Parhelia and DVI on a Iiyama AS4612UT

[Thanatos]

So I've got my Parhelia and my Iiyama AS4612UT for over half a year now, and Matrox still hasn't solved the most annoying problem of all videocards of all times: there is no image at all.

Well, to be exact, when the videocard changes videomode, I get image for a fraction of a second, then the screen turns black again. In this fraction of a second, the image is capable of moving, so it's not even a freeze of some sort. It keeps doing this until Windows is loaded. In Windows I can do whatever I want. I can set any resolution, any color depth, all goes well. But when I open up a command prompt in full-screen, I get the "no image" problem again. As if "DOS"-videomodes are not correctly supported...

I know there are a lot of well-known problems with the DVI output of the Parhelia, but my system doesn't suffer from any of them. Just this one little, but verry annoying problem.

So if there's anyone who knows what on earth is cooking at Matrox, maybe you could let me know. Because Matrox is supposed to know about this problem for over half a year now, and I think it's about time they get it fixed somehow.

A little hint to matrox: just don't make the screen blank in ANY situation, and it should be fixed

Oh and BTW, the problem is not in my monitor, I tested it with both a Radeon 7000 and a 9700, and they both produce a very fine DVI signal. No problem whatsoever.

[diewlei]

hi thanatos, if you dont mind can you kindly tell me if you saw ANY image quality difference in DVI between the parhelia and the two radeons. i reckon with your high-end monitor, there would be no problems seeing the difference, if there was even any in the first place? thanks!

[Thanatos]

There's no difference in pure 2D image quality, of course, since DVI is a digital signal. Of course, when I connect my monitor to the analogue output... my oh my what a difference! ATi output is totally blurry and colors just fade out here and there. Really terrible. The P produces a much clearer analogue signal (not perfect, but not far from it)

However, the difference in quality becomes noticable when I try to use Theater mode (or whatever it's called at ATi). The TV output becomes black&white and it's unable to produce a nice overscan signal (only underscan, which should only be used for monitor-image on a TV). Also, I seem to be unable to disable the "clone" image on my TV. Also annoying.

The Parhelia's TV-output is really amazing, and that's the reason I bought it.

[diewlei]

Originally posted by Thanatos
There's no difference in pure 2D image quality, of course, since DVI is a digital signal.

yes i would expect so too. but i am wondering if it is safe to say DVI IQ is consistent and same across most of the contemporary cards, including the P?

[Thanatos]

Originally posted by diewlei
yes i would expect so too. but i am wondering if it is safe to say DVI IQ is consistent and same across most of the contemporary cards, including the P?

I think because DVI is a digital signal, it should be exactly the same on all video cards...

But.. the quality of anything is not the issue in my starting post. The P has a severe bug that needs to be fixed.

[Greebe]

Have you taken the time to ask Matrox for assistance?

[Thanatos]

Originally posted by Greebe
Have you taken the time to ask Matrox for assistance?

First of all I wouldn't know where to begin. Secondly, most companies don't even react on support mails. Third, why would they even bother look at 1 e-mail?

I *could* try, but in 99% addressing the support of a large company like Matrox is a waste of time...

To illustrate: I tried e-mailing Asus once and they sent back a solution 6 months later!

[bsdgeek]

They have an active support forum.

[The PIT]

Err isn't this normal. My does on my ATI or are discribing your problem poorly.

[Thanatos]

Originally posted by The PIT
Err isn't this normal. My does on my ATI or are discribing your problem poorly.

No, a videocard giving no image or just image for a fraction of a second on change of videomode, is not normal. I'd say it's a severe bug... after all, a videocard is meant to display an image on the monitor, but mine doesn't do that correctly. That means it's a bug in the very basics of a videocard: displaying something

[The PIT]

Like I said my does that. Sometimes I may got no image at all becuase the display is switching to quickly. I've had half a screen sometimes. I've seen others at work do it.