VOGONS


First post, by AngieAndretti

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I picked up a GeForce2 Ultra on eBay. It's really a beautiful card, in perfect physical condition, but the VGA output is a little "messy" at certain resolutions. Specifically it's like parallel diagonal lines of greater then lesser brightness behind the image being displayed. These lines scroll across the monitor perpendicular to the direction they point in. Display output is still totally readable but the imperfection is noticeable enough to be bothersome, especially at the resolutions I want to use (I noticed that the issue disappears completely at 1600x1200 but I'm really interested in 1024x768 and below where it's bothersome.)

Since this is such a nice card otherwise, does anyone have any suggestions for how to resolve this?
I do have the ability to remove and re-solder a component or two if there were a known culprit.

Reply 1 of 10, by keropi

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

this sounds like interference from a low quality vga cable, did you try another one?

🎵 🎧 PCMIDI MPU , OrpheusII , Action Rewind , Megacard and 🎶GoldLib soundcard website

Reply 3 of 10, by AngieAndretti

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

OK, let me add some details. Swapping out the GeForce2 Ultra for GeForce2 GTS completely resolves the issue 100%.

The GeForce2 Ultra has been tested in 3x different retro systems, all with different monitors and cables. Display noise is always present.
The GeForce2 GTS has been run in all the same systems without any display noise whatsoever.
Essentially all other variables have been eliminated - it really appears to be the video card itself.

I've verified the outlet and the PC itself are properly grounded. I cannot swap out the VGA cable with the target monitor because it's a really nice Sony CRT monitor with a permanently-attached VGA cable. However the fact that I can duplicate the noise while connected to a modern LCD monitor, as well as the CRT monitor working fine with GeForce2 GTS, rules out the monitor/cable being root cause.

Reply 4 of 10, by Rawit

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Maybe one of the electronics specialists here can give advice. Me as n00b would check the group of resistors near the VGA port. Maybe one cracked or fell off. I would also check what would come out of voltage regulators if present and if there are any bulging caps.

YouTube

Reply 5 of 10, by AngieAndretti

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I can say there are no VISUAL defects whatsoever. All components near the VGA output are pristine - I checked them in particular really closely the last time I had the card out. There are also no bulging caps nor anything else visually wrong with the card. I'll post a couple of pictures next time I have the thing out of the PC.

Reply 6 of 10, by AngieAndretti

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Here are a two high-res images of the card. I see no visual defects but please tell me if y'all see something I'm missing 😊

http://teehill.adirondackpc.com/PublicFiles/nVidiaCard1.jpg
http://teehill.adirondackpc.com/PublicFiles/nVidiaCard2.jpg

Reply 7 of 10, by Xtcent

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
AngieAndretti wrote:

Here are a two high-res images of the card. I see no visual defects but please tell me if y'all see something I'm missing 😊

http://teehill.adirondackpc.com/PublicFiles/nVidiaCard1.jpg
http://teehill.adirondackpc.com/PublicFiles/nVidiaCard2.jpg

Does the dvi output work fine? You could try resoldering or soldering a new vga connector.
Also the near the dvi connection look kinda weird to me. What are those cracks?

Reply 8 of 10, by lost77

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Sound like this problem:

Q. I get rolling lines with my GeForce2 Ultra. How can I fix it?
This problem appears only in GeForce2 Ultra cards, and looks like electromagnetic interferences with the VGA-output signal. Depending on the resolution and refresh rate, the lines will have different size and look, and may not appear in all resolutions and refresh rates.

Unfortunately there is currently no solid fix, although NVIDIA and several card manufacturers have reproduced the problem and are looking for a solution.

Above all, if you have this problem, please report it to your card manufacturer, so that they know this is a real problem that is affecting a lot of people.

In the meantime, you can try the following workarounds:

Try plugging your monitor power cable into a grounding plug (part # 61-2720 at RadioShack). This puts the monitor on an isolated ground.

Try changing the refresh rate that your card is using. You might want to try just changing it by 1hz or so by setting up a custom refresh rate. See the 'How can I manually set refresh rates and force the refresh rate above 60hz?' question for more details.

You can also try altering the horizontal refresh rate of your card by a few hertz using PowerStrip. You can download a demo of PowerStrip at the following website:
http://www.entechtaiwan.com/

Try changing the resolution that your card is displaying at.

Try moving the monitor signal cable.

Make sure that there are no electrical devices near your PC and monitor that may be causing interference.

If the fan leads on your GeForce are twisted together, try untwisting them.

Try unplugging the fan on your GeForce card's heatsink. You will need to put in extra cooling measures if you intend to keep your card in this state, such as putting thermal compound between the heatsink and card and using a Card Cooler or similar.

Don't think they ever fixed that issue. This was taking from the Geforce FAQ: http://tweak3d.net/faq/faq.html

Reply 9 of 10, by silikone

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Aren't the early Geforce series infamous for having objectionable VGA quality from certain manufacturers?

Do not refrain from refusing to stop hindering yourself from the opposite of watching nothing other than that which is by no means porn.

Reply 10 of 10, by The Serpent Rider

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

I have a reference design GeForce 256 with the same problems. I think that, due to the prolonged overheating, some contact lines inside the GPU were damaged.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.