Weird behavior on second monitor

[Tayl]

Hey, all. Got a weird little problem that I could use some help on.

I am running dual monitors. The main monitor runs at 1280X1024 on a Geforce4 Ti4400 128 MB in the AGP slot, and the second monitor runs at 1024X768 on a Geforce2 Mx 400 64 MB in one of the PCI slots. I am running Windows XP, and have all of the current Windows updates and the newest drivers from Nvidia. I also use UltraMon to manage the two monitor setup.

My problem is that recently I have been experiencing graphics glitches on the second monitor. Basically, it leaves a trail if I move applications around, or it leaves little bits and splotches of color where apps used to be. It also completely eats up system resources, basically slowing EVERYTHING down to a choppy slideshow. I have to disable the second monitor(UltraMon allows hotkeys for this), and re-enable it in order for the problem to go away. Here is a pic of it.

Desktop Glitches

You can see the small dots on my desktop on the left. I know it seems small, but it usually gets really bad. Imagine those dots all over the screen. Sometimes a window will replicate and leave a pretty trail behind it...but this only happens on the second monitor.

I have had problems with my system before. 10 months after I got it, my video card fried and took my hard drive down with it. I never got a straight answer from the company I ordered my PC from, so I don't know exactly what caused my main video card to die like it did. The impression that I got was that it was just 'one of those things', and since it was covered by my warranty, I didn't ask too many questions. I mailed it to them and they fixed it and sent it back, and I have had it for maybe 3 months now. I guess my question is....is this another hardware problem? The problem is obviously centered around my second monitor. I just can't figure out if it is a hardware or software problem. I can't think of any software conflicts....has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

If I left anything out that you might need to know, go ahead and ask. Thanks!

[Wannabe Z]

OK, I know this sounds funny, but are both video cards on the Windows XP HCL? There is a separate one specifically for multiple monitors, you may want to check that out. If not, did you physically switch the monitor plugs to the different cards? That would isolate the problem to either your cards or monitors. And, if your 128M Geforce4 has a DVI plug, you can always get a DVI-SVGA connector and solve your problem that way.

[Prexaspes]

I couldn't load the picture you linked to, but you may want to check on the temperature of the PCI card. It may be overheating; I know a lot of those cards (MX 400s) don't come with fans, and the GeForce 4 Ti 4400 will produce a lot of heat. (I know, I have both cards)

[Peter M]

That kind of thing looks like the card overheating or developping a hardware defect. Or it's losing proper contact with the slot it is in. Take it out, clean it, check its cooling assembly, and put it back in.

[Tayl]

I switched the monitors on the card...it is definitely the card. The same glitches showed up on the other monitor as well. Also, the card is seated perfectly, so the connection is ok.

How can I check the temp of the PCI card? As far as I know, there is no thermometer on it...is there an app that will do it anyways? I would think not(how can it read it unless it has a thermometer?), but I thought I would ask.

Also...I am considering just buying a new PCI card(basically the same card, it's only $50 right now), because the problem seems to be getting worse. But I don't want to buy the card if it ends up just being a heat problem. Basically...this card worked great for over a year now, and is just now starting to have problems. All of my fans still work, I haven't added anything to the inside of my case, my system temp isn't spiking...can I maybe safely assume that it isn't a simple heating issue, since this is such a new occurance, and that it might be a hardware defect? What can I do to test this?

[Gait_Keeper]

well it's summer now, so whats the room temp? you said it's a year old, what have you done differently?

[Smurfcrusher]

I saw the same thing when I was cranking up the clocks on my video card.
Try an experiment - lessen the colors, refresh rate, and resolution on both monitors and see if the problem goes away.
If it does, increase the settings to find the level which works well and gives you resonable resolution, color, etc.

let me know how it goes

Smurfcrusher

[Tayl]

Nope, I lowered the resolutions, colors, and refresh...it still has the same glitches as before. I had lowered the resolution on both monitors to 800x600, and 16 bit color(which was horrible ) But the glitches still appeared.

Does that give you any idea on whether this might be fixed if I just buy a new card?

@Gait_Keeper - My comp runs at under 50 degrees C, and my room is relatively cool, even in the summer(it is at its hottest around the low 80's). And in the year since I have had it, I haven't added ANYTHING. My configuration has been exactly the same. Just recently I added an external firewire drive, but the glitches were appearing way before I even ordered that drive.

[Smurfcrusher]

hmmm.....
Try pointing a small fan at it from a safe distance, see if that helps. Otherwise I would suggest going to pricewatch and getting a new card.
Good luck!

Smurfcrusher

[JayMan]

Does you gf4 ti4400 support dual monitors? I've got my dual setup on my ti4200 and it works great.

JayMan