Jump to content

Second monitor only works in safe mode

Alex Hoff
 Share
Posted

I am trying to reuse an old laptop screen as a second monitor for my PC. I have it hooked up using this controller board, which only accepts DP input. The laptop this screen came from runs the second display just fine, but when I plug the DP cable into my PC I get a flickering screen (and when the screen is briefly on, all I see is static). 

I've successfully gotten the screen working with the PC in safe mode and by disabling the graphics card. But the moment the graphics card drivers come into play, the screen goes back to flickering. I have the latest drivers from NVidia for my graphics card.

At this point I'm pretty sure it's the drivers on the graphics card, since the screen works in safe mode and BIOS. Should I just try older drivers one by one? Any other sources for this problem that I don't know of?

 

My specs are:

  • Windows 10 Home 64 bit
  • MSI PRO B450M PRO-M2 MAX AM4 (BIOS version A.70, latest)
  • AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (no overclocking), stock cooler
  • 2x16GB G.Skill Ripjaws V DDR4-3200 (3200MHz XMP profile 1)
  • Gigabyte GTX 1650 Super Windforce OC 4G
  • Crucial P2 NVMe M.2 SSD, 500GB
  • EVGA 500W 80+
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

It sounds like the driver loads and switches to a resolution that the controller does not actually support, or that the controller handles, but that the screen does not.

If its a second monitor, can you adjust the resolution to make it work?

Safe mode resolution is 800x600 so maybe try setting it to that to test.

 

Daily driver (looking to upgrade mobo and cpu spring of 2021)   --- The only time I sort by price from high to low is when I am shopping for CPU's and GPU's (looking for a cheap i7-7700k though)
Mobo: ASRock Z170 Extreme7+  CPU: i7-6700K @ 4.6MHz OC  Cooling: Corsair H115i Hydro  Memory: TridentZ 32GB @ 3600MHz  GPU: EVGA 2070 FTW3 ULTRA+ (OC'd 50/300)  
PSU: Corsair HX850i   Storage: 980 Pro 1TB, 950 PRO 512Mb, (2)ADATA SU800 1TB  Keyboard: Logitech G910  Mouse: Logitech G502   Headset: Logitech G930 UPS: APC Pro 1500 S

Unraid box providing network routing, home automation services, and media services ( I love unraid!)

USB Key: SanDisk 16GB Ultra Fit  Mobo: Intel DX79SR Extreme+  CPU: i7-3820  Memory: 16Gb Kingston HyperX Predator  Storage: (cache)480gb Micron SSD (1)8TB HDD (1) 4TB HDD  
GPU: MSI GTX 1650 4GT LP OC (passed through to Emby)  NIC: Intel I350-T4 4-port Gb (passed through to PFSense)  UPS: APC PRO 1000
Docker Containers: Emby and Home-Assistant-Core  Virtual machines: PFsense ( I love PFSense!)

Family machines
Mobo: Asus Prime H310M-E  CPU: Intel Core i3-9100F  Cooling: Deepcool Gammaxx 400  Memory: Teamgroup Elite Plus DDR4 16GB  Storage: Silicon Power 1TB NVMe M.2  
GPU: Asus GTX 1660 Super 6GB or EVGA 1070 FTW 8GB  PSU: Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+  UPS: APC XS 1300


As well as a number of other machines, a ton of parts, miles of cables, and who knows what else!
Private message me for quicker assistance. I also build and ship custom machines at a really fair price.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

I've tried many resolutions, none of them work in normal mode with the drivers on. When I'm in safe mode, I can go up to 1080p and the screen works fine. Windows shows that it's trying to display at the correct resolution (2880x1620), and the "active signal resolution" matches the "desktop resolution". I've tried all refresh rates. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Troubleshooting

×