix I guess. So much for flawless, lol.

Could that just be a refresh rate or timing issue?

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 09 Aug 2008, 08:40

Well, went through that whole process step by step and it accomplished nothing. My TH2G shows 1440x900 as available for a 1 or 2 monitor resolution, but not for a 3.

I just don't understand why this isn't working. The software and firmware is up to date, everything shows as being connected and capable of running the supported resolutions.

Even the compatibility tool says I should be running 4320x900. :(

Killtacular · Post by **Killtacular** » 09 Aug 2008, 09:11

Tallon,

I'm not sure if this helps, but when I actually got the modes working on my older drivers, they were not selectable in the "Edit Mode list" (meaning I could not add them as a saved resolution) They were however available for selection if you choose the Matrox GXM setup..., and click the "Change" button. Made no sense to me since I thought you could only change between the saved resolutions, but if you look carefully on the Matrox website, the screenshots they show in the How To, indicate the same thing.

Seems like something is going on in the software to force the resolution in the unit itself, just a guess. Either way, it seems like it was released in a less than finished state, kind of confirmed by Matrox's own screenshots.

Maybe it's worth taking a look at least, if you haven't already checked.

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 09 Aug 2008, 09:52

Tallon,

I'm not sure if this helps, but when I actually got the modes working on my older drivers, they were not selectable in the "Edit Mode list" (meaning I could not add them as a saved resolution) They were however available for selection if you choose the Matrox GXM setup..., and click the "Change" button. Made no sense to me since I thought you could only change between the saved resolutions, but if you look carefully on the Matrox website, the screenshots they show in the How To, indicate the same thing.

Seems like something is going on in the software to force the resolution in the unit itself, just a guess. Either way, it seems like it was released in a less than finished state, kind of confirmed by Matrox's own screenshots.

Maybe it's worth taking a look at least, if you haven't already checked.

Not there

Tallon29 · Post by **Tallon29** » 12 Aug 2008, 00:57

Thanks so much to Matrox support. This fixed my issue. I'm shocked that one DVI port on my video card supports this resolution, but the other does not.

Hi Carlos,

Can you try the following:

1. uninstall ATI driver
2. uninstall Power Desk SE
3. change the DVI port of your graphic card (switch to the second one)
4. install ATI driver
5. install Power Desk SE

There is some information from ATI that the ports on those cards are not the same and will not act the same.
This procedure is the only way to verify this and invoke the changes.
Let me know what happens.
Regards,

Trpimir
MGI Technical Support Representative
Matrox Graphics Inc.

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 12 Aug 2008, 16:04

Wow, good to know.

Post by **skipclarke** » 13 Aug 2008, 00:11

Made this a sticky, and changed the title.

Post by **Downtown1** » 13 Aug 2008, 04:52

Any word on when the ATI cards will support 3x1680x1050?

Greatwalk · Post by **Greatwalk** » 17 Aug 2008, 00:53

I still can't get it to work with my 4870 X2... I'm assuming it's because it's so new....

Update:
Well, I finally got it to show up under "Change" and got it to be selectable in the "Display Settings".

The odd part is if I set it in "Display Settings" in sets it to 800x600 on only one monitor. And if I go into the Catalyst Control Center and try to set it there it automatically reverts back to 3840x800, and if I try and force it, it does the same.

Also, I had 2, 4870 X2s, in Crossfire and once I turned that off it showed up. So I'm thinking Quad-Fire isn't supported, but still can't figure out why it'd not let me use that resolution at all. :shock:

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