NX6200TC-TD128ELF - Multiple Monitors not working

Question

I recently picked up a NX6200TC-TD128ELF PCI Express.  It is installed in the PC in my Sig.  I have been using multiple monitors on nvidia graphics cards for several years now.  I buy nvidia because they just work so well with dual monitors.  Anyway, my latest upgrade isn't working out so well.  I've tried the MSI drivers from their website, and the newest Forceware directly from Nvidia (81.98).  Windows just doesn't see a second monitor attached to the DVI port.  I use a DVI -> D-SUB adapter (I've tried 2 just in case the adapter was bad).
Does the NX6200TC work for dual monitors?  I can't find much info about it on the web, short of an MSI press release about the NX6200TC-TD32E where they state "The card is also capable of running dual analog monitors, or an LCD and a CRT."  I would assume my card should be the same, just with more memory on it.  Any ideas out there, or should I RMA this thing before it's too late to do so?  I've had to put in a junk PCI card I had lying around so as to get my dual monitor fix.

Answer 1

Hi,
We've been using a similar card - the NX6200TC-TD128E (without the LF, the full height version) in dual monitor mode OK, but we use the TV out as the second monitor (TV + D-Sub). My initial evaluation was done on the non-TC version, but that shouldn't make a difference.
I found that Clone mode (and extended desktop modes) is only available if the card thinks there are two devices attached. So it looks like the DVI connected monitor isn't being recognised.
Have you tried swapping the monitors over on the two ports and seeing if the recognition stays with the port or follows the monitor?
My earlier testing (with the non-TC version) found that the card would recognise a monitor on the D-Sub port if it saw a resistance of less than about 150 ohms between the Green output (pin 2) and 0V (pins 6-8 amongst others). Normally a monitor should present a DC impedance of 75 ohms on its R,G & B inputs - but if the monitor has AC coupled inputs it would fail the test. I didn't try the DVI port but it probably behaves in a similar manner. {I just tried it, and it does work - although this is on a Jaton PX6600, but it should still be valid}
You could try putting a shorting link (i.e. a short piece of suitably sized wire) between pins 2 and 7 on the DVI-DSub adapter, plugging in said adapter, then going to the nVidia setup. If it "recognises" the piece of wire, the first menu setting should now be nView Display Settings, not just Display Settings. [If you look at the D-Sub end of the adapter, with the wider part at the top, pin 2 is second from the right on the top row. Link it to any of the three right hand pins on the middle row. Or you could make a proper dummy load by soldering 75 ohm resistors between pins 1-6, 2-7 and 3-8 of a 15-pin plug]
An alternative method is to turn on "Force TV detection" in the Tools menu. Annoyingly, it will probably force you to reboot. Or you could connect a TV to the TV out port (before going to the nVidia setup).
Another annoying thing I have found is that some of the menu options seem to appear or not appear at whim - for instance the ability to set up a hot key to toggle Clone mode. It makes it very difficult to write instructions for others if the software doesn't behave consistently. 
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Cheers