iMac + CS4 + 2nd Monitor Issues

[Justin_...@adobeforums.com]

Hi Everyone,

I've searched and searched. Contacted Apple Care, brought out a local tech and no one seems to know how to fix my issue, so I'm hoping someone knows here.

I have a new 24" iMac, I've downloaded Photoshop CS4 to check out if I wanted to upgrade or not. I do, its fantastic.

My problem is that when I'm working on a image sometimes my 2nd monitor blinks in and out. Apple says its a software issue, as this does not happen any other time. I can run Light room and CS3 without any issues.

My theory is maybe the graphics card is getting maxed out and loosing a signal to the monitor?

Thanks!

Justin

[Chri...@adobeforums.com]

The whole monitor blinks?
or just Photoshop documents on that monitor?

(all that Photoshop controls are it's windows, not the whole display)

[Justin_...@adobeforums.com]

The entire display, like it looses the signal. The monitor has had no issues before this and I cannot replicate it on a different machine or when running anything other than CS4.

J

[Buko]

no issues here with a second monitor and CS4

[Chri...@adobeforums.com]

In that case: it's hardware, something in the driver code, or OS code.
CS4 could be stressing the GPU or the display port -- but that shouldn't cause it to cut out like that unless it was faulty to start with.

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

Perhaps I'm interpolating here in a baseless manner, as I don't know if this applies to an iMac, but similar failures on two different MacBooks that drive dual monitors were corrected by switching the secondary monitor from the digital connection on the MacBook to an analog one. If you happen to have an extra cable and adapter you could experiment with, it wouldn't hurt to try.

Maybe you have a local store where you could buy such an adapter and cable with the understanding they'll take them back if they don't solve the problem.

That also solved a problem on the MacBooks where the wireless Internet connection speed (not the signal strength) dropped to less than 1% when the external monitor was using the digital connection.

I've never understood why this worked, but it did in both instances.