Samsung SyncMaster 204B blackouts in DVI mode

[Dr Sadako]

What the title says "Samsung SyncMaster 204B blackouts in DVI mode" if made in China. I have this problem but it is solved this way:
 

I had the same issue with my 204B and an 8800 GTS.
 
The problem is a defect in the 204Bs made in China. It's commonly known (i.e. basically every 204B owner with a new, high-end card hits it), though Samsung tech support either refuses to acknowledge it or somehow remains ignorant of it (they were wholly useless to me on the phone and just wanted to swap my 204B for another one... which I'd already done.) The 204B can't handle the full 165 MHz transfer rate of DVI, and 1600x1200x24-bit gets perilously close to it.
 
You can fix the issue as follows:
 
nVidia Control Panel -> Display -> Manage Custom Resolutions -> Create or Edit (depending on if you have one for 1600x1200 at 60Hz or not) -> Advanced -> switch the timing standard to "CVT Reduced Blank"
 
Once I set the timing to CVT Reduced Blank (which drops your refresh rate from 60.00 Hz to 59.92 Hz), the blackouts and pixel snow went away completely.

HTH.