M15X dual monitor problem, need help

Hello all,

I just joined this site hoping that someone here can help me with my problem. I've read these forums before and they have helped me a lot in the past.

Anyway, I have an M15X and I am trying to run an external monitor off of it. I am attempting to run it in an extended desktop mode. Unfortunately, the monitor is extremely blurry and the desktop is not centered on the screen. Also, the screen seems to tear when scrolling webpages on the laptops monitor. I have it connected via the VGA port from my laptop to the VGA port on the monitor.

Here is a link to the monitor: LG W2061TQ-PF LCD Monitors - 20” Widescreen LCD Monitor (20.0” diagonal) - LG Electronics US

The monitor does not display 1080P even though the site says it is capable. The native resolution is 1600 x 900. I am running my Alienware screen at 1080p while attempting to have the external monitor run at its native resolution.

Well, that is everything. If you need more info let me know. Do you think it could be the VGA cable, a problem with my HD5850, or is the monitor broken? I should also mention that I used this monitor for a desktop with the VGA connection and it ran fine but that was over a year ago.

I look forward to hearing from you guys. Thanks.

 

Did you use the catalyst control center? Try to check setting there. Mine does the same when i tried jus pressing fn+f6 but works fine once i start the catalyst center.

Oh btw, did you check the monitor with other computers?

 

I tried messing around with the resolutions in the catalyst control but it doesn't seem to help. the weird thing is that catalyst control detects the screens highest resolution as being 1600 x 1200 when using the auto detect feature. even then, dropping it down to 1600 x 900 doesn't correct the blurriness or screen tearing. Is there anything specific I should be doing the in catalyst control.

Unfortunately, I do not have another with which i can test the monitor on. I do not believe the monitor is broken though because when it is started the LG symbol that pops up is crisp and clear. Also, the "cannot detect source" symbol and design is clear when it is not plugged into my laptop. I beginning to think it may just be the VGA cables. I'm thinking about getting a displayport to DVI cable and hoping that solves the problem. Any thoughts?

 

Displayport is the preferred way of doing things in general, you'll get better results. Also, try setting things via windows display controls and not CCC, sometimes that can make a difference.

 

Yep, I ordered some displayport to dvi-d cables today. Only bought vga cables because the local Microcenter didn't have any display to dvi cables in stock. Hopefully, the new cable will do the trick. Also, I did try setting up the second monitor with the windows display controls but still no improvement. Wish me luck with the new cables. I really hope there isn't anything wrong with the monitor. Thanks

 

Sometimes things are just weird like that. I use the VGA and DP ports both at work and home and I've never had any issues.

 

Ok, so the displayport to dvi cable came today. I have hooked it up to the external monitor and the picture is perfect now. Unfortunately, the screen tearing when scrolling is still a problem. Anytime I scroll up or down on a web page on either my laptop screen or my external monitor the screen will tears/flicker. Any ideas? could it be a problem with my graphics card or its drivers?

 

Just tried something, I turned off extended display and set it up so that my primary monitor is the external one. My laptop is not displaying anything on the screen now. The screen tearing when scrolling is gone. I'm beginning to think it is an issue with my card at this point. Maybe not enough VRAM? I have the HD5850 and I am running 1600 x 900 on the external and 1080p on my laptop. is this too much for the card to handle at one time?

 

i dont think so when i had my 5850m installed i sometimes ran extended displays while on the web and never had this problem. they were both at 1080p. never tried using the vga plug on this lappy

 

Duly noted. I updated my drivers tonight and the problem seem to go away for about 10 minutes. Too good to be true, I know, and the problem returned. The interesting thing is that the screen also tears/flickers anytime there is a progress bar, such as when I was downloading and installing the drivers. Not only this, but I tried running some games with the two monitors (Dungeon Defenders and Starcraft II) and the screen tearing/flicker stopped completely. Chrome was open on the external, the game open on the laptop. So it appears that the problem only exists during 2d applications. As soon as I shut down the games it immediately returns. I am running out of ideas here.

 

also something to consider i believe that dell posted a vbios (a02 i believe) for the 5850m back in august 2010 or so maybe you can check on that aswell. but i could be mistaking, i cant confirm as the dell support page appears to be down at the moment

 

I bought the laptop, new, in April. All of my BIOS are up to date, just checked them. I've been looking around on some other forums. Apparantly, HD5000 series and higher have a low 2D application clock speed. This low clock speed is more energy efficient but can sometime interfere with 2D applications on dual/external monitors. This explanantion would seem to make sense seeing as how the monitor works perfectly when I am running a game. here is the link to the forum discussing the issue:

ATI 5850 Flicker at desktop? OC'ing fixes? - Overclockers Forums

now my question is, how do I overclock the 2D on my card?

 

ATI Overdrive low 2D clocks causes screen flicker - FIX!! | Widescreen Gaming Forum

This link explains it in even more detail. I am not very knowledgeable when it come to overclocking anything on a computer so is it even possible to create this overclock for 2d clocks on the HD5850m?