Shifted Video Using a Video Card

Power Computing provided the information in this article and it was deemed accurate as of 14 November 1997. Apple Computer, Inc. is not responsible for its content. This article is being provided as is and will not be updated in the future.

I have a computer with a Catalyst logic board (PowerCurve, PowerCenter, or PowerTower) and a video card. If my monitor is plugged into the onboard video, everything works fine. However, if it is plugged into the video card, the video is shifted far to one side. Alternately, the screen may appear grey or with the desktop pattern with no mouse cursor, but moving the mouse around far enough will get it to appear on the screen. I have tried resetting PRAM, resetting CUDA, and even booting from the Power CD, but nothing has helped. What should I do?
Near the back of the Catalyst logic board between the SCSI and monitor connections there is a VGA Enable jumper. If this jumper is closed, the onboard video is treated as the primary monitor even if there is no monitor attached to it. Consequently, any monitor attached to a video card will be either shifted severely to one side or will appear grey or will have the desktop pattern. Removing the VGA Enable jumper fixes the Issue.



Machines Affected: PowerCurve, PowerCenter, PowerTower
Published Date: Feb 20, 2012