Jittery fuzzy screen on a Mac Pro

I just purchased a used Mac Pro 2 x 2.8 Quad Mac Pro on eBay. In testing it, the screen (an Optiquest 22" that works fine that I owned previously) is flickering and fuzzy. Then when I mess with the display system preferences it clears up and is sharp again. On a restart it goes back to the fuzzy jittery look again until I re-open the system prefs.
It's running 10.8.4 but I don't have the install discs. I do have the Discs for my old computer (10.6.8) Seems like it's a software issue since it gets cleared up with some mousing around and futzing. Should I re-install the older 10.6.8 to see if that fixes it?
It's a clean install of 10.8 now so it's no big deal to blank out the OS.
I would rather not return this thing is I can sort it out. I'd have to pay $60 to return it.
Thanks for any help!

So here's more information on this. I have clean installed 10.6 on the HD. Same problem.
I switched monitors and another monitor I have doesn't seem to be affected by the jittery fuzzy screen symptom. I checked and switched the monitor cables and that didn't do it.
I didn't seem to be messed up when I start up with the Optiquest 22 main monitor in the second monitor position from the video card connections.
On start up, the apple logo on the gray screen is sharp but as soon as the dsktop appears it goes fuzzy.
When I go to displays in the systems settings and switch between display resulotions it clears right up and looks sharp and perfect.
So at this point I've ruled out the OS and cables.
It seems to be an incompatibility with the Optiquest screen. But only when used in the primary monitor position.
This monitor has worked perfectly on my older mac pro, from 2 years previous (2006 model) Wondering if there's some software I can use to try and get the screen working right?
I suppose I can buy another, newer monitor if the Optiquest is glitching out but I'd rather not as I know it works fine normally.
Any thoughts?

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