Strange dual monitor behavior: mac pro + leopard + x1900xt + 2 dell 2001FPs

Question

I recently purchased a mac pro dual quad core with radeon x1900xt graphics card. Updated to 10.5.1. I have a dual monitor setup: 2 Dell 2001FPs connected to the x1900xt with dual-link DVI cables.
Here's the problem:
I want to use both monitors at their optimal resolution (1600x1200). I can get one monitor to run at 1600x1200 by changing the display preferences, but when I change the secondary monitor to something above 1280x1024, it goes dark, then doesn't come back on (the green light remains on, however). Occasionally while this is happening I will get a message on the black monitor telling me the computer is asleep. It obviously is not since I can see it is awake on the operating screen.
Here's where it gets weird:
I just found out that if I drag the mouse over into the darkened screen and then click a couple times, the monitor comes alive at the desired 1600x1200 resolution! If I restart from there, I get the primary monitor to come up upon startup, but I have to change the secondary monitor back down to 1280x1024, then back up to 1600x1200, then do the mystery clicking with the mouse!
The problem occurs no matter which monitor is primary and no matter which slot is being used on the graphics card.
To me this sounds like a driver problem, but I'm posting in the Mac Pro forum to see if any others have purchased the same configuration and have similar issues.
Message was edited by: istra

Answer 1

It appears I have solved my problem...for the time being.
1. rechecked all connections, replaced cable on secondary monitor with new (no change in behavior)
2. reviewed system log and saw this junk:
{quote:title=system log}
Dec 19 11:57:37 dhcp-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx [0x0-0x2f02f].com.apple.systempreferences[690]: objc[690]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Con trast.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Contrast and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Geo metry.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Geometry. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Geo metry.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Geometry.
Dec 19 11:57:37 dhcp-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx [0x0-0x2f02f].com.apple.systempreferences[690]: objc[690]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Geo metry.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Geometry and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/VPT .monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/VPT. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/VPT .monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/VPT.
Dec 19 11:57:37 dhcp-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx [0x0-0x2f02f].com.apple.systempreferences[690]: objc[690]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/VPT .monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/VPT and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Bez el.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Bezel. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Bez el.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Bezel.
Dec 19 11:57:37 dhcp-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx [0x0-0x2f02f].com.apple.systempreferences[690]: objc[690]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Bez el.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Bezel and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Ext endedTouchSwitch.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/ExtendedTouchSwitch. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Ext endedTouchSwitch.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/ExtendedTouchSwitch.
Dec 19 11:57:37 dhcp-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx [0x0-0x2f02f].com.apple.systempreferences[690]: objc[690]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Ext endedTouchSwitch.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/ExtendedTouchSwitch and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Pow erMode.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/PowerMode. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Pow erMode.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/PowerMode.
Dec 19 11:57:37 dhcp-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx [0x0-0x2f02f].com.apple.systempreferences[690]: objc[690]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Pow erMode.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/PowerMode and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Aut horization.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Authorization. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Aut horization.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Authorization.
Dec 19 11:57:37 dhcp-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx [0x0-0x2f02f].com.apple.systempreferences[690]: objc[690]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Aut horization.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Authorization and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/TVO ptions.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/TVOptions. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/TVO ptions.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/TVOptions.{quote}
The message above occurred each time I booted the mac pro and I think also when I changed resolutions on the monitors. This appeared to me to be a call to the specialized Apple Display extensions and preferences, not for non-apple displays.
Resolution:
I went into /System/Library/MonitorPanels/ and copied the AppleDisplay folder to the desktop and renamed it to XXXX.old. I deleted the AppleDisplay folder from its previous directory (I left behind the Arrange.monitorPanel, Display.monitorPanel, Profile.monitorPanel and VGADisplay.monitorPanel files). I then rebooted. No problems since. I can change resolutions all I want and my secondary monitor kicks right in, never staying black.
Note: this seems to work for me because I am using Dell monitors on the mac pro with the x1900xt graphics card. I wouldn't do this if you have monitor trouble, especially if you have an Apple Display, as it seems these files are important for those.