Bad Monitor or bad Graphics Cards?

[jagblade]

Alright, so the first two weeks with my new computer go great, now I'm having issues. First of all let me tell you what I have here.

Monitor: Samsung 23" Syncmaster P2370
Intel Processor: core i7 920 2.66GHz
Memory: Corsair XMS3 12 gb 1600 mhz
Motherboard: EVGA X58 SLI (Intel X58 chipset)(supports 3x SLI)
Graphics Card: 2X SLI Dual EVGA Nvidia GTX 285 2GB
Sound Card: Creative X-FI Fatality edition card
Power Supply: Corsair 1000 watt power supply
Hard Drive 1: 1x WD 300gb 10,000 rpm velociraptor
Hard Drive 2: 1x WD 300gb 10,000 rpm Velociraptor
Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit

Now, on my desktop I'm frequently noticing my blacks turn to a blue. While in game I often see blue lines around objects, in shadows, or around lighting effects. While playing Crysis at Max my temperatures are hitting between 65-76 Degrees Celsius. (With my fans set to 71 in Evga Precision.) What do you guys think? Does this seem more like bad cards or a faulty monitor? (Note, even when turning off SLI and using only one card the problem persists.

When it happens again I'll post a desktop and in-game screenshot. Thanks in advance. -Jag

Edit: Wow...moments after posting this, I clicked on one of my game shortcuts. City of heroes, the moment the updater came up, the display blue-i-fied.

[Sir. TheHeartSmasher]

Uninstall all of your graphics card drivers and 3rd party tools used for your graphics card. Make sure your monitor's resolution is set to it's native resolution. Go to the back of your card and monitor and make sure everything is connected properly, also what type of connector are you using (VGA, HDMI, DVI)?
What are you graphics card temperatures at idle?
Is this card straight from the manufacturer or store?
Do you have enough airflow in your machine?
Is the fan on the graphics card working, if so do not modify it's fan speeds manually.
What resolution are you running your games at?
Have you upgraded all of your drivers?
Try using one card at a time.
Some games don't work with SLI.
Reset your NVidia Control Panel settings back to default and play with each card after you have the latest drivers installed and monitor how it goes (hard drive, cpu, graphics card temps, etc.)
If you watch a movie do the colors change or look funny?

[jagblade]

What type of connector are you using (VGA, HDMI, DVI)? VGA

What are you graphics card temperatures at idle? 48-50 Celsius (Room is usually 26-27 Celsius)

Is this card straight from the manufacturer or store? Manufacturer

Do you have enough airflow in your machine? CoolerMaster 932, 2 230mm intake fans. One covering the hardrives in front. One covering the video cards on the side panel, 1 230mm exhaust, 1 140mm exhaust. I also have my Room Stand-up fan aimed at my side panel.

Is the fan on the graphics card working, if so do not modify it's fan speeds manually. Yes, set them back to auto just now

What resolution are you running your games at? 1920x1080

Have you upgraded all of your drivers? Yes, Currently at 190.62 Should I try rolling back to 190.38?

Try using one card at a time. Have tried so, the blue still appears

Some games don't work with SLI. I am aware

Reset your NVidia Control Panel settings back to default and play with each card after you have the latest drivers installed and monitor how it goes (hard drive, cpu, graphics card temps, etc.)

If you watch a movie do the colors change or look funny? I've not tried watching a movie yet.

[compufreak7]

Is it just me, or is there nothing to see on that pic?
If so, the problem would be in your display...

You can easily check if it's a monitor problem, hook up another monitor...

[jagblade]

Well then, if you can't see it, obviously it is an issue with my display. Getting a new Asus monitor to replace this samsung one later today, we'll see if it clears up.

[Sir. XaliaS]

Why are you using VGA to hook up your brand new Samsung TFT monitor? Should have came with DVI, the black cable with the white ends. The Syncmaster range are awesome screens for gaming.

[jagblade]

Edit: Got a new monitor, 23" LG. 2ms response, 1920x1080, Full HD, works perfectly. So turns out it was a crappy Samsung after all.

[compufreak7]

Good!
You hook this one up with HDMI cable?
Also, since I'm getting a new PC too next week, I have 1 question myself:

I still have a 15'' VGA screen (-_-), but the GTS250 (graphics card I'm gonna get in my new computer) only has DVI outputs, so I need a DVI to VGA converter.
This is not a problem, but my question was if I could encounter problems like jag with this?

[jagblade]

My problem was with the monitor, screen must have gotten damaged during shipping. This 23" LG is working like a dream with both DVI and VGA. You should be fine, just be careful with getting your monitor online. @_@

[compufreak7]

Nah, in that case I'd be cool, since I've had this monitor for a long time =D