Why does my monitor report an error when I run at a lower resolution?

I don’t think it’s damaging, but it does read that the desktop and the game are running at two different resolutions. I’m not very familiar with Radeon equipment, but I’m sure they’re pretty similar to Nvida. There should be an option for the video card. Open that up and there should be a setting to change the over all resolution during game play.

First, update your drivers to Catalyst 9.9 (If you haven’t already). Then, go into the advanced view, and go to the desktop properties tab. Finally, change the resolution in the control center. By changing the resolution through the driver software, you probably won’t have the problems you’ve been having.

And remember, whenever changing screen resolution, to reboot your computer. To not do so, causes seemingly random errors.

@eambos @Axemusica So I’ve tried setting the resolution in the driver software to match the game resolution that I want to play in and… it still blacks out with the same error message.

BTW, no error message when I run for a while in that lower resolution on the plain old desktop… must be something in the game that is giving the video card fits and thus when it sends it’s signal to the monitor – the monitor complains.

It’s Champions Online and I’ve searched their forums… to no luck. Suppose I’ll go search the Radeon forums.

Lemme know if you think of any other solutions… thanks in advance.

@thrice2k3 Google Champions Online resolution problems It seems to be a problem for the game. I also see the game is in beta. Report your findings to the GM’s or their feedback suggestions.

Is it the game giving you the error, or the monitor itself? If it’s the game, I would try running at the native resolution, but turning the settings down a bit.

A 3850 isn new, but it’s still a capable card. How much VRAM do you have? If you have less than 512Mb, make sure anti-aliasing is turned off. That can really kill your fps when you don’t have much memory to spare.

@eambos It’s the monitor that momentarily blacks out and gives the error…

It’s 512MB and the AA is off and the fps is acceptable when in game… it’s really the monitor that’s complaining.

Here’s my logic so far in troubleshooting:

-since I can run the lower resolution on the desktop no problem, I can isolate the problem to when the game is running
-the problem only presents itself at the lower resolution – 1920×1200 @ 60Hz = no problem just slower frame rate, 1280×800 = smooth but complaining monitor
-it only happens in Champions Online… TF2, L4D = no problem

I wonder if for some reason the game asks the card to put out a higher refresh rate of 60Hz at the lower resolution and thus makes the monitor complain… when I think about it I DON’T actually know what there refresh rate is when I set it at the lower resolution. Hmmm… wonder if there’s a way to check that…

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions…

That is really strange. Most games do have an option to change the refresh rate, and it is possible that the game raises it to something like 85hz, which CRTs use, instead of the standard 60hz of an LCD. Usually the setting is in the graphics options. If there’s no seperate “refresh rate” option, check where you choose resolution. Sometimes there are options like “1280×800 @60hz” then another option for “1280×800 @85hz.”

Whatever the problem may be, it seems awfully strange and annoying.