Dual Monitor Setup: screen flickers when game is launched

[Ragde]

Hello all,

I hope this is the right category for my situation.

I have my laptop (Vostro 3350 - specs in sig.) and my recently purchased Dell U2312-HM connected to it via VGA cable. It's setup to Extend Display where U2312 will be main and the laptop screen is secondary. The laptop screen resolution is 1366 x 768 and U2312 is at 1920 x 1080.

Whenever I launch a game (fullscreen), the laptop screen flickers while the U2312 shows black but the game music can be heard. I'd have to set it to single display and only then it works good. What could be wrong here?

I'd like to have it so I don't have to switch back and forth from extend to single display and vice versa when I'm working or gaming.

[Open Minded]

Is it only one game, or have you tried a few?

[Starbuck84]

Could be an issue with the game you're trying to play. Care to mention the name of the game or does it happen to more games? I'm running the same setup as you, laptop screen is 'extended' and my external monitor is my 'main' desktop and I had this happen to me once with ZDoom. Had to alter its setting file and everything was a-ok. If it happens to all games, it could be driver related? Just guessing here.

[Ragde]

Thanks for the replies. It happened for both Torchlight and Pro Evo Soccer 2012.

[Open Minded]

Change your display settings in Windows to span the monitors, not clone. Then if in windowed mode, you can drag the game to the monitor instead of playing it on the laptop screen.

[Guest]

Press win+p and choose "projector only" when playing.

[Ragde]

Change your display settings in Windows to span the monitors, not clone. Then if in windowed mode, you can drag the game to the monitor instead of playing it on the laptop screen.

It's already set to Extend (span) (U2312 is main display; laptop screen is secondary). I'll try the windowed mode option though. That should work. :)

[Ragde]

Press win+p and choose "projector only" when playing.

Yeah, that's what I'm doing currently. I know it's not really much of a hassle to switch back and forth - press Win + P and selecting Extend / Projector Only but I was curious to know if it's possible to not switch back and forth.

[articuno1au]

For ****s and giggles, can you tell me if your screen flickers when you close a browser window with a youtube video running in it?

If so, it's a noted issue with the ATI driver. It occurs when the clock rate on the card changes caused by a 3D profiled game starting, or a flash instance terminating suddenly. The change in clock rate messes with the frame buffer causing flickering.

I've been waiting for a fix since I bought my HD5830's :( Still nothing :\

EDIT::

That's the problem with the internet generation.. I want to know if I am right.. NOW! :p

[Ragde]

Fortunately articuno, never had that issue. :)

[articuno1au]

Naww :(

I thought I had it :(

[Open Minded]

Can you run Windows update and the Dell update program to see if there's any new drivers/firmware/BIOS for your lappy?