Driver problem

GardarS · 05-06-2009, 08:06 PM

Hello, recently my computer hsa been giving me trouble when I have the "nvidia" driver installed, The problem is when the driver is loaded, the max resolution I can get is 640x480, and if I increase it I get 640x480 like it's zoomed so I have to move the cursor around to move the screen.

Also when I check the system-config-display utility, it says "unknown video card" in the video card section and "unknown monitor", but the nvidia-settings says I have 8600 gts card. This started happening after I switched my power supply..

When I insert resolution manually in to the file I get this "zoomed" view I described earlier.

Code:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Thu Feb  5 00:18:17 PST 2009

# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "single head configuration"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Unknown"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 33.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 72.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard0"
    Driver         "nv"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Videocard0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Viewport    0 0
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

here's my current xorg.conf file, when I don't have the driver installed since writing this post would be almost impossible.

I'm using CentOS5.2 Nvidia geforce 8600 gts, my monitor is ASUS PW201 it says Max resolution 1680x1050 I've never had a problem using this resolution before.

Would be great if someone can help me, Thanks in advance

rylan76 · 05-07-2009, 03:28 AM

Hmm it started after you changed your power supply?

It sounds as if your card might not be getting enough power. I've heard of this on some Nvidia cards when they don't.

Can you open your case and check that the power connector for your 8600 is connected? Also, when you "changed" your power supply, did you get one with LESS capacity? If you have a loaded system (lots of harddisks, for example) and you now have a less powerful power supply, it might not be able to supply enough juice to the display card (if it is connected...) to let it function properly?

Alternatively, are you sure that your card might not have been damaged during the changeover? Did your previous power supply suffer catastrophic failure / blow up? I've heard of people who had a power supply explode and after replacing it had all kinds of weird problems. Turned out their boards took a spike when their power supplies died, and were damaged...

GardarS · 05-07-2009, 07:33 AM

Well, there was no catastrophy when the power supply died, it just one day wouldn't start no burned electricity smell or anything, just died quiet and peacefully. So I upgraded from 550w to 650w, so I don't think it's very likely that the gfx card died with it. There are two additional power connectors on the card, to connect directly from the power supply, and they're both connected.

ok I tried setting up windows, and install the driver for the card, and it works like a charm, so it's not the card that's the troublemaker, I think.

rylan76 · 05-11-2009, 08:23 AM

Ok.

I got this type of behaviour on an older WinFast 6800 once too. (NOTE: ALSO after a power supply failure!) I. e. if you installed recent Nvidia drivers on it (in Windows) it wouldn't go above 800x600x256 - for some weird reason.

Stranger thing was, in Linux, with Linux Nvidia drivers, it did x by x by 24 or 32 bit colors (i. e. most resolutions) just fine.

Well, if it works in Windows, with WIndows Nvidia drivers, but not in Linux, with Linux Nvidia drivers, then the culprit can only be the Linux Nvidia drivers.

All you can do then is try and find older / newer drivers...? Maybe its a bug that might be fixed in a newer driver version.

Have you tried a newer / other Nvidia card?

It is possible, even though your power supply died peacefully (mine did too, see above) that it might have STILL spiked a bit...