Screen resolution always reverts back to 720 x 480

[Amy123]

Hi, I would be very grateful if anywhere here could help me.

I have an AMD Radeon HD 5670 Graphics Card. Always on boot up, windows starts at 720 by 480 resolution and always reverts to this same low resolution when starting up a game. This problem is overriding the changes I make to the resolution within the AMD graphics software. I can browse the net on the proper high resolution but when I switch off or play a game, the problem returns and often the max setting within a game is the awfully low 720 x 480.

Any help would be extremely appreciated.

Amy

 

[sam80jr]

try completely removing your current driver and then installing the latest driver from AMD. Also, what monitor/connection are you using? What version of windows? Its very rare with windows 7/8 since it has automatic driver support, but with older versions of windows it could be detecting your monitor incorrectly so it thinks your native res is 720x480.

First things first, try the video card driver uninstall/updated reinstall. Then, if its still not fixed, we'll go from there.

 

[popatim]

Which exact monitor do you have? Whats the make and model# please?

 

[Amy123]

Thank you both so much for your quick replies.

My monitor is a Sharp LCD - LC-24LE510K - I'm using the HDMI port

I'm using Windows XP

Thank you, I'll try yo uninstall and then update the video card driver and see if that helps.

Many thanks again,
Amy

 

[Amy123]

Hi, I uninstalled the driver and reinstalled and it's still the same 🙁 reverting back to 720 x 480.

Amy

 

[sam80jr]

do you have a dvi cable to test with? just try temporarily using that connection and see if you still have the same problem. In the mean time, i'm going to check out your monitor now that I have the model

 

[sam80jr]

here is a link to the manual for your tv. I tried reading through it, but I dont have enough time to read all the info you need. From what I read, its a tv not a monitor, and most tvs have a specific PC mode. Try going thru the menu options and see if you can change the hdmi input type to PC or if there is anyway to manually set the resolution of the tv to 1920x1080 thru the tv setup menu.

From what I saw, it defaults to 1368x760 which isnt great, but youre not even getting that, so obviously theres an issue. The TV does have a dvi port, so I would try using that.

http://www.manualslib.com/products/Sharp-Lc-24le510k-445227.html heres the manual, give the relevant sections a read including "connecting tv to a PC, Input selection, changing image size: picture formats, the 2 picture settings sections, and Appendix A,C, and E near the bottom". Hope this helps!

 

[sam80jr]

Just a quick note: Appendix C states that supported resolutions over DVI include 1080p. Since this is a lower end tv, it looks like you cant enable "pc mode" manually, its tied to the DVI input. So my first suggestion happened to be right...try hooking up your PC with a DVI cable and should fix your issue.

 

[popatim]

just dont expect the 5670 to be a great gamer at 1080p. I suspect the driver is lowering your resolution automatically to make the game decently playable although 720x480 seems too low to me. I had the same card in my grandkids pc and they played games at 1366x768 decently.

 

[smeezekitty]

Hi Amy,

I am not sure if AMD allows you to override display detection through digital interfaces (Dvi or HDMI)

Using TVs for computer monitors is always kind of hit or miss. Are the in game settings set to your desired resolution?

Does the problem still happen if you change resolution through the Windows display options?

 

[sam80jr]

i just answered her question and posted a link to the manual. Obviously she has changed the resolution in windows, its automatically reverting back. And no, there is no driver that automatically forces you to run at an abnormal resolution because your video card "cant handle it". Even with a low end, integrated card, games would auto-detect your native resolution, but thats not her problem anyway. Windows is automatically forcing her to run at that abormal resolution.

As I stated, the manual clearly explains why...using a tv isnt hit or miss, if its a new. quality, modern TV, it will work 100% of the time. She is using a lower end model thats lacking in features, so it doesnt have a "PC Mode" config that can be set by the user. The "PC Mode" is restricted to the DVI input, so you must use DVI to enable PC resolutions. If you guys bothered to read my post before responding, you would have seen that...the link to the manual is right there.

 

[smeezekitty]

As I stated, the manual clearly explains why...using a tv isnt hit or miss, if its a new. quality, modern TV, it will work 100% of the time. She is using a lower end model thats lacking in features, so it doesnt have a "PC Mode" config that can be set by the user. The "PC Mode" is restricted to the DVI input, so you must use DVI to enable PC resolutions

So only certain models of modern TVs that only have special features work properly with computers?
Isn't that basically the definition of hit or miss? It IS possible to use a TV as a computer monitor
but using a real computer monitor is still better. TVs are TVs and monitors are monitors.

Monitors are optimized for computers including proper resolution negotiation that virtually always works.
Monitors are also designed to provide a sharper picture for display of text.

 

[Amy123]

So sorry for the late reply. I wish my friends were as helpful as you guys! Managed to get it working after reading your brilliant posts regarding the monitor/tv, Sam80jr. I then looked into this problem through the AMD Catalyst Control Centre settings, on the Display Manager and then onto a HDTV support section I hadn't previously looked at. Ticked a box in that and now it stays on the desired resolution while booting up or starting a game!

It does seem strange how just changing the resolution on the main settings isn't enough to keep everything working properly but I'm just so happy it works now. I have never encountered this problem with NVidia cards before and think I will stick to buying those from now on.

Thank you so much everyone for the help. I hope somebody returns a well deserved good deed for you in return.

Amy xxx

 

[popatim]

I guess Mr Smarty pants jr isnt as smart as he thought!

Good Find Amy!!

 

[smeezekitty]

I guess Mr Smarty pants jr isnt as smart as he thought!

LOL

I forgot about that option. I guess because I very seldom use the hdmi out.
But I will keep it in mind for next time something like this arises