I am using a new Dimension 4700 with integrated video. I bought this machine to design multilayer circuit boards using Pads 2005 software ( www.pads.com). The Pads software is manufactured by Mentor Graphics.

The Pads work surface supplies a dot grid which is used in placing the electronic components onto the circuit board. I set the grid at .100" x .100". The problem is when I place a component onto the grid -- for some unknown reason it doesn't align directly over the dot grid. When I change screen magnification the components shift with respect to the grid. The movement always appears to be horizontal. Running this software (an older version) on a Pentium II with WIN98SE never gave any problem. Components are placed on the dot grid and they stay exactly on top of the dot regardless of

screen position or magnification.

I spoke to Mentor Graphics who tell me that they have not seen this issue and that it must be a video problem in the Dell. I have tried all the settings (hardware acceleration, screen resolution,color quality,  refresh rate, enable write combining, etc. )

 

Nothing helps. The computer is basically useless -- I am close to returning it.

 

Any suggestions?