No Boot Screen via DVI- (VGA OK).

I think I've seen this issue before, and I wasn't able to resolve it. I had a customer who also had the 23" Apple HD cinema monitor and an entirely different PC to you, the only way I could get into the bios was by connecting a "normal" monitor. I didn't have a DVI monitor handy at the time, but I suspect that it's an issue with the Apple Cinema monitor rather than an issue with your PC setup. Like you, once windows loads, everything was fine.

I'd be keen to see if any experts here can resolve the problem.

Thanx for the response GinEric/Smiffy.
We are thinking along the same lines............................

Thank you Gary.

I accept your answer.

Adrian.

That's quite alright, but it still doesn't handle VGA properly.  I did say he could use dual monitor, that is, a second feed to one that can handle the san rate..  So I still think there is something that can be done.  

scan rate too; I hate javascript sites that can't keep up with fast fingers.

I can tell you this, I am not pleased that these monitors can not handle the resolution of the boot screen.........

Adrian.

Adrian - I understand your frustration.  I once spent an extra $300 ($900 instead of $600) for a "Pro" version of an early NEC Multisync -- only to discover it couldn't display the lower end modes of my PC's graphics adapter.   But only after the vendor sent me a 2nd monitor - which of course had the exact same symptoms - did we figure out what was happening.   I wound up switching to the lower cost monitor (which was also a bit smaller).

Thanks Gary.

Adrian.

I still don't see why you can't attach even a divide down counter to lower the rate.  Perhaps nobody has marketed one.  That's how High Density TV and High Definition TV is done in broadcasting industry to make it backwards compatible with NTSC and PAL.

DVI can be converted to any format with the proper adapter or converter, downlinks and uplinks for satellite do this all the time.

The problem is Eric, if the monitors will not display the boot menu resolution (640x480), doing what you advise is going to degrade the display when the O/s loads, surely...............?

Adrian.

The problem with GinEric's suggestions are:  First, he suggested simply adding a 2nd monitor on your video card's 2nd ouput.  I believe he missed the "x 2" in your question indicating you've already got two monitors connected.   Second, you don't need to lower the rate -- it's already too low for your monitor.  

There's simply no easy way to do this except to have a separate "BIOS display monitor."  You could even add a 2nd (inexpensive) video card and set the BIOS to boot through that card; with Windows set to use that as its 3rd display.   Then you'd have a triple monitor system :)

Gary, that's cute.

It would have to be a PCI graphics card in my case.
Gary, if you have the time, are there any special tricks to route the bios through a second graphics card/third monitor ? Is it a case if I remember, of setting the bios to VGA away from AGP ?

Adrian.

It depends on the specific BIOS.   I downloaded your manual and took a look at the BIOS setup options.   You should be able to simply select PCI graphics as the primary display and the system should then use that card as it boots.   See Page 65 of your manual at:
http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/sock478/p4t-e/p4te-101.pdf

The Windows Display Properties applet will support up to ten monitors.   So all 3 of your monitors in this case would be shown on the settings tab.   You can then "arrange" them to match your physical arrangement, and then set the one you want as "primary"  (one of the Cinema's I'm sure).   Should work perfectly -- in any event it only costs a PCI graphics card to find out :)   (e.g. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130217)

Caveat:   The only time I've used more than two monitors, they were all attached to graphics cards from the same manufacturer (ATI) -- but that shouldn't make any difference, since the Windows applet is what allows you to set the characteristics of your multiple monitor display.

Since you already have a 3rd monitor (else you couldn't "... crawl around on the floor to change monitors ...") this would seem to be an easy & inexpensive solution to your problem (and give you a 3rd monitor for your desktop to boot) :) :)

Gary,

Thank you so much.

Regards.

Adrian.

You're welcome -- post back when you have this set up and let us know how it works.

Will do.

A.

I must have missed x2, admitted.

I didn't think of adding a cheap PCI, garycase's point

Although, I got to admit, that's what we do for servers, and usually have two monitors and two keyboards, at least, for some crucial servers.  Also have an A/B switch on a couple of them.

Thanks Eric.

Adrian.