[malasonia]

Hello,

I hope you guys can help me out with my display settings. Whenever I try to view digital pics or videos on my computer the colour quality is really bad, the photos or videos are very dark that sometimes I can't even see them. My settings are on high colour 16 bit and 600X800 pixels. When I try to change the settings to true colour 32 bit the quality of the photos are still the same. I know its not the photos that are bad quality because they look great on my friends computer but they suck on mine. I also tried to update my video driver (I have the NVIDIA Vanta) but on restart my computer display looks similar to that on safe mode. Should I buy a new video card and if so which one do you recommend and how can I tell whether it is compatible with my computer. Thanks a lot you guys are always of great help,

Thanks again,

malasonia

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It could be your video card but you might want to try uninstalling and then reinstalling your drivers in case one of them might be corrupted.

What is the description beside the display adapter in Device Manager? You have to expand the entry to see the actual description. Tell us and we can tell whether the drivers are right.

[Tyger]

It could be your video card but you might want to try uninstalling and then reinstalling your drivers in case one of them might be corrupted.

What is the description beside the display adapter in Device Manager? You have to expand the entry to see the actual description. Tell us and we can tell whether the drivers are right.

[malasonia]

Thanks Tyger,

When I expand the display adapter icon it doesn't state much except: NVIDIA Vanta (HP-English). If I click on properties, then General tab:
Device Type: Display Adapters
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Hardware version: 021
Device Status: working properly

If I click on the Driver tab:
Driver Provider: NVIDIA
Driver Date: 04-03-2000
Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher
and so on.

IT also says that the file version is: 4.12.01.0384

I wasn't sure whether this info was what you wanted so I ran the SiSoftware Sandra and this is what it states about my video adapter:

SiSoftware Sandra

Video Adapter
Model : NVIDIA Vanta (HP - English)
Revision : 021
Total Memory : 16MB (16MB Video) (24MB AGP)
Texture Memory : 40MB
Supports DIME Texturing : Yes

AGP Capabilities
Version : 2.00
Command Queue Length : 32
Fast-Writes Enabled : No
Side Band Enabled : No
Data Transfer Modes Support : 1x 2x 4x
Current Data Transfer Rate : 2x

Video BIOS
Date : 09/23/99
Version : 2.05.17.02.03

VESA BIOS
Version : 3.00
VESA VBE/PM : 1.00
VESA VBE/DDC : 8.20
Manufacturer : NVidia Corporation
Video Adapter : Riva TNT
Version : Chip Rev B1
OEM Hardware ID : NVidia
OEM BIOS Version : 2.05
Total Memory : 4MB
Current Video Mode : 03h
Linear Frame Buffer Support : 160 - 164MB

Chipset
8-bit Colour Width RAMDAC : Yes
VGA Compatible : Yes
Programmed RAMDAC with Blank Bit : No
Hardware StereoScopic Support : No
Stereo Signalling via VESA EVC : No

Supported Video Modes
Mode 256 : 640x400 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 257 : 640x480 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 258 : 800x600 4-bit, EGA16, GFX, BIOS
Mode 259 : 800x600 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 260 : 1024x768 4-bit, EGA16, GFX, BIOS
Mode 261 : 1024x768 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 262 : 1280x1024 4-bit, EGA16, GFX, BIOS
Mode 263 : 1280x1024 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 264 : 80x60 4-bit, Text, TXT, BIOS, Linear
Mode 265 : 132x25 4-bit, Text, TXT, BIOS, Linear
Mode 266 : 132x43 4-bit, Text, TXT, BIOS, Linear
Mode 267 : 132x50 4-bit, Text, TXT, BIOS, Linear
Mode 268 : 132x60 4-bit, Text, TXT, BIOS, Linear
Mode 270 : 320x200 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 271 : 320x200 32-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 273 : 640x480 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 274 : 640x480 32-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 276 : 800x600 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 277 : 800x600 32-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 279 : 1024x768 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 280 : 1024x768 32-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 282 : 1280x1024 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 304 : 320x200 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 305 : 320x400 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 306 : 320x400 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 307 : 320x400 32-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 308 : 320x240 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 309 : 320x240 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 310 : 320x240 32-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 317 : 640x400 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 318 : 640x400 32-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 325 : 1600x1200 8-bit, Packed, GFX, BIOS, Linear
Mode 326 : 1600x1200 16-bit, Direct, GFX, BIOS, Linear

Current Video Mode
Mode : 800x600 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Supported Refresh Rates : 60,70,72,75,85,100,120,140,144Hz

Video Driver
Model : nvdisp.drv
Version : 4.12.01.384
Expected Windows Version : 0.1024
Video Acceleration : Yes
Screen Saver Active : No
Low Power Saving Active : No
Power Off Saving Active : No

Supported Video Modes
Mode 0 : 640x480 16 colours (4-bit)
Mode 1 : 640x480 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 2 : 800x600 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 3 : 1024x768 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 4 : 1152x864 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 5 : 1280x1024 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 6 : 1600x1200 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 7 : 1920x1080 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 8 : 1920x1200 256 colours (8-bit)
Mode 9 : 640x480 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 10 : 800x600 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 11 : 1024x768 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 12 : 1152x864 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 13 : 1280x1024 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 14 : 1600x1200 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 15 : 1920x1080 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 16 : 1920x1200 64K HiColour (16-bit)
Mode 17 : 640x480 16M+ TrueColour (32-bit)
Mode 18 : 800x600 16M+ TrueColour (32-bit)
Mode 19 : 1024x768 16M+ TrueColour (32-bit)
Mode 20 : 1152x864 16M+ TrueColour (32-bit)
Mode 21 : 1280x1024 16M+ TrueColour (32-bit)
Mode 22 : 1600x1200 16M+ TrueColour (32-bit)

System i2c Controller 1
Model : nVidia Riva GFX DDC1 i2c
Speed : 50kHz

System i2c Controller 2
Model : nVidia Riva GFX DDC2 i2c
Speed : 50kHz

Enhanced Video Settings
Animation Effects Enabled : Yes
Full Windows Drag Enabled : Yes
Font Smoothing Enabled : Yes
HighContrast Feature On : No

Device Mode Characteristics
Physical Medium Width : 211 mm, 8 in
Physical Medium Height : 158 mm, 6 in
Recommended CRT/Panel Size : 14 in
Horizontal/Vertical Resolution : 96x96 dpi
Colour Bits/Planes : 16 / 1 bit(s) pp
Brushes : 4294967295
Pens : 4294967295
Colours/Shades : 4294967295
Pixel Width/Height/Diagonal : 10 / 10 / 14

Driver Clipping Capabilities
Can Clip Output to Rectangle : Yes
Can Clip Output to Region : No

Driver Raster Capabilities
Supports Banding : No
Supports Fonts Larger than 64Kb : Yes
Can Transfer Bitmaps : Yes
Supports Bitmaps Larger than 64Kb : Yes
Supports Device Bitmaps : Yes
Supports DIBs : Yes
DIBs on Device Surface : Yes
Flood Fills : No
Supports Windows 2.x : Yes
Stretch/Compress Bitmaps : Yes
Stretch/Compress DIBs : Yes
Supports Scaling : No
Palette-Based Device : No
Saves Bitmap Locally : Yes

Driver Curve Capabilities
Can Draw Circles : No
Can Draw Ellipses : No
Can Draw Pie Wedges : No
Can Draw Chord Arcs : No
Can Draw Wide Borders : No
Can Draw Styled Borders : No
Can Draw Wide, Styled Borders : No
Can Draw Rounded Rectangles : No
Can Draw Interiors : No

Driver Line Capabilities
Can Draw Polylines : Yes
Can Draw Styled Lines : Yes
Can Draw Wide Lines : No
Can Draw Wide, Styled Lines : No
Can Draw Markers : No
Can Draw Polymarkers : No
Can Draw Interiors : No

Driver Polygonal Capabilities
Can Draw Alternate-fill Polygons : Yes
Can Draw Winding-fill Polygons : Yes
Can Draw Rectangles : Yes
Can Draw Scan Lines : Yes
Can Draw Wide Borders : No
Can Draw Styled Borders : No
Can Draw Wide, Styled Borders : No
Can Draw Interiors : Yes

Driver Text Capabilities
Supports Stroke Clip Precision : Yes
Supports Stroke Output Precision : No
Supports Character Output Precision : No
Supports 90° Character Rotation : No
Supports Any Angle Character Rotation : No
Supports Independent X-Y Scaling : No
Supports Doubled Character for Scaling : No
Supports Integer Multiples for Scaling : No
Any Multiples for Exact Scaling : No
Can Draw Double-Weighted Characters : No
Can Italicise : No
Can Underline : No
Can Draw Strikeouts : No
Can Draw Raster Fonts : Yes
Can Draw Vector Fonts : No
Cannot Scroll Using BitBlt : No

Performance Tips
Tip 314 : Video BIOS is too old. Check for an update.
Tip 323 : Remove the desktop wallpaper to save memory and improve performance.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.


Hope this is the information you need. Thanks again for your help,

malasonia

[Tyger]

Well, it certainly recognizes the device. When you right click on the empty desktop and choose Properties, and go to Settings, there will be an Advanced button on the bottom. The Advanced settings depend on the adapter software but some of them allow you to set the allottted memory and other important features. You might want to allot more memory and see what happens.

[malasonia]

Tyger,

The advanced settings doesn't have a section where I can change the memory. Do you have any other advise? Thanks,

malasonia

[Tyger]

There may also be some video memory settings in BIOS which you access by going into Setup during boot. The screen may tell you how.

[shard92]

You say everything is really dark then maybe you should try a different monitor. Maybe your monitor is what is having a problem.