DVI and ATI Radeon 8500 prob

[bill1971]

Just put together a 2.4B p4/Giga-byte GA-8IEXP system w/ DVI
Radeon 8500 128MB to a Planar P174 LCD DVI connection.

Just as a basic system check before proceeding, I always access the BIOS w/just the CPU, memory, and vid card connected along with just the case power switch connected.

Let me premise by saying that I'm new to the whole LCD technology thing, particularly as relates to DVI connections - this
being my first.

Why do I not get a display using the DVI connections? The screen
is "on," and I can see a millisec of the boot screen(off-set by
half a page); same with hitting the DEL key to access the BIOS.
If I hit enough keys,I'll see the BIOS screen, once again for only a
millisecond, and displaced half a screen down, then just a blank screen. Also couldn't access the OSD in this mode.

Should a DVI-connected LCD be able to display a simple POST, i.e.,
no drivers need to be installed? I've seen no literature from ATI
or Planar that would suggest that.

As I do get a 1/4 second Giga-byte "buzzer" mobo beep when I
power up,(but CPU/fan/PS all seeming to be functioning properly), I thought that maybe I was violating a Giga-byte memory thing
about that board(Intel chipset) not liking some 512MB DDR DIMMS.(I was using two 512MB Mushkin value DIMMS).

Switched to (2) Crucial 256MB DIMMS, but got the exact same
results. Checked all connections - was really reluctant to take the
mobo back out, and taking the Alpha 8942 HSF off, because they were hard to mount to begin with;but I was prepared to do that if all else failed.

Well, just for fun, the next logical thing to do was to connect the
vid card to the LCD via VGA to VGA connections. Viola! (not voila -
I meant viola) - boom - there's my POST display and normal BIOS
access. (I was really curious about the CPU temp because of the
prob w/mounting the Alpha HSF). According to the hardware
monitor, the idling CPU was at 34C. So everything looks good
on boot-up - no errors. (Maybe that "Giga-buzzer" doesn't like the fact that I have no drives attached?). No buzzer/beep code
references found on the Giga-byte site.

Anyone have any insight here, as to why the DVI to DVI display
did not want to work?

What I will do momentarily is put a DVI-VGA adapter on the vid
card, and see if I still get a good POST/BIOS screen. . .

Any help, personal experiences, observations, and comments,
are appreciated. Thanks. Sorry to be so long-winded here.

- Bill

[Lemon[H]ead]

so connecting the TFT to the DVI directly it still works but you only see the POST screen for a short time if any...?

or have i misread?

IMO if it aint broke then dont fix it so unless not seeing the machine POST is bothering you seriously then its not worth messing with.

The buzzer thing should be documented in your motherboard manual

[bill1971]

Thanks for responding,LH:

The prob was the LCD screen worked fine when running VGA-out
of the vid card to VGA-in of the LCD.
DVI-out to DVI-in, definitely something askew. Except for a lightning flash of the POST screen, everything was black.

Used a DVI to VGA adapter, and connected the cable from the DVI
out(now VGA because of the adapter) to the VGA-in of the LCD.
Everythnig booted to POST screen and BIOS fine.
Logic here tells me that maybe the DVI-in of the LCD is defective.

Tried a new DVI to DVI cable - same prob as before.

Fortunately I had in my possession another LCD w/DVI-in connection. Connected it DVI-out vid card to DVI-in of the different LCD. Bam! Got my POST and BIOS screens as I should have w/ the first LCD!

So it looks like I have confirmed that it's not the vid card, but the
LCD that's defective.

I guess now I'll see just how good the two-day turn around Planar replacement warranty works out.

Thanks for the help and lending an ear. . .(I was just fortunate
to have had two LCDs w/ DVI-out connections on hand - much
easier to trouble-shoot when you can swap out components!).

- Bill

[Lemon[H]ead]

ahh

nice to see that someone can afford a TFT monitor anyway...

[bill1971]

Just an update.

Called Planar just now,armed with all my info regarding the bad
DVI-in of this LCD monitor, just in case there was a hassle.

The Planar "Customer First" warranty couldn't have been any smoother or faster. Got a CS Rep very fast, no waiting.

Seems that the DVI-in of that model LCD required a firmware update because of a compatibility issue with ATI video cards.

So I'll be receiving a new monitor via two-day air, and a shipping label to ship the defective unit back at their expense. They did
require a credit card no. just as security, which would not be charged unless I fail to return the defective unit in 14 days.

So I'm supposed to get this kind of service for three years. This is definitely the way to do business. Things go wrong no matter who the company is - it's how they rectify the problems, and make good on their warranties that defines their commitment.

So far, Planar has my vote. . .

- Bill