Sapphire Radeon HD 4670 and second VGA card problem

[scooterdog]

Had a frustrating afternoon trying to get my triple-monitor setup going again; I had WinXP for years with two video cards: a single, simple VGA / PCI card, and a recent Radeon HD 4670 card with two outputs. Under XP everything was recognized without incident, first repeating all three monitors and then able to extend windows to this monitor under Display Preferences.

Now under Windows 7 RC, I did a fresh install with both cards inserted, and only the single VGA card would drive its monitor. The HD 4670 drivers are listed in the Device Manager, I removed and installed the ATI 9.9 version software several times, and the single VGA output is the only thing I get. I even tried the 'F8', selected the unsigned drivers, and still it didn't bring the Radeon to life.

I pulled the single VGA card out, and bam the two monitors off the Radeon come alive. I install the CCC and it works just fine. And then I shutdown, add the VGA card back, and get the single VGA output again.

Other than getting a newer video card (hey, I could go for a fourth monitor), any other ideas or suggestions? I've learned a lot this afternoon reading up on all the interesting Win7 stuff here - thanks for any help.

 

[torrentg]

Disable any onboard graphics in the bios, if it is not. Then try both of your cards together.

Also in bios, assuming your Radeon is PCI-E, make sure PCI-E is selected as the default first display. If your Radeon card is AGP, make default first display AGP. Not onboard or PCI.

If that doesn't work, you can try moving the single output cheaper card to a different PCI slot. Switch it with another card if necessary.

Update the PCI card to latest driver you can find for it.

Hit windows key+P when you are in Windows with both cards installed. See if it helps any.

 

[stormy13]

The PCI card wouldn't happen to be an ATI as well would it?

 

[scooterdog]

Thank you for the suggestions, torrentg. I changed the CMOS display setting (it is the most recent BIOS firmware from Dell for this E510, version A07) from 'Auto' to 'Onboard/PEG' (PCI-E Graphics will override the onboard graphics), plugged in the VGA card in a different slot.

Now under Device Manager, there is a VGA driver installed (and checking online for updates it is the latest one recommended to use according to the message box), this time with an exclamation point and 'This device cannot start. (Code 10)' under Properties. Win+P gives me the option to 'Extend Monitor' but it doesn't bring the third monitor alive.

stormy3, checking it it does happen to be also an ATI RageXL PCI card, dated year 2000. I don't even remember where I got it from...

For what its worth, the Sapphire Radeon 4670 card has a third HDMI output - do you think an HDMI -> DVI adapter would be able to drive a third monitor from the same card? I see that these adapters are $15 or so - it may be worth it for me to try it. Any feedback is welcome.

 

[stormy13]

it does happen to be also an ATI RageXL PCI card

That's the problem right there, it it was any other make of card than an ATI one it would work. What is happening is that that old card isn't using the same driver as the 4670, and while Windows 7 can use two cards from different manufacturer, if the cards are the same manufacturer they both need to use the same driver model (in your case the 4670 uses the WDDM 1.1 driver model, and that old RageXL isn't even on the map).

Same thing would probably happen if you tried it with a new Nvidia card, and a similarly aged Nvidia PCI card.

Not sure if it will work on not, but one thing you can try is to use the onboard video and your 4670 at the same time. From having a look here (scroll down to Video),

Documentation

it should work. reason for saying it should work is that the onboard video isn't trying to use the same driver as the RageXL and the 4670.

For what its worth, the Sapphire Radeon 4670 card has a third HDMI output - do you think an HDMI -> DVI adapter would be able to drive a third monitor from the same card?

No it won't. While the card may have 3 outputs, you can only use two of them at a time as there is only 2 RAMDAC's on the card. That isn't to say that you can't hook up all 3 at once, and then enable the two you want to use from within Windows.

 

[scooterdog]

Thanks for the great info, stormy13! I'll pick up an additional PCI-based Nvidia card and go from there. You saved me a lot of aggravation in trying the HDMI route.