NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 - Repeatedly displaying incorrect native resolution on boot

[StuWar]

Good day

Please can you help.

My Nvidia graphics card is repeatedly displaying incorrect resolutions on boot up. When entering the Nvidia control panel it shows the incorrect native resolution for either one or two of my monitors.

I have uninstalled (via device manager) a number of times and searched for updated drivers etc. however the problem keeps reocurring on boot up.

It doesn't occur every boot just in a random pattern e.g. 3 times in a row then fine for a couple of boots before starting again.

The only way I have found to fix it is either uninstall (and resintall) the Nvidia display adapator via device manager or the easier method is to disable and then enable by device manager.

However, this is impactical and frustrating, therefore I am looking for a permanent solution.

My PC
Processor (CPU) - Intel® Core™ i9 Eight Core Processor i9-9900K (3.6GHz) 16MB Cache
Motherboard - ASUS® TUF Z390-PLUS GAMING: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM) - 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card - 6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!

My Monitors
2 x LG 22" monitors running at 1920 x 1080 (connected via VGA & display port adaptor)
1 x Generic 22" montitor running at 1680 x 1050 (connected via VGA & display port adaptor)
1 x Sony 32" TV/Monitor running at 1920 x 1080 (connected via HDMI)

Please can you help?

Thank you

 

[ubuysa]

Are the Windows display settings correctly set? You'll find them in Settings > System > Display.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Willing to bet it’s the vga adapters. Vga is analogue, dp is digital, as such you need a powered adapter that will convert the signal. Cheapy ones rarely work properly.

 

[StuWar]

Are the Windows display settings correctly set? You'll find them in Settings > System > Display.

Thanks Ubuysa - absolutely I have checked - this is part of the issue that the maximum (native) display is incorrect in display settings (and also within the Nvidia control panel).

 

[StuWar]

Willing to bet it’s the vga adapters. Vga is analogue, dp is digital, as such you need a powered adapter that will convert the signal. Cheapy ones rarely work properly.

Hi Spyder

Thanks for your message.

That is interesting. Yes, I am using VGA to dataport adaptors. I guess your theory is that the analog signal is not correctly interpreted at start up, however, when I enable/disable the display adaptor given the PC and monitors are up and running they will recognise the signal at that point.?

I am using a brand of adaptors called Rankie. I have seen another more premium brand of adaptors called StarTech in which I am happy to invest in if it will stop this issue - although neither are powered. Are you aware of any powered brands?

Many thanks for your help and ingenuity!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi Spyder

Thanks for your message.

That is interesting. Yes, I am using VGA to dataport adaptors. I guess your theory is that the analog signal is not correctly interpreted at start up, however, when I enable/disable the display adaptor given the PC and monitors are up and running they will recognise the signal at that point.?

I am using a brand of adaptors called Rankie. I have seen another more premium brand of adaptors called StarTech in which I am happy to invest in if it will stop this issue - although neither are powered. Are you aware of any powered brands?

Many thanks for your help and ingenuity!

I’ve had a lot of success with startech products, they would be my go to recommendation for this sort of thing

 

[StuWar]

Thanks Spydertracks
I've ordered some of the startech adapators and will see if they make a difference.

They are not 'powered' as per your original suggestion - however, they are 'active' (versus passive).

In another setting (laptop to large screen via HDMI) - I've found that 'active' adaptors are far more reliable than their poor passive cousins, so I hope this will do the trick.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thanks Spydertracks
I've ordered some of the startech adapators and will see if they make a difference.

They are not 'powered' as per your original suggestion - however, they are 'active' (versus passive).

In another setting (laptop to large screen via HDMI) - I've found that 'active' adaptors are far more reliable than their poor passive cousins, so I hope this will do the trick.

Thanks for your advice.

Sorry, you’re absolutely right, I did mean active rather than powered.

I’m fairly optimistic that should correct the issue. Keep us posted

 

[StuWar]

Good morning

To update you - I have now installed an 'active' (startech) VGA to Dataport adaptor - however I am still having the same issue 😭

I've tried out various experiments this week to try and pin it down.

I've swapped around cables between monitors and ports on the graphics card to see if was a faulty cable or port - no difference.

The only ways to get it to display correct native resolution is:
1) Disable then Enable Nvidia display adapator via device manager (easiest method)
2) Uninstall then Reinstall Nvidia display adapator via device manager
3) Detach and then reattach the monitor (via the cable) from either the port or the back of the monitor end

It's the latter method which makes me think it could the order in which the Nvidia software recognises the monitor, if that makes sense? Maybe the monitor is recognised before the software is fully up and running. Perhaps the monitor is only correctly recognised after the software is running (i.e. method 3 above). This makes me think it is a software not hardware issue - although this is a guess.

Any further or ideas or suggestions please?

Thank you

 

[StuWar]

Hello

A few weeks later and I am still experiencing the same issue. It's now become a routine to disable and enable to Nvidia display adaptor following boot up, however, I am looking for a more appropriate solution.

Please can anyone recommend where best to seek help? Does anyone know if PCSpecialist have a technical support line outside of these forums?

Thank you

 

[Martinr36]

Hello

A few weeks later and I am still experiencing the same issue. It's now become a routine to disable and enable to Nvidia display adaptor following boot up, however, I am looking for a more appropriate solution.

Please can anyone recommend where best to seek help? Does anyone know if PCSpecialist have a technical support line outside of these forums?

Thank you

yeah give them a call, but be prepared to wait to get through, the number is 0333 011 7000

 

[ubuysa]

Good morning

To update you - I have now installed an 'active' (startech) VGA to Dataport adaptor - however I am still having the same issue 😭

I've tried out various experiments this week to try and pin it down.

I've swapped around cables between monitors and ports on the graphics card to see if was a faulty cable or port - no difference.

The only ways to get it to display correct native resolution is:
1) Disable then Enable Nvidia display adapator via device manager (easiest method)
2) Uninstall then Reinstall Nvidia display adapator via device manager
3) Detach and then reattach the monitor (via the cable) from either the port or the back of the monitor end

It's the latter method which makes me think it could the order in which the Nvidia software recognises the monitor, if that makes sense? Maybe the monitor is recognised before the software is fully up and running. Perhaps the monitor is only correctly recognised after the software is running (i.e. method 3 above). This makes me think it is a software not hardware issue - although this is a guess.

Any further or ideas or suggestions please?

Thank you

It's essential I believe to eliminate (or prove) the VGA adaptors as the root cause of this issue. I see you have the following monitors/TVs....

2 x LG 22" monitors running at 1920 x 1080 (connected via VGA & display port adaptor)
1 x Generic 22" montitor running at 1680 x 1050 (connected via VGA & display port adaptor)
1 x Sony 32" TV/Monitor running at 1920 x 1080 (connected via HDMI)

.....so disconnect all monitors except the HDMI connected Sony TV and see whether the resolution problem disappears (as I suspect it will). If it does disappear then your problem is with the VGA adaptors and you're quite probably up a creek without a paddle. If the problem does not disappear then I would use DDU to remove the existing Nvidia driver (the tool will then reboot) and then manually install the latest driver downloaded from the Nvidia website. Then test again with only the HDMI Sony TV connected.

 

[StuWar]

Hi Ubuysa

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, indeed the Sony TV connected via HDMI never has an issue with resolution. It is only the monitors connected by VGA adaptors.

I did use @SpyderTracks suggestion of using 'active' versus passive adaptors on the VGA monitors - although that was an excellent suggestion it did not make any difference unfortunately

So.... when you say I am up the creek without a paddle - do you mean that VGA monitors will just not work perfectly with a digital graphics card such as the "6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready".

Is the only option to purchase digital only monitors or is there a different graphics card or alternative adaptor that you know of?

The strange thing is that it is only a boot up problem and does work when I disable then enable the Nvidia driver - which makes me think it's something to do with the boot up order. Perhaps there is a software solution to change the timing of monitor recognition at boot up?

Thanks for your help in trying to sort this out

 

[SpyderTracks]

If we go back to basics... if you uninstall your nVidia driver with ddu:

Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) download version 18.0.7.6

Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) - Remove AMD/NVIDIA/INTEL Graphics Drivers Cleanly - DDU is a driver removal utility that helps you completely uninstall AMD/NVIDIA graphics card drivers and packages from your system, leaving no leftovers behind, including registry keys, folders, files...

www.guru3d.com

Then reboot and install the latest driver from nvidia NOT from device manager.

Then post a screenshot of your screen layout in windows

 

[Scott]

My guess is that it's a timing recognition between the adapter and the monitor. On boot up, my guess is that the GPU identifies the adapter rather than the monitor. This leads the assumption of an incorrect resolution, likely a default "safe" resolution.

When the system boots up and you disable the driver and then re-enable it, the monitor is then discovered properly and the native resolution of the monitor is selected instead.

I would remove the drivers via DDU, completely clean uninstall, and update them properly via Nvidia itself. If that still doesn't work then you could attempt to force a custom resolution.

Nvidia Control Panel
Change Resolution
Customize(sic)
Tick "Enable Resolutions not Exposed by Driver"
Click "Create Custom Resolution"
Fill in the values and hit test.

If it works, save it and apply it.

Note, you will want to do this all when it's not working, rather than when it is.

 

[StuWar]

Thanks @Scott & @SpyderTracks

Some v useful suggestions.

I will go for the DDU uninstall and clean reinstall with Nvidia drivers.

It will be at least a couple of weeks before I get the capacity to try this out.

I will certainly report back once I've done.

Thank you for your support once again

 

[StuWar]

Hello All

Thank you once again for your helpful suggestions. I thought I'd give an update now I have a working solution.

@Scott and @SpyderTracks the DDU uninstall and clean reinstall with Nvidia drivers worked beautifully for about a week or so before one of the monitors (Toshiba) reverting back to the incorrect native resolution.

I thought I'd try a new cable and discovered an additional DVI port on the back of the Toshiba that I'd not previously noticed (my monitors are fixed to a pole against the wall so the back is not readily accessible). The DVI cable instantly fixed the issue. This goes back to @SpyderTracks original suggestion that it was a digital versus analog issue. Bottom line is that when I eventually upgrade all my monitors to digital the issue will go away. Given the analog LG's are good quality I'm not in a particular rush.

Until recently, I was still getting an occasional issue (say 1 in 5 boots) with one of the LG monitors, however, I seem to have fixed that one by simply turning on the monitor before booting up. This is probably related to @Scott 's suggestion of a timing issue between boot up and recognition between the monitor and the adaptor.

So I now have a working solution and if I do get an occasional incorrect boot resolution it only takes a few seconds to disable and enable the Nvidia graphics driver.

As the year draws to a close I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me out with this issue especially @SpyderTracks @Scott and @ubuysa . It's really great to have a responsive and helpful forum. Seasons greetings to all and all the best for 2021.