Changing refresh rate on dual monitor setup.

[nistsio]

Hello to the community.

My dual monitor setup consists of two identical ati video cards NOT crossfired.
Naturally one video card driver from ati drives both of them.
One LCD monitor is connected to one card via hdmi (actually is display port from ati card to hdmi to monitor) and a LCD HDTV is connected to the other card via hdmi as well.
My windows 7 ultimate 64bit desktop is being extended over both screens which both work on 1920x1080 @ 60Hz resolution.
Being a movie fan I am into blurays and prefer to enjoy them at 24p mode. In order to do that the signal going to the HDTV has to be 24Hz.
The issue is that whenever I wish to change the refresh rate on my HDTV (either manually or automatically by the media player) there is a flickering on both screens (for a mere second or two) which I have discovered that it creates a bit of juddering on video playback at my media player everafter. I am guessing this is caused from running a dual monitor setup with the same video driver but I would appreciate your input.
Moreover; I am thinking about buying a new (better) video card.

So the questions are:

1) Is it possible to have two really independent monitors on windows 7?
2) If I buy a NVIDA card could it be paired with one of my existing ATIs? I am thinking that if it is a driver issue maybe when each driver runs a different monitor there won't be an issue?

Thanks is advance.

 

[Mellon Head]

In answer to question # 2, I can't imagine a scenario where an Nvidia card would work side by side with an ATI card. The drivers both access the same resources in the machine. There's bound to be a conflict.

 

[smarteyeball]

In answer to question # 2, I can't imagine a scenario where an Nvidia card would work side by side with an ATI card. The drivers both access the same resources in the machine. There's bound to be a conflict.

Actually it is possible to have both Nvidia and AMD cards in the same rig.

One card would be the "primary" card, the other the secondary. But yes, there is potential for conflicts. It's not really an
ideal coupling.


You should be able to adjust the refresh rate on your second screen/TV to 24hz via the Catalyst Control Centre.

 

[nistsio]

Hello and thanks for your answers.
Sorry for the delay in getting back. I was abroad.

I have tried to change the refresh rate on my HDTV from within Windows and from CCC as well. Both methods cause that flickering.

That is why I was thinking that maybe if the monitor/tv are handled by different drivers (NVIDIA/ATI) there won't be a flickering and the changes in one of the monitor/TV (eg adjust refresh rate) won't affect the other in any way.

Cheers!

 

[rvcjew]

why are you making it 24? are your trying to watch blueray or some form of video on it only?

 

[nistsio]

Hi rvcjew,

My TV has a dedicated "24p mode" intended for bluray and hd movies.
And I prefer to use it.

 

[rvcjew]

Hi rvcjew,

My TV has a dedicated "24p mode" intended for bluray and hd movies.
And I prefer to use it.

Ah okay I use xbmc and it sets my TV to 24p or whatever rate the video is using. Like say 240 for 3d. I thought you were trying to accomplish similar.

 

[nistsio]

Well yes.

XBMC is one of the applications I use for movies and if enabled it can change the signal to my TV to match the framerate of the video file being played.
From your specs I see you also have dual monitors.
When xbmc changes output to 24Hz on your TV don't you get a momentary flickering on both screens?

 

[rvcjew]

I haven't used it in a while so I can check for you later today. I use window mode instead of fullscreen though so I can use the bottom screen if need be.