Cintiq 21UX (DVI) on 8800GTS - VGA signal only

[Vesh]

Should this be simply a symptom of beta drivers, I'll be cool with that. But I'd like to check if this issue seems similar to anybody else's who is running a comparable flatpanel on a similar videocard and only getting an analog signal.

It wouldn't be that big of a deal if not for the fact that the Cintiq on an analog signal has the swimming, scanning refresh shadows trailing up the screen. Bit of a headache-inducer and a blemish on an otherwise fantastic OS experience.

Monitor driver started off at "Generic PnP Monitor". Changing to "Digital Flat Panel (1600x1200 60Hz)" produces no difference aside from an interesting intermittent loss of video on some display power downs/ups.

Update 1:
Ok, trying out Digital Flat Panel driver again. Power/no-display problem seems calm. And there's less (nearly none) of the refresh flutter, yet the Cintiq still reports the signal as VGA and not DVI.

It's acceptable for now.

 

[pensketch]

i'm having the same problem on my gtx 280. the cintiq 21ux resolution is soft (analog). i've changed it to the digital display driver and the refresh was fixed, but no luck on the sharpness.

any help would be great.

 

[TRapp]

Release Candidate

I just received the final version of the OS and I updated my drivers from nVidia (for the same 280 card) as well as the latest Wacom driver and it's still analog output. Any word on this please?

btw how can you tell it's analog other than just looking at it. I notice its analog because the display is not as sharp visually is there a setting somewhere I can view?

 

[thefabe]

Is everybody using a dvi out to dvi in cable? Because if your using the VGA cable your only going to get analog. I know this is kind of a hey duh question but it is also a need to know. To the OP thanks for filling out your system specs in your user cp as this can be quite helpful with if any future issues. Everybody else please do the same. And welcome to you all to seven forums. (Added) I don't know if this tutorial will help but here it is http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/7947-force-dvi-hdmi-resolutions-refresh-rates.html

 

[TRapp]

I will fill out my system specs in a moment but yes I am using a dvi cable without converters or anything of that nature.

I was getting perfectly crisp DVI digital output in XP 64 but I had to try some different versions of the nVidia software before I found a driver that the Cintiq would play nice with.

 

[TRapp]

EUREKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BWA HA!

After much back and forth with nVidia (that ended with them suggesting this was a hardware issue and leaving me to call the manufacturer of the card ). I've discovered that it is INDEED a problem with the nVidia software. I'm not sure at what level this error occurs but there is something about the GTX280 (and probably other chipsets) not playing nice with the Cintiq 21UX. Maybe it's the capability of the Cintiq to output either VGA or Digital signals (there's a switch on the monitor) and the software just doesn't support it. I don't know. What I DO KNOW is that after trying like 4 different nVidia driver packages nothing was working, the only time I received a digital signal was when I rebooted in safe mode. Finally, I went to see if the working driver package I had on XPx64 had a Windows 7 64 bit version... it didn't. BUT there was a 64 bit Vista version for that driver package (it's 178.24 btw). So I figured I had nothing to lose, did a driver sweeper clean and installed the old package and BOOM, everything works perfectly. Full screen games at less than native resolution were no longer scaling down to a small window with a black BG. the signal was crisp and digital, and everything seems to work great!

The main problem I have now is that these drivers are relatively outdated so I'm losing out on the "30-40% performance gain" that nVidia cites in their release notes for newer drivers. I would love it if windows, wacom, and nVidia were able to identify the critical difference between 178.24 and more recent drivers so that those of us on Cintiqs could get the latest drivers to play nice with our monitor.

I hope this post is helpful because I've been scouring for a solution to this problem for a LOOONG time.

To recap here's what I did to get everything running perfectly:

1.) Download the working nVidia software from here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x64_178.24_whql.html (64-bit)
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x86_178.24_whql.html (32-bit)

2.) Reboot in safe mode
2.) Go to Device Manager and uninstall the display adapter for your vid card
3.) Run driver sweeper to clean out "nVidia display"
4.) Reboot in safe mode
5.) install the driver software
6.) reboot
7.) send me an e-mail thanking me profusely for spending hours every day tracking down the working drivers despite little or no help from nVidia

Best, Tim

 

[HeroGhost]

blegh... I also have this problem. I guess I'll use some old ass drivers.. That sucks though. Did you call them on the phone? Cause I want to bitch their ear off too. I never understand why it seems like new drivers break more stuff than they fix.

 

[HeroGhost]

I still find it annoying, but apparently if you use the DVI adapter that came with your cintiq it will run dvi mode. The adapter must strip out the VGA signal or something.

 

[chap415]

Also having same problem

I have Windows 7 Professional 64 just installed (from XP64). All the NVidia Drivers (i have a quadro FX 4500) recognize my Cintiq as a VGA connection even when it is in as a DVI. Have changed the monitor type to digital flat panel, and have been unable to locate older drivers for the system that will work.

has anyone found a solution, pretty hard on the eyes as it is...

cheers.
matt

 

[TRapp]

Anything?

Now that my drivers are so out of date I am really struggling to run a lot of recently released software, there are bugs turning up with the old driver software but I can't upgrade because the VGA issue. It'd be great if Nvidia and MS would finally address this! I've contacted MS, Wacom, and Nvidia and they all just want to pass the buck

 

[chap415]

what software are you having a problem with? Yes it is VERY annoying that they haven't fixed this issue. silly, really...

 

[TRapp]

I still haven't upgraded because I assume the problem hasn't been resolved yet. Going to try tomorrow after I pick up a DVI adapter.

The european tech support forum suggests what has already been stated in this thread that a DVI-I to DVI-D adapter will strip out the VGA signal. I guess I'll have to try that because finally I need the latest drivers to get all my software working.

There's also something in the manual that says don't install video drivers with the cintiq plugged in so I might try to uninstall them unplug the cintiq then installing the latest, if that doesn't work I'll try the adapter, if THAT doesn't work I'll revert back to the drivers I know work and try to raise the issue to nVidia and Wacom again.

 

[TRapp]

what software are you having a problem with? Yes it is VERY annoying that they haven't fixed this issue. silly, really...

Games on older software like Quake Live and Prey have issues running in full screen on the old drivers. Mudbox seems to run fine but it says something about "you must upgrade to the latest nvidia drivers" etc...

 

[chap415]

the problem is resolved, however mine was SPECIFICALLY with an Nvidia Quadro FX 4500 graphics card. I was able to find drivers to use (version 182.64 for Windows VIsta 64 bit), and then i had to fool the computer in to thinking i was running vista to install the drivers through a process called SlipStreaming. Once that was done all is working like a charm.

a LOT of work though, nearly makes me want to get a Mac, but i don't take technology advice from Jeff Goldblum.

YouTube - Apple commercial - Jeff Goldblum

 

[TRapp]

That sounds pretty brutal. Since outdated drivers won't cut it for Mudbox 2011 I had to give the newest software (197.45) a try and shocker... Didn't work. so nVidia and Wacom are still behind this issue.

There are several posts about this on nVidia and Wacom boards:

Wacom Forum - Wacom Europe GmbH • View topic - cintiq dvi/vga
Wacom Forum - Wacom Europe GmbH • View topic - Cintiq 21UX getting VGA display only
Wacom Forum - Wacom Europe GmbH • View topic - Cintiq 21 driver for Os X 10.6.3

and

Cintiq 21ux not recognize DVI connection - NVIDIA Forums

I was able to find the DVI-I / DVI-D adapter (amazingly) that came with the cintiq and I guess it strips out the VGA signal so FINALLY I got a digital signal with latest drivers.

Sometimes I think about buying a mac when I see how small and sexy they are but then I remember that I can get a higher performance machine for half the price that runs more than 4 programs.

 

[chap415]

what is a DVI-I / DVI-D adapter? I wonder if i have mine still...

 

[TRapp]

Digital Visual Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The DVI-D connector doesn't have pins for the VGA signal like the DVI-I does. The adapter is just a male and female end so you can strip out the VGA signal altogether. If you can't find yours they'll have em at like computer parts stores or online I'm sure

 

[Symbio]

No DVI-I to DVI-D adapter necessary though

I was having the same issue, Wacom Cyntiq was only appearing as a VGA monitor when attached to my second DVI output on graphics card one.

I have to following graphics configuration:

2x GTX480
1 monitor Samsung 24" 1920x1200
1 Cyntiq 20WSX 1680x1050
Previous the Nvidia display driver was version 258.96 but has just been updated to 260.99

Ideally I wanted to have the Samsung as monitor 1 and the Cyntiq as monitor 2 disregarding the tablet function (as I'm using an Intuos 3 for the tablet function but sometimes switch to the Cyntiq, when I feel for it, for the tablet function).

So plugged in the Samsung DVI in port 1 of GTX480 card 1 and the DVI that is attached to the Wacom 20WSX without any adaptors in port 2 of the same GTX480 card 1.

- Turned on computer, right click on desktop from OS win7-64bit and in the menu that pops up you'll have NVidia Control Panel and also Screen Resolution.
- Choose Screen Resolution and the Change the appearance of your displays-window pops up.
- Display 1 shows that it is a Samsung monitor display, 1920x1200 (recommended) resolution, Landscape orientated so that is all ok. This monitor uses its maximum settings.
- Next to Multiple display it says Extend these displays so that's also ok as I want to use the Cyntiq display on the right side of my main Samsung display in front of me.
- Display 2 however (click on its image) shows that it is a Generic Non-Pnp monitor display, 1024x768 resolution, Landscape orientated which is not ok as it's not the Cyntiq maximum settings in DVI. Somehow the system forces the VGA setting, our very issue, although the switch on the right top of the Cyntiq display is set to DVI. Note that the 1680x1050 resolution is not present in the Resolution list.

So do the following:

- When positioned on the Generic Non-PnP Monitor go next to Make this my main display to Advanced Settings. The Generic Non-Pnp Monitor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Properties window opens.
- At the bottom is a List All Modes button, click on it
- From this list select 1680 by 1050, True Color (32 bit), 60 Hertz and press ok and ok again. Now under resolution in the Change the appearance of your displays-window is the 1680x1050 resolution listed and we just have forced the Generic Non-Pnp Monitor (Cyntiq) to adapt to its maximum resolution.
- Press ok and the graphics card will ask if you want to keep the new settings, press ok or yes.

The Cyntiq as a second monitor should now work on its DVI settings with maximum resolution.

 

[lighthouse]

Thanks for your help. It worked!!

I know this is an older post, but I just wanted to say THANK YOU !!! to everyone on this thread. I have been loosing my mind trying to calibrate my Cintiq 21UX and not understanding why I could not get a digital signal. Thanks to you guys, I bought an $8 adapter online, calibrated my cintiq with a laptop setting, and Now have a digital signal and beautifully calibrated image. Thank you so much!!!!!!