Omega CAT 5.10a - Desktop vs. TV-OUT Resolution

Dyre Straits · Nov 9, 2005, 03:08 AM

I have only run into this in the past few minutes. I finally got around to connecting the additional TV-OUT connection to my actual TV via a VCR Video In connection. This is in addition to my existing TV-OUT connection via S-VIDEO running to my 2nd computer's Video IN connection.

I'm able to view BOTH of the TV OUT connections simultaneously along with my Windows Desktop.

Here's the problem: If I reduce my Desktop Resolution to 1024x768 to match the TV-OUT resolution, I cannot then select anything above 1024x768 on my Desktop without Disabling the TV-OUT connections AND rebooting the computer.

I tried simply Disabling the TV-OUT services and still couldn't select anything above 1024x768 until I rebooted the computer.

As long at I'm able to select a Desktop resolution of above 1024x768, it creates a virtual desktop screen on the 2 TVs. That's fine for several purposes. But, if I'm going to capture....say, a game action sequence....I'll reduce my Desktop/Game res to match the maximum TV OUT res, which is 1024x768. So, I'd like to revert to my larger Desktop res without always having to reboot the computer to do so.

VERY annoying.

EDIT: It gets even worse.

Even though I may have my Desktop set to 1280x1024, and able to use 1024x768 on the TV OUT, I tried to start up a game that was previously set to run at 1600x1200 and got an error that it could not start because it could not match the full screen resolution.

I then checked my Display Properties and discovered that 1280x1024 had become the maximum that anything to use. I'm sure that, if at that point, I had selected 1024x768 as a Desktop res, I would have been back in the same predicament as I described previously.

knaeuel · Nov 9, 2005, 06:28 AM

i have a similar problem.

when i boot up my pc all looks fine, many resolutions available, primary monitor is the one it should be

it runs at 100 Hz

and in all tabs its the only and primary monitor

when i activate my tv out in clone mode some things change badly and do even not change back if i disable it again.

my monitor is not anymore present here, max resolution changed to 1152*864

primary monitor is suddenly a standard-tv

when i now start a game, here it was bf2, the game will crash and back to desktop my resolution has changed again... now max 1024*768

and beautiful 60 Hz

The only way to fix this is turning off clonemode AND rebooting.
The mainproblem seems to be the primary monitor after turning on clonemode once.
A fix would be great

Dyre Straits · Nov 9, 2005, 02:57 PM

Very well documented. Hope we hear from someone who can fix this.

Dyre Straits · Nov 14, 2005, 03:30 AM

This problem exists in the official drivers, too. I tried to submit a ticket on ATi's WEBsite and got a nasty 404 error white page.

knaeuel · Nov 14, 2005, 09:15 AM

i did not have that problem with the official driver. i could turn on and off clone mode as often as i wanted to and all monitor settings stayed. btw im back to the official driver meanwhile

Dyre Straits · Dec 31, 2005, 05:32 AM

Has anyone figured this out yet? I'm still having problems anytime I turn on my TV OUT. After that, I cannot restore my Desktop to anything above 1024x768 until I reboot the system with the TV OUT disabled.

VERY annoying!

Elvin · Jan 3, 2006, 05:42 AM

driver i got with my x1800 xl on the cd it' states it's a known issue the tv setup doesn't work or hard to get to work. I'm very unhappy cause i force detect tv try clone and nothing shows on my tv and i'v try for a long time still no go.

Dyre Straits · Jan 4, 2006, 08:26 PM

UPDATED: I may have found a work-a-round that at least keeps me from having to reboot my computer to get my 1280x1024 Desktop Resolution back.

When you do get the TV OUT working and then play a 3D game, you can no longer even see anything for Desktop Resolution above the 1024x768 maximum resolution for TV OUT. Not only that, your Desktop is restricted to 60 Hz as well. (USA, anyway.)

Now, I've been tinkering around with this and FINALLY, I got my Desktop Resolutions back by clicking back and forth on the Display images (1 and 2) that show up in the Display Properties/Settings screen.

Here's a screenshot showing that I have it working now. I haven't had to reboot my system due to this for a few days now.

redsolar · Jan 7, 2006, 03:05 PM

This also may be dependent on the way you connect your TV, and your TV detection. It's been some time since I used TV Out on my 9800 Pro, but over an S-Video cable, all I needed to do is turn off the TV-Out, and my resolutions would be back.

Have you tried doing the same in CCC? Just wondering if the detection routine is any different there for your specific setup.

knaeuel · Jan 8, 2006, 07:56 AM

hey, i think i found a working way. do not use clone mode anymore, try the extended desktop. you can even turn on theater mode on your tv. just go to display->settings->theater mode in your ati tray tools.
this way there is no need of reboots anymore and you even neednt to change your display settings anymore for different tasks. i hope it works for you too

Flip102 · Jan 16, 2006, 06:47 AM

This works and prevents me from having to reboot to get my resolutions back, however I can't enable Theater Mode when using extended desktop. Any ideas?

knaeuel · Jan 16, 2006, 08:53 AM

do you use the ati tray tools? if no, try it and go to display->settings->theater mode and just enable it

Flip102 · Jan 17, 2006, 03:32 AM

Yep, that did it. Thanks. I've never used ATI Tray Tools before but it seems like a nice little program.

Dyre Straits · Jan 17, 2006, 04:09 AM

One of the main reasons I use the TV-OUT is to capture game action. That necessitates using 1024x768 in the game.

So far, since doing what I mentioned in the above post, I've not had anymore problems with my screen resolutions.

Also, Flip102, I've been using ATi Tray Tools for a few months now. It really is a nice app.

Dyre Straits · Jan 22, 2006, 02:49 AM

Well, I just installed the latest Omega drivers and this problem came back. However, I have found a way to get my full resolutions back on my main monitor without rebooting. It's actually a very simple procedure.

When you Activate your TV OUT your Primary Monitor gets locked to 1024x768, just go to the Monitor settings where you'll see your Generic Television and beneath that, the monitor brand and name you're using.

Highlight the Brand Name Monitor and then UNCHECK the Hide modes that this monitor cannot display.

Voila! You're back in business with this little caveat: You will likely see settings that your monitor IS NOT capable of using, so, be very careful.

bouvrie@cashette.com · Oct 19, 2006, 01:18 PM

Though this quick fix posted by Dyre Straits seems to do the trick, I think this fix would only be limited to desktop resolution.

I applied the fix, and it works as advertised, yet any game I start following the change do NOT 'display modes that this monitor can't display'. So the tweak applies only to desktop resolution: it still won't allow games to use the primary monitor on a resolution that's higher than 1024x768.

I for one this whole development of things sucks. I can't believe this incompatibility hasn't been addressed properly...