Dual monitor causes PC to not boot

[Brave Pixel]

***Possible Fix Update: I'm still using the same cable setup etc, I just reduced my monitors refresh rate in nvidea control panel from 144hz to 120hz and that has seemed to fix the issue with everything else staying the same. Boots up fine. It would stop between BIOS and Windows previously. It's not ideal, as I'm losing 24 worth of fps technically, it has solved the issue, but I can't work out why it won't let me have 144hz.

Since getting a new iiyama ProLite GB2488HSU 144Hz monitor, my PC will not boot or load correctly and I'll have black screens for up to 5 minutes before Windows log in appears.

My PC was fine with one monitor, the other is a LG 22EA53 60hz and connected by HDMI. My new 144hz is connected by displayport and both cables connect to my GPU (GTX 1060 3GB)

Disconnecting the display port or HDMI cable let's the PC boot up normally and I plug the second display after loaded to solve the issues, but it's a pain and should just work.

When I boot up, both screens wake and the BIOS motherboard screen appears then fades ready to load Windows, however before Windows appears, the screen will be black for 2 to 5 minutes, and Windows is still operating as I've logged in using my password whilst the screen is black before. No display on either monitor when both are plugged in, in this scenario.

My set up:
Windows 8.1
Intel i5 4570 3.2ghz
Gtx 1060 3gb
Z87 g41 mobo
12 GB DDR3 ram
650w PSU
1tb HDD 7200rpm

Its really annoying for me as it almost puts my PC out of use and a chore to boot up. The problem occurs between bios and windows but I don't know how to solve the issue.

[Bastila Shan]

Are you using hdmi and DisplayPort? Some PCs don’t support using that at the same time

Test it by using both hdmi cables

[mtono]

in my opinion: your new monitor is just too new. newer monitors have different "software"(kinda like a bios) internally. the bios in your pc, a gfx board has sth like that too, doesn't match your new monitor. with a brand new gaming pc with 144hz abilities you can be succesful with your new monitor. else: defective cables or defective 144hz monitor or defective gfx board, maybe motherboard troubles. more i cant say.

[Finger]

Try a different dp cable and not over 6'.

[Carlsberg]

It maybe a cable issue, you are likely waiting for driver loading and configuration on bootup. I use a combination of DVI-D and Displayport and the displayport is always the last to come on, (although it does only take a couple of seconds in my case). Try setting the HDMI monitor as the default or main screen.

You could also check to see if there is a bios update that may address this issue and try downloading latest mainboard chipset drivers.

[!xS]

Hi there,
as you describe:

Originally posted by Brave Little Pixel:

[....]
Disconnecting the display port or HDMI cable let's the PC boot up normally and I plug the second display after loaded to solve the issues, but it's a pain and should just work.
[....]

that means, that it's able to work as intended but not until some/the following special treatment:

Boot up your System with only one Monitor connected, uninstall the Graphics-Card drivers (don't restart if it asks you to do so), open up the device manager and search for "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060" under "Display adapters".
If it's not listed then restart your PC, once back in Win again open up the device manager and search for "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060" under "Display adapters", right-click on the "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060" and select "Uninstall" (Confirm with Yes, If it asks you to remove other stuff).
Once the GPU is uninstalled, shut your PC down (don't restart if it asks you to), connect all Monitors you'd like to use and Boot into Win, download the latest GPU drivers from http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us and install'em...
 
that should be it.... good luck ;)
 
 

 
~ cheers: … if you believe that you're meat, then you'll be eaten … 
 
  - !xS -     

[Brave Pixel]

Originally posted by Hoboslayer:

Are you using hdmi and DisplayPort? Some PCs don’t support using that at the same time

Test it by using both hdmi cables

Hi, I'm using 2 HDMI cables now and the problem didn't occur on first boot. It had a slight 5 seconds pause and the screen flickered but it was fine.

However apparently I can't use 144hz through HDMI and all guides say to use a DP. I don't seem to be able to get DP and HDMI to work in conjunction.

I don't have any other display cables and I'm sure DP and HDMI can work in unison somehow?

[Bastila Shan]

Do both monitors support DisplayPort? If so try with both (buy the cables).
It seems your system doesn’t support running both hdmi and dp at the same time a newer system would.

[Carlsberg]

DP must be plugged into the gpu in the first pci-e 16 slot, if the gpu is not in that slot it may not work.

[igloosfolly]

Check those little pins on the connecters you never know.

[meheezen]

Disclaimer: i know nothing about that gpu or monitors you are using.

If you boot your PC with just the DisplayPort monitor attached, will it work fine?
You said, using both displays on HDMI does work, so my guess is that the monitor EDID is fine with your system

So, after you boot with one monitor on HDMI and the other on DisplayPort, did you try checking the settings? what rereflesh rate were they using? have you tried changing those?

If i recall correctly, you could have that high refresh rate on HDMI, but its hard to find equipment that supports the HDMI version needed for that. Also, HDMI has a slight delay which is not recommended for low response time activities.

side question: why the 12GB of RAM?
https://ark.intel.com/products/75043/Intel-Core-i5-4570-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz
Max # of Memory Channels: 2
Seems like you cant be running tripple channel. You know single channel is pretty much half the speed right?

[Hexagon]

You sure your pc is not booting or just displays are not turning on?. If it's displays than change priority in the windows options maybe your priority is set to display number 2 and that's why you have no image until you unplug and plug the cables. Set them to display as "one" sand that should solve it

[Brave Pixel]

Potential fix update?

I'm still using the same cable setup etc, I just reduced my monitors refresh rate in nvidea control panel from 144hz to 120hz and that has seemed to fix the issue with everything else staying the same. Boots up fine. It would stop between BIOS and Windows previously. It's not ideal, as I'm losing 24 worth of fps technically, it has solved the issue, but I can't work out why it won't let me have 144hz.

[meheezen]

Originally posted by Brave Little Pixel:

Potential fix update?

I'm still using the same cable setup etc, I just reduced my monitors refresh rate in nvidea control panel from 144hz to 120hz and that has seemed to fix the issue with everything else staying the same. Boots up fine. It would stop between BIOS and Windows previously. It's not ideal, as I'm losing 24 worth of fps technically, it has solved the issue, but I can't work out why it won't let me have 144hz.

nice, i had a feeling it had something to do with refresh rate.
did you happen to check the DisplayPort versions suported by your GPU and your monitor? to make sure both supports that resolution at that refresh rate you were trying.

It also could be a issue with your cable not being able to keep up (signal loss), so make sure there is little to no electrical interference and the cable de adequate for that setup.

[pickmybone]

Hey man, thanks a lot, helped me. In order not to lose so many hz on your refresh rate, try reducing the RR of your monitors to 143hz by creating a custom resolution in Nvidia settings (In your case it should be done twice: for both monitors):

1. From the NVIDIA Control Panel navigation tree pane, under Display, click Change resolution.
2. Click the image that represents the display you want to affect.
3. Click Customize, then from the Customize dialog box, click Create Custom Resolution.
4. Specify there the RR you need (143hz) and apply the created resolution to your monitor.

Enjoy your two-screens setup!

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

There was another user I helped and their problem had to do with their MSI branded GPU not having Free-sync turned on as default causing the frames not to exceed 60 - 120.

Also make sure WIndows, Nvidia, and the monitors OSDM are all set to 144 using proper DP or HDMI cables that the GPU can actually use.