Display issues on dual monitors
HerissonDauphinois -
Hello everyone,
my problem (a bit complex!):
For the past year, I have been using 2 Dell 27" 2560x1440 monitors on a desktop PC (Intel I7 10700K, Gigabyte motherboard, 32 GB RAM, Radeon RX 580 8GB graphics card). All running on Windows 11.
The 2nd screen is only used for photos (one screen for images, one screen for palettes), so I only turn it on when needed.
For the past 10 days, if I turn off the 2nd screen, the first one goes black and then starts to flicker slowly while changing resolution -> making it unusable. I have to restart to regain normal operation.
Booting with screen 1 or "1 + 2" is normal, and everything works perfectly as long as I don't turn off screen 2.
I have installed the Dell display control software, installed the drivers for both monitors, changed the cables, the connections on the monitors and the graphics card, uninstalled software and drivers: no change!
No recent updates, no changes to the graphics card driver (up to date).
I'm out of ideas to solve this problem, so I'm open to any suggestions you may have.
Thank you in advance!
11 answers
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Hello
Aside from unplugging the second cable and seeing if the problem persists, I don't see what else to do.
I've never encountered this case, and yet I've worked with multi-screen setups and I still do at this very moment, in quite a few configurations.
The latest driver available offered by AMD for the RX 580 (link) is:
"AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 25.8.1 (WHQL Recommended)
File size 618 MB
Release Date 2025-08-04"
You can always try a DDU uninstallation (link, follow the top comment) and a reinstallation of this specific driver.
Keep me posted
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Thank you for this information.
I have already tried changing the connections (video card output, HDMI inputs of the second screen), changing cables.
but I haven't changed or reinstalled the graphics card driver yet, it tells me "up to date". But maybe some files are corrupted?
The problem is purely software-related, everything was working perfectly 6 days ago, and continues to work well on Mac (Mac Studio M4 - Sequoia).
But I haven't done any updates on anything in the meantime on the Windows PC (besides, no games).
An automatic update? maybe, even though everything is set to "notify me of the existence of an update, do not download it, do not install it".I will try uninstalling/reinstalling the video card driver.
Good evening!
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Installation of driver "Adrenalin Edition 25.8.1" (same version as the one already installed!), when both monitors are on: no change in behavior.
Attempt to make multiple adjustments in the software, although most only concern games: nothing either! (rebooting after each change).A large number of settings in Adrenalin Edition 25.8.1 do not mean anything to me, I haven't touched them (" FSR 4 technology, and many others).
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It's already a lead. We know it's not "the latest driver", it's much older than "10 days" and was already up to date at the time of the problem.
I'm digging into the details of the drivers: Windows Update history (link), release note for 25.8.1 (link) without yet finding a match. That being said, I also can't find anything that falls around the end of November. The AMD driver delivered in August seems to have been quickly integrated by Microsoft.
It may still be worth trying an installation of the previous driver (link), still using DDU to definitively rule out the software path.
Aside from that, there remains the hardware aspect, but with the screens working very well under MacOS (so different machine but same screens and cables), only the Windows PC hardware would be left to blame and more specifically the GPU. For this kind of "detail" I wouldn't panic, especially with a card that's almost 8 years old, but I understand the frustration.
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Now it's even "worse"!
It’s impossible to turn on the computer if both screens are not on!
That said, with both screens on, the operation is perfect...
It's just the shutdown of screen 2 that causes panic in the display.
The mysteries (unfathomable to me) of Windows.-
Thank you for the feedback
"Cannot turn on the computer if both screens are not on"
The drivers are loaded by Windows after its loading, so well after the BIOS and the bootloader.
From there, if the PC doesn't start at all when the screens are not on, it's not the drivers that are the problem but rather a hardware issue.
Maybe a current leak, a poorly connected ground.
Try checking all the internal cables in the PC (power supply to motherboard, power supply to graphics card), the screws securing the motherboard to the case, the screws securing the graphics card to the case, the proper PCI-e connection of the graphics card to the motherboard, that kind of thing.
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flo88 Posted messages 28484 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention Ambassadeur 5 168
Hello
If I may offer a thought: what technology are the displays connected to on the graphics card? Because AMD isn't bothering with analog outputs (VGA, S-Video, DVI-A or DVI-I) which require a RAMDAC since they are using a model from ATI that is no longer capable of managing modern displays.
Displays should be connected to the graphics card preferably via DP.
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Hello,
It’s DVI-D dual-link, not analog on the RX580. I found these specs for the MSI Armor. The limitations are close to those of HDMI, so max 2560x1600, 1440p is usually well managed.
I hadn’t thought of that, it might be worth checking if the screens are at 60Hz or higher; in which case, try setting them to 60Hz or even 50Hz if it persists to relieve the bandwidth per video channel.
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My video card has 2 DisplayPort outputs and 2 HDMI 1.4 (there's also a DVI-D dual-link output that is unused: no input of that type on my 2 screens).
Screen 1 is connected via DP, screen 2 via HDMI.
The same connections and cables have been in place for months, without any display issues (1 or 2 screens, screen 2 turned off or on again during use).
For the last issue, I misspoke:If I start with screen 1 alone turned on, it starts up fine (POST, BIOS, etc.) but as soon as the desktop appears (so Windows and drivers are loaded), the screen "flickers" and switches resolutions with a black screen for 5/6 seconds between each resolution change.
I turn on screen 2 => everything goes back to normal...Note: screen 1 at 120 Hz (recommended), screen 2 at 100 Hz.
But I tried setting both to 60 or 100 Hz, it makes no difference.The only thing I did without much thought was install the Dell drivers (recommended in the manuals for both screens) and the Dell software (display management). I will try to uninstall all of that!
Thanks again for your help!
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2 Dell screen drivers removed, Dell software removed, reboot: no effect, the problem remains the same.
It's something else. I still need to find out what.
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New attempt:
Uninstallation by DDU in safe mode of AMD Adrenalin drivers.
It's a hassle to reboot in normal mode to reinstall an AMD driver (you have to create exceptions for the antivirus, disable the firewall, restart 5 or 6 times!).In the end, nothing changes; turning off screen 2 causes the display to panic.
The only way to restore a normal display after turning off screen 2 is to physically unplug the screen after turning it off.
Not the most convenient when the tower is placed on the floor against a wall, well hidden under a desk! -
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Yes, that would be ideal, but it's the only one I have on Windows PC!
Furthermore, with the 2 screens (or just one as long as I don't turn off the second), everything works perfectly.
And everything had been working perfectly for almost a year, even when turning off one screen during a session.
A hardware failure on the card seems unlikely, but I am not an expert. -
One thing I hadn't thought of yet: a problem with the screen!
It seems like that since my Dell S2725DS 27" monitor (the second screen) has twice refused to turn on: pressing the power button => nothing...
Changed the power cable, changed the wall outlet, power connector on the screen fully pressed in: still nothing.
And the next day it works again!
I suspect a hardware issue, but with the screen.
