Member Avatar for Paladine

I have an AMD X2 3800+ system, which until a few days ago had a 7800 GT video card, and now I have an 880GTS 512 MB card. Prior to the new card I was able to run, albiet slowly, City of Heroes on my system with dual screens. 1. Viewsonic VX 924 & the other monitor is a the BenQ 241VW. But now with the 8800 I am unable to run City of heroes in dual display mode (i.e. DualView). When I try, the game locks and the CPU usage spikes at 100% until I end task the game.

Windows XP Service Pack 2, with Direct X9.0c
Drivers : 6.14.11.6906
& even tried the latest and greast drivers.

Any thoughts on the cause, or resolution?

  • 7 Contributors
  • 8 Replies
  • 193 Views
  • 4 Months Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by Avaj

Dani AI

Generated

This thread shows a classic fullscreen vs. multi-monitor conflict rather than a simple lack of RAM or a bad install. As and describe, the game will initialize fine and then freeze when the renderer or driver tries to take exclusive control of “the display” while Windows has an extended desktop active. Drivers and games sometimes disagree about which output is primary, how to handle a desktop that spans two outputs, and when to reinitialize the DirectX device — which can result in the 100% CPU lock you’re seeing.

Try this prioritized, minimal-risk checklist (do them in order):

  • Make the screen you want CoH to use the Windows primary display (Display Properties → Settings → make primary).
  • Make both monitors match color depth (32-bit) and set both to a common refresh rate (60Hz) while testing. Mismatched modes force the driver to reconfigure outputs when a fullscreen app starts.
  • If the game supports it (or via a small wrapper like a borderless-window tool), run CoH in a borderless window at the desktop resolution to avoid exclusive-fullscreen device changes.
  • Swap which physical output the gaming monitor uses (DVI vs VGA) or swap cables/ports — some driver bugs only appear on one connector type.
  • Check Windows Event Viewer and the NVIDIA driver logs right after a lock for clues (driver resets, fault codes).
  • Reinstall or update motherboard chipset drivers (and DirectX redistributable) before doing riskier moves like BIOS updates; use System Restore or a driver rollback point before trying different video drivers.

Several members here (, , ) had success with driver-panel and display-toggle workarounds; those are reasonable temporary fixes but don’t replace matching modes or running borderless if you want reliability. Be cautious with BIOS or driver changes — back up first.

Recommended Answers

All 8 Replies

Member Avatar for mechbas

Ram?
U didn't state the amount of system (hardware) ram.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Most games dont support Dual Monitor.

Member Avatar for Paladine

2 GB of RAM.

As for dual monitor and the game...I am not saying I want to run the game on both screens...what I do want is to run the game on one screen and watch a DVD on the other.

I have done it with my P4, nvidia 6800 GT AGP system with 2GB's of RAM no problem... but my 8800 GT with my AMD system won't seem to do it?

Member Avatar for seancstew

I have this same problem. I used to be able to run COH, and have my other screen up. I had the 7900GTX. Swapped to the 8800, and now, the game will start, and I will get to the character selection screen, but when I change characters, it locks the system up.

Turning off dual mode is the only fix I have found so far.

Member Avatar for dethdol

your best bet is to go ati cuz i has the same problem and it frusting. i play coh and use dual view, im a badge whore so i need to have the other monitor open. the best fix for tjhis if your not going to go ati is to go into system proteries and turn off the 2nd monitor in display properties load coh and after your in zone face your toon at a wall or near colorless area then tab+alt back into display porperties and turn on the 2nd screen both displays with flicker once or twice and you'll ahve you daul viwe and coh. i wih there was a toggle or hot key for this in nivida's profile setting i havent found it

Member Avatar for madoverclocker

i had an 8800gts 512 and was able to run dawn of war on my monitor and watch a dvd on my tv. but, i had to screw around with the display settings. i don't remember exactly what the settings were but it had a lot to do with separating the display resolutions and fine tuning the screens from there...

Member Avatar for Avaj

I had the exact same problem. New computer, same multiple monitors, runs everything brilliantly except COH.

It wouldn't even run windowed.

I found a setting in nView that fixed it.

In the applications tab add city of heroes to the list.

In the individual settings for coh uncheck the "Enable window spanning across multiple displays" option.

The wording on that option and the problems with it running on multiple monitors sounded pretty similar.

Member Avatar for Avaj

[addition]:
It looks like there is still a slight issue. When I run it dual screened there seems to be some texture corruption. When you mouse over something and the cursor would usually change color it just shows a black box. CoH must be trying to access the wrong memory when it has multiple screens and that setting just sort of fixed it. When I change it to a single display the cursor works fine.
[more]:
I don't really know now. I removed the setting and it still loaded. I can't really say for sure since it isn't crashing anymore when I go back to my old settings.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.