Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer)

eatingrich · Mar 1, 2009, 11:11 PM

Hey folks,

I've got this weird problem on my PC at the moment and as I can't sum it up in a single sentence I can't really search for info on it online.

Basically my screen sometimes blanks out when using the computer. The computer runs as normal but the screen goes blank.

Other times it blanks out for longer and the monitor does pick up any signal from the PC (goes blank and then comes up with the 'check cable' message).

Usually it comes back on pretty quickly but a couple of times lately it's just completely gone and I've rebooted (it never does this while booting, so I'm presuming it's an XP/driver isue) to get it going again.

I check it out and thought it might be because my sound card was conflicting IRQ with the graphics card.

So I moved the sound card up a slot and now that's IRQ19 and the graphics card is IRQ16.

Earlier today though it happened again, though thankfully not to the extent where I had to reboot, it just did it for a few seconds.

Initially I thought it was when I used Fairuse Wizard 2 but I'm sure it's happened when I've not used it either.

As I've already moved the sound card I'm kinda stumped as to what it could be - any ideas?

Cheers in advance.

eatingrich · Mar 2, 2009, 10:10 PM

Just as an update, I found another post on another forum where someone suggested it could be one of a number of things, such as the graphics card not being installed properly, not fitted properly, faulty PSU or overheating.

I turned off the PC and checked the fitting and it seemed fine, but I noticed when I pressed it into the motherboard the monitor turned on, before going back to the standby setting.

Anyway I got some dust out of the CPU fan and left the case open - as I've been suspicious that having the case properly closed was causing the PC to be much much louder.

Since then the screen hasn't gone blank and neither has my PC started making really loud annoying noises!

Ideally of course I'd have the case closed to prevent dust getting in, but at the moment it seems I'll have to leave it open - any other ways to keep the case cool?

Mac Daddy · Mar 3, 2009, 01:49 AM

On the monitor issue two things to try:

1) Pull your viddy card and clean the AGP contacts on the card with a standard pencil eraser sometimes they become oxidized.

2) Check your VGA connector from the monitor it should be molded. With it secured into the card move the cable itself around and see if it cuts out. One of the connectors on my KVM switch is starting to breakdown I get all sorts of funky colours and have to wiggle it sometimes.

On the case open / case closed issue might be time to look at another case.

eatingrich · Mar 3, 2009, 09:01 PM

Thanks for the advice, sounds very useful.

What would be wrong with the case in the first place though? I just don't get it with cases! What difference would it make?

Judas · Mar 3, 2009, 09:12 PM

alot of standard cases from say dell or or anyone has poor cooling designs or none at all sometimes...

Think of most cases like cars, they are designed similare to that of have a sealed front end..... making it impossible for the car to cool itself properly... it's a stupid design.

Mac Daddy · Mar 4, 2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eatingrich

Thanks for the advice, sounds very useful.

What would be wrong with the case in the first place though? I just don't get it with cases! What difference would it make?

No worries hope the advise helps. On cases Judas has a good point some just aren't well designed for cooling.

What case do you have? Perhaps there is something we could do to improve the cooling in it.

SeraphicSorcerer · Mar 4, 2009, 06:24 AM

Probably needs more airflow, Intake -> Exhaust

Mac Daddy · Mar 4, 2009, 01:37 PM

Yes I agree if he has to open the case to cool it down it needs intake for sure. Let's see what he has and go from there

SeraphicSorcerer · Mar 4, 2009, 02:39 PM

Antec 900 :P (Shameless plug) get it!

Mac Daddy · Mar 5, 2009, 03:46 AM

Hee hee NZXT Tempest (shameless plug) get it

Mar 1, 2009, 11:11 PM	#1
eatingrich HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0	Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) Hey folks, I've got this weird problem on my PC at the moment and as I can't sum it up in a single sentence I can't really search for info on it online. Basically my screen sometimes blanks out when using the computer. The computer runs as normal but the screen goes blank. Other times it blanks out for longer and the monitor does pick up any signal from the PC (goes blank and then comes up with the 'check cable' message). Usually it comes back on pretty quickly but a couple of times lately it's just completely gone and I've rebooted (it never does this while booting, so I'm presuming it's an XP/driver isue) to get it going again. I check it out and thought it might be because my sound card was conflicting IRQ with the graphics card. So I moved the sound card up a slot and now that's IRQ19 and the graphics card is IRQ16. Earlier today though it happened again, though thankfully not to the extent where I had to reboot, it just did it for a few seconds. Initially I thought it was when I used Fairuse Wizard 2 but I'm sure it's happened when I've not used it either. As I've already moved the sound card I'm kinda stumped as to what it could be - any ideas? Cheers in advance. __________________ Intel P4 3ghz CPU - 8kb primary cache - 512kb secondary cache Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800 REV 1.xx Bus Clock: 200 megahertz BIOS: Revision 1009 06/08/2004 2GB RAM - PC3200 DDR 76GB HDD - IBM-DTLA-307075 (NTFS) NVIDIA 7300GT 256MB AGP 8x Graphics Card Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card

Mar 2, 2009, 10:10 PM	Thread Starter #2
eatingrich HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0	Re: Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) Just as an update, I found another post on another forum where someone suggested it could be one of a number of things, such as the graphics card not being installed properly, not fitted properly, faulty PSU or overheating. I turned off the PC and checked the fitting and it seemed fine, but I noticed when I pressed it into the motherboard the monitor turned on, before going back to the standby setting. Anyway I got some dust out of the CPU fan and left the case open - as I've been suspicious that having the case properly closed was causing the PC to be much much louder. Since then the screen hasn't gone blank and neither has my PC started making really loud annoying noises! Ideally of course I'd have the case closed to prevent dust getting in, but at the moment it seems I'll have to leave it open - any other ways to keep the case cool? __________________ Intel P4 3ghz CPU - 8kb primary cache - 512kb secondary cache Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800 REV 1.xx Bus Clock: 200 megahertz BIOS: Revision 1009 06/08/2004 2GB RAM - PC3200 DDR 76GB HDD - IBM-DTLA-307075 (NTFS) NVIDIA 7300GT 256MB AGP 8x Graphics Card Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card

Mar 3, 2009, 01:49 AM	#3
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) On the monitor issue two things to try: 1) Pull your viddy card and clean the AGP contacts on the card with a standard pencil eraser sometimes they become oxidized. 2) Check your VGA connector from the monitor it should be molded. With it secured into the card move the cable itself around and see if it cuts out. One of the connectors on my KVM switch is starting to breakdown I get all sorts of funky colours and have to wiggle it sometimes. On the case open / case closed issue might be time to look at another case. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 3, 2009, 09:01 PM	Thread Starter #4
eatingrich HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0	Re: Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) Thanks for the advice, sounds very useful. What would be wrong with the case in the first place though? I just don't get it with cases! What difference would it make? __________________ Intel P4 3ghz CPU - 8kb primary cache - 512kb secondary cache Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800 REV 1.xx Bus Clock: 200 megahertz BIOS: Revision 1009 06/08/2004 2GB RAM - PC3200 DDR 76GB HDD - IBM-DTLA-307075 (NTFS) NVIDIA 7300GT 256MB AGP 8x Graphics Card Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card

Mar 4, 2009, 06:24 AM	#7
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 154 System Specs	Re: Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) Probably needs more airflow, Intake -> Exhaust __________________

Mar 4, 2009, 01:37 PM	#8
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) Yes I agree if he has to open the case to cool it down it needs intake for sure. Let's see what he has and go from there __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 4, 2009, 02:39 PM	#9
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 154 System Specs	Re: Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) Antec 900 :P (Shameless plug) get it! __________________

Mar 5, 2009, 03:46 AM	#10
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: Screen going blank momentarily (sometimes a bit longer) Hee hee NZXT Tempest (shameless plug) get it __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen