Need some advice on a Hardware issue.

Boleyn

Boleyn

Boleyn

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Hi guys.

I posted this in the Monitor forum a few hours ago but probably should have gone here, feel free to delete that one.

I have two intermittent issues and I'm not completely sure of the cause, monitor, graphics, motherboard or all.

First is a few flickering horizontal blue lines particularly noticable on dark screens and video but a computer restart always fixes this and is not a major issue just yet but surely will be down the road.

Secondly and the worst by far is my screen going black as if my monitor has turned off (It hasn’t). The blackout can last a split second to 3 seconds. This usually fixes itself after a minute or so but this morning it went on for a good 20 minutes and then suddenly sorted itself out and has worked ever since.

I have checked for loose connections, all are fine.

My system is old so I wouldn’t be surprised if something is on it’s way out but unless it needs replacing I don’t really want to change anything just yet as I have no issues running anything that i want to.

Board is a Rampage Formula, Graphics is a GTX560Ti and Monitor is a Samsung Syncmaster 245B

Any idea's?

Thank you.
 
I would look into the cable / connectors first. Including monitor power lead.

Then look at the GPU connectors (PCIE / Power).

Then run a test, with some monitoring on the GPU (Unigine, MSI afterburner to monitor the temps). If it's running hot, it's possible the heatsink isn't seated correctly / the thermal interface is too old.

Then swap the monitor with something else.

If all fails, my money is on the GPU.

EDIT : checked connections already :)
 
Thank you.

I downloaded both of those and ran the Valley benchmark. My GPU did get quite hot at 72 but there were no artifacts or graphical issues at all. The horizontal blue lines didn't appear and neither did the the screen go black but then again that only ever seems to happen when the computer first starts.

The problem I have with testing is like I said it only happen intermittently so by the time it happens and I have unplugged this monitor and tried another it may have stopped.

I think I am inclined to agree with you though in regards to it being the GPU, certainly where the horizontal blue lines are concerned.

Thanks for your reply.
 
What make and model is you PSU?

It does seem like a GPU issue here, hard to say for sure as could be a faulty PCE-E slot, maybe try in another slot? Could also be PSU failing ie. spiking volts or not supplying enough clean power. Many PSU's even high end ones eventually wear down over time as high loads, dust and temps take their toll. Nothing lasts forever and as you say its an ageing system.

And for how long has this issue been occuring, has anything changed since, ie. driver updates, software or hardware changes?
 
The PSU is an Enermax Galaxy 850w.

As for how long it's been occuring well that's part of the intermittent issue.

The flickering horizontal blue lines have been going on for about 6 months I would say but have appeared no more than 15 times in that time frame and like I said a simple restart fixes that.

The Blackouts have only started in the last 2 weeks and and have occured maybe 3 or 4 times usually no more than a minute or 2 but yesterday was a good 20-25 minutes.

This morning. Absolutely nothing. No issue whatsoever.

I regularly update my GPU driver, no Hardware changes and the only new Software was the Windows 10 upgrade a month or so ago but the flickering lines started way nefore that.

Thank you.
 
If you are able to i would plug in a second monitor/tv into the graphics card and see if the issue is repeated, that's what i would do anyway! Its a hard one to figure out given that it happens so rarely.
 
Thanks.

I could use the girlfriends monitor for testing but not constantly and that's the real issue, I have no idea when it's going to happen. It might happen now or in 5 days.
 
Dogoid said:
i also have intermittent blackouts on my monitor , it happens to be a cheap HDMI cable which is the cause.
Click to expand...

Interesting, Thanks.

The cable I use is the one that came with the monitor and I haven't had an issue with it since I got it years ago.

I could get a new one and try that, certainly cheaper than new hardware.
 
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