Problem using nVidia dual mode with EVGA GTX 280

I'm hoping someone can help me with this.

I had a EVGA GTX 280 which was sent back for repairs because I thought it was causing a problem. A new card was shipped back to me.

Among other things, I use my computer using the nVidia two-monitor setup, using "extend mode" so both monitors in effect become a much wider screen. My old card was set up this way.

With the replacement card, looking at the computer as seen from the rear, the DVI output on the "right" (furthest from the motherboard) works fine, and as far as I can tell, there are no issues.

However, there is nothing I can do to get any kind of image from the other DVI output. I've tried "dual mode", "clone mode", and just hooking up a single cable only to that DVI connector. I've tried two different monitors, and two different cables.


Is there some "trick" to turn on that other DVI connector, or is this new card defective? (I think I had a similar problem years ago, and a friend fixed it very easily, but I don't remember what he did. If it means anything, the video card I was using while this one was being repaired worked fine in dual-channel mode. The drivers were uninstalled when we removed the old card, and the new drivers were installed after the 280 was connected to the system.

Yes; unless it is something hidden, I've changed around everything I could change. It never makes a difference. If there is some "hidden" setting that isn't obvious, maybe I did miss it, but I think I did everything correctly.

do you show both monitors in Nivida's control panel?

ken9122 said:

do you show both monitors in Nivida's control panel?

Yes, both monitors show up in the nVidia control panel, and both are set for the native resolution. Everything "looks" correct, except that the monitor connected to the DVI connection closest to the motherboard never lights up, and this is with having switched monitors, then cables, to verify that neither of those is the problem.

It was suggested on the EVGA forum that I do this:
"hold winkey and press 'p' 3 times, it should kick _windows 7_ into extend mode, and not the nvidia drivers. worth a shot at any rate."

I will do that early next week when I'm back at the computer.

ken9122 said:

Good luck. You may try removing the board, completely remove all nvidia drivers, shut down the computer and reinstall the GTX 280 and restart the computer. Let windows find and install the drivers on it's own.
Lets us know how it goes.

Ken

Thanks, Ken. The card has a lifetime guarantee, so if it's not going to work, it will just be sent back to EVGA - again! Maybe the replacement card they just sent me is defective, but I assumed it was more likely something that I'm doing wrong.

What you suggest I do is what I already did, when installing it last week.

I'll post the solution here, if we find one. Maybe someone will know a way to run diagnostics on the card, before I ship it back to EVGA.

Based on feedback on the EVGA forums, the plan is to do the following. I'll be back in front of the computer Monday morning.

Step 1 will be to:
hold winkey and press 'p' 3 times, it should kick _windows 7_ into extend mode, and not the nvidia drivers.
This will make the system use the Windows drivers, and eliminate any errors if the nvidia drivers are confused.


Step 2 will be to:
Once again, "connect the monitor only to the DVI closest to the mobo, then restart the computer?
If you still do not get any video, try powering off you monitor and then back on.
If that doesn't work, use something like "driver sweeper" to clean the registry, then reinstall the drivers

Step 3, as of now, would be to send the card back to EVGA.

(I wish I had a spare computer I could use to test out the card, in case the problem is with the computer, not the card...)

(I've got this same discussion going on in two places - the other one, on the EVGA site, can be found here: Problem in getting both DVI connectors to work on a EVGA GTX 280 )

Thanks to everyone who has been so helpful until now. I had a long talk with the people at EVGA, and apparently the replacement card they sent me is defective. I will be returning it, and they'll replace it with another card that hopefully will work properly.