Monitor or GPU?

[SXRguyinMA]

My wife's computer has a random issue. She's got a Sapphire GTS250 hooked to an AOC 21.5" monitor via VGA. Randomly on startup the screen image will be about 1/2" to the left. She'll need to go into the monitor settings and readjust it. Most of the time it's fine, it's only randomly that it happens. Any ideas? :?

[NightrainSrt4]

I've had some monitors where running the signal through VGA would often lead to needing to use the auto align function on the monitor. Changing to a higher end monitor with VGA, or using DVI would usually fix the problem.

Most monitors do a pretty good job of auto-aligning the image when on VGA, but I've had some off brand ones, and even a Samsung that did that when using VGA, but not when using DVI.

It is annoying when it happens, but I've never had it be a sign that something was broken or on its way out. Just seems to be the way it is with VGA and some monitors.

[diluzio91]

VGA. lol... try that 210 when it comes, its probably the vga, so monitor would be the best bet

[blaze15301]

It is your vga connection. Try switching it over to dvi if you can. I had that problem with my 2 Samsungs and a viewsonic.

[SXRguyinMA]

I don't think her monitor has DVI, but I'll check. I think I've got a spare DVI cable around too. +rep for all the help!

[Twigsoffury]

is it straight VGA?

or a DVI with VGA adapter?

[SXRguyinMA]

Straight VGA

[AmEv]

More explanation than you'll probably ever need:

VGA was invented because the video card output digital signal, but the CRT was an analog-only signal. So, they needed a way to convert the digital into an analog one. Rather than put it in the monitor, they kept it simple and put it on the video card. There was one problem: Because it was analog, the timing was a bit hard to keep track of.

Cue 20 years later, LCDs were starting to come out as a viable option. Oh, LCDs are digital, but we only have this analog output. Let's put off a viable solution for a few years. Then a digital-only port (can't remember what it is right now) that was the predecessor to DVI.

This is why you have super-fast response times on DVI (compatible) monitors. Little to no analog conversion, pretty much straight output from the graphics core to the monitor.
Another feature that was nice was that, since it was a direct digital output, there was no need for signal alignment.

[Twigsoffury]

Straight VGA

*shakes fist*

damn.