5040x1050 works on desktop, but not FSX or NFS shift

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 16 Nov 2009, 15:40

Just to update, I got an email back from Matrox, and thi sis what they said.

"Hi Christopher,

Unfortunately, the problem you’re encountering is a display driver issue. The latest Nvidia release 191.07 does not allow our box to expand to 5040 x 1050. What you will need to do until we have a solution from Nvidia is revert back to package 182.5 which is the last know working package from Nvidia.

Best Regards,"

So glad that I worked for hours trying to get it working, when they obviously know this is the only known working solution...

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 13:46

Seems a bit dodgy to me, it works at 5040x1050 on Windows 7 fine for me with 191.07, using it right now.

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 13:57

Seems a bit dodgy to me, it works at 5040x1050 on Windows 7 fine for me with 191.07, using it right now.

Which video card?

They said over the phone that obviously each different nvidia video card uses the same driver, but has different needs. Basically only certian cards with certian chipsets will end up working.

Thats what they told me

But, I personally think its just pure luck!

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:15

My system:
CPU: Intel Q8300
Mobo: ASUS P5K-SE
GPU: Gigabyte GTX275
TH2G: Firmware 2.3.40 Video Table 6.56 (from the Matroz PowerDesk about page)
GXM: Works with both 2.05 and 2.06 versions of PowerDesk
Nvidia driver: 191.07

Running Windows 7 64-bit.

Tonight I uninstalled my Radeon 5850 and re-installed my GTX275 and TH2G to check how the new GXM software worked. I did the following:

1. Uninstalled any previous video driver using the Catalyst uninstaller. I did not use a cleaner program.
2. Powered down the PC.
3. Uninstalled the Radeon 5850 and installed the GTX275.
4. Connected the TH2G and all the monitors.
5. Powered up the computer, went to desktop ok, but poor resolution obviously.
6. Installed Nvidia driver 191.07. This installed ok and got a resolution of around 3000ish x something.
7. Ran the v64_gxm-veos_2_06_00_026_whql.exe installer.
8. Installer immediately said something about video settings changing, do I wish to restart? I selected yes.
9. After restarting, the setup continued. I selected Setup existing Matrox product - TH2G.
10. I selected Triplehead mode.
11. I chose not to automatically detect, I manually chose 3x1680x1050x57Hz from the Widescreen option area as this is what I chose when I had it working before.
12. I clicked Next, Next, Done, and clicked Finish to allow the computer to reboot.
13. PowerDesk automatically resumed when the computer had rebooted.
14. I clicked Next a few more times, whatever was needed to finish.
15. At the end of all that, I was still in some weird 3000ish x something resolution. I rebooted the computer again.
16. After rebooting, I right-clicked on the desktop, chose Screen Resolution, and could move the slider up to 5040x1050 resolution.

After all that, I re-ran the wizard and tried automatically detecting the monitors, and instead of using 57Hz, it chose 60Hz (59Hz). Everything still works regardless of 57Hz or 59Hz.

I then tested out the new GXM, don't like it as much as the old one. Has an annoying "Do you wish to keep these settings" box when swapping between single and triplehead modes.

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:19

My system:
CPU: Intel Q8300
Mobo: ASUS P5K-SE
GPU: Gigabyte GTX275
TH2G: Firmware 2.3.40 Video Table 6.56 (from the Matroz PowerDesk about page)
GXM: Works with both 2.05 and 2.06 versions of PowerDesk
Nvidia driver: 191.07

Running Windows 7 64-bit.

Really interesting

Mine is...

CPU Q9550
Mobo: EVGA 780i
GPU (2) XFX GTS 250's (tried both in and out of sli)
TH2G: Firmware 2.3.40 Video Table 6.56 (from the Matroz PowerDesk about page)
GXM: 2.06 PowerDesk
Nvidia driver: 182.50

I have tried every combination of driver, and powerdesk to no avail. 182.50 is the only one that works...

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:26

Yeah, not sure. I did have to reboot after it was all done and then select it in the Windows options. I edited my previous post with what I did exactly, but you beat me to the edit with your last reply hehe.

I know Core i7 users seem to be having problems but yours is the same processor family as mine, and in fact I use this TH2G on a Q9550 in the flight sim it belongs to. I brought it home tonight to do some more testing on it.

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:29

Nvidia driver: 182.50

I have tried every combination of driver, and powerdesk to no avail. 182.50 is the only one that works...

Does this driver have problems with the Aero theme pack?

I can run the Aero theme pack with no problems with 191.07, have heard others can't use it.

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:30

I had to reboot to get it to work with the 182.50 also.

I had it working with 190.62 drivers, but that was only through a custom resolution. Doing it that way did not let the GXM broadcast that resolution to the games, and I had to play at 3024x1028, which sucked.

Personally, I can live without aero...

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:31

[quote]
Nvidia driver: 182.50

I have tried every combination of driver, and powerdesk to no avail. 182.50 is the only one that works...

Does this driver have problems with the Aero theme pack?

I can run the Aero theme pack with no problems with 191.07, have heard others can't use it.

Yeah, I talked to matrox, and they said that this driver came out without the capability to run aero at 5040x1050. It works fine at 4230x900 or 3024x1028 though...

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:36

Ok.

See, if I go to my Nvidia control panel, the 5040x1050 resolution appears in the Custom Resolution part of the Change Resolution page there too.

I still swear that the TH2G stores information or settings inside it.

Have you ever tried connecting the TH2G to a Windows XP system where it works well and setting it up, and then bringing it over to a Windows Vista or 7 platform? Can't promise anything but you never know...

I'd love to get my hands on a TH2G that has issues and see how it responds here because I have never not been able to get mine to work, and yet so many people have had so many dramas.

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:38

no I havnt tried that. All my systems arre win 7 now since I burned all memories of vista out of my head.

I have one desktop left with xp on it, but it will never run what OI need it to. The thing is older than dirt!

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:38

Just one more thing...

When you go into the Matrox PowerDesk or into the Nvidia control panel, does your computer recognise the monitor (ie Dell xxxx) or list it as a Generic Monitor?

I had issues before installing the driver for my monitor that came on the CD that came in the box with the monitor.

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:40

No, it recognizs it is the TH2G. I even tried to reinstall the drivers like was suggested in one other thread just to see if it worked, but nothing changed.

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:41

no I havnt tried that. All my systems arre win 7 now since I burned all memories of vista out of my head.

I have one desktop left with xp on it, but it will never run what OI need it to. The thing is older than dirt!

Might be worth it if you have a spare HDD around that you can install into your good PC for a few hours, smack a copy of XP onto and try setting it up? Sucks if it doesn't but I'm running out of ideas too and found XP to the most compatible with it.

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:43

[quote]no I havnt tried that. All my systems arre win 7 now since I burned all memories of vista out of my head.

I have one desktop left with xp on it, but it will never run what OI need it to. The thing is older than dirt!

Might be worth it if you have a spare HDD around that you can install into your good PC for a few hours, smack a copy of XP onto and try setting it up? Sucks if it doesn't but I'm running out of ideas too and found XP to the most compatible with it.

HMMMM, I do have 3 hard drives on this machine....one of them is empty....hmmm

If I ever get time I may try it.

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:44

No, it recognizs it is the TH2G. I even tried to reinstall the drivers like was suggested in one other thread just to see if it worked, but nothing changed.

Yeap, the Windows side of things will say that.

What I mean is, go into PowerDesk, run the GXM setup wizard. Select setup existing product, Triplehead, press next, then on the next screen, does it list all the monitors against each connector as a generic monitor or by the monitors name?

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:45

[quote]No, it recognizs it is the TH2G. I even tried to reinstall the drivers like was suggested in one other thread just to see if it worked, but nothing changed.

Yeap, the Windows side of things will say that.

What I mean is, go into PowerDesk, run the GXM setup wizard. Select setup existing product, Triplehead, then on the next screen, does it list all the monitors against each connector as a generic monitor or by the monitors name?

Oh. It lists them by name. But only with the newest powerdesk software. with the older software it just says generic.

I didn't ewven think of that as being wierd till you said that.

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:49

Hmm ok. I never usually install monitors software (I mean, when have you ever needed it before) but part of me wonders if it made a difference.

I didn't install it on the XP machine but it seemed to have no issues with anything, so I don't know... plus I wonder if the monitor settings got stored in there anyway, as it seems to store stuff inside.

:shock: About out of ideas. I heard even re-flashing the firmware on the TH2G doesn't seem to do alot, could try it with XP though.

I wish I had a problematic one to test with so I could be of more use, though of course being grateful this one is working.

rostato · Post by **rostato** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:50

I really appreciate the help. Honestly, I like aero, but can live without it. maybe one day it will work, but for now, I am just glad that I have 5040x1050 working, and all my games run.

Post by **AussieTimmeh** » 18 Nov 2009, 14:56

Yeah, for sure. I work with computers for a living and things like this bug me until I can solve them, but this one just seems like a real enigma.

If you get time, I would:
Uninstall PowerDesk from Windows 7 first so it's not there when you return.
Turn off and disconnect Win 7.
Install XP (preferably Pro) on a spare HDD and install the monitors drivers from the CD.
Install the latest Nvidia driver for your card (191.07_desktop_winxp_32bit_english_whql.exe or 191.07_desktop_winxp_64bit_english_whql.exe)
Install the latest PowerDesk.
Possibly even reflash the firmware on the TH2G.
Run thru the wizard and see if you can get it all working that way.
If you can get it working on 191.07 on XP, then move it back to the Windows 7 box.

Let us know if you make any headway!

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