Screen goes black while gaming

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 19:25

When playing COD:MW from time to time the screen will go black (monitor gets no input at all), it only usually lasts about 4-5 seconds but it's very annoying. Once or twice it's said 'connection interrupted' for a few seconds after it's happened.

I've just done a fresh install of windows (new hard drive), so all the drivers are up to date, latest patches installed as well. I've just fitted new ram also and it hasn't changed anything. I thought maybe that my graphics card was causing a problem as one of the memory heatsinks had fallen off, so I've just fitted the original cooler back on and that's made no difference.

CPU and GPU temps are fine. Furmark runs without an issue. I really don't know what it could be.. help?!

Edit: System spec is the E6400 one in my sig.

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 19:28

it might be a silly question, but have you checked all the cables are secure?

Pawnless Endgame · 15 May 2011 at 19:32

Are you able to try a different monitor to rule your own one out?

Cycrow · 15 May 2011 at 19:34

mine does something simlar from time to time as well
no idea what causes it

but it only ever seems to happen in wow, nothing else

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 19:52

panyan said:
it might be a silly question, but have you checked all the cables are secure?

Yep! Whole computer has been rebuilt with no change!

Monserrat said:
Are you able to try a different monitor to rule your own one out?

I have an old 15" cheapo one I could try, will give it a go!

Cycrow said:
mine does something simlar from time to time as well
no idea what causes it

but it only ever seems to happen in wow, nothing else

It's very annoying as it always happens at a crucial moment and I get killed lol!

It's never happened in any other game, JC2 plays fine.

I have a new motherboard coming next week, it's a long shot but it might cure the problem (I didn't buy the mobo for that reason btw

)

DennisMenace · 15 May 2011 at 19:58

andy_mk3 said:
When playing COD:MW from time to time the screen will go black

Did you just walk into a wall?

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 20:00

andy_mk3 said:
It's very annoying as it always happens at a crucial moment and I get killed lol!

i am rubbish at online pc games (not good on keyboards) so that would be a perfect excuse

Leeroy123 · 15 May 2011 at 20:02

Its a driver issue, try updating your drivers to the newest version. I used to get that issue on a set of nvidia drivers.

vanandjuanunited · 15 May 2011 at 20:02

Roll back the ATI driver if recently changed

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 20:12

panyan said:
i am rubbish at online pc games (not good on keyboards) so that would be a perfect excuse

Haha I'm not great but this really aint helping matters

Leeroy123 said:
Its a driver issue, try updating your drivers to the newest version. I used to get that issue on a set of nvidia drivers.

I downloaded the drivers from nvidia as soon as I installed windows!

vanandjuanunited said:
Roll back the ATI driver if recently changed

Sure that'll be dandy on a 8800gt

Leeroy123 · 15 May 2011 at 20:36

then use an older driver. its defo a driver issue. If its an older card , the older drivers might work better, well thats the way its been for me in the past.

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 21:26

Ok, I was running 270.61 driver, now on 260.87 and it's still just the same!

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 21:38

andy_mk3 said:
Ok, I was running 270.61 driver, now on 260.87 and it's still just the same!

why are your driver numbers like that? i have 4000 and 5000 series cards the numbers are usually 11.4 and 11.5 - or is that the catalyst version and not the driver version?

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 21:45

It's nVidia not ATI.

Leeroy123 · 15 May 2011 at 21:51

have you updated your direct x mate? maybe try cleaning your drivers and a fresh driver installation.

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 22:06

DirectX 11 is installed. I completely removed the old drivers.

Just uploading a video which will hopefully explain better than I can.

Tonester007 · 15 May 2011 at 22:10

To help narrow it down:
1) Do you get the same problem in single player (e.g. not connected to a COD server)?
2) Do you get the same problem with other games?

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 22:25

Here's the video, sorry it's a bit poor. Notice how I get killed virtually every time it happens!!

Tonester007 said:
To help narrow it down:
1) Do you get the same problem in single player (e.g. not connected to a COD server)?
2) Do you get the same problem with other games?

1) Not sure as I've never used single player and can't run it right now as I need to install powerISO.. long story short, I downloaded the game from a torrent site and bought the product key off ebay. The game runs perfectly fine on my laptop however.

2) Only other game I've played on this PC is Just Cause 2 which runs without a hitch.

Leeroy123 · 15 May 2011 at 22:28

Its a lot like what was happening with me mate, but my screen was going black for longer periods than that. I would think it is down to drivers, but see what other people think. Have you tried reinstalling that game too, it might help. Also are your temps ok on full load?

andy_mk3 · 15 May 2011 at 22:32

Yeah it's a fresh install of windows so the game was installed on Friday. Temps never went above 86c on furmark, they were a lot lower on the accelero s1 cooler, but when playing COD it doesn't even hit 50c, CPU temps are no higher than 42c.

I'm at a loss!