Dead Pixel in Video Card?

D

dangfx

Gawd
Joined
May 2, 2001
Messages
707
Hello Everyone,

So I thought one of my dual monitors (LG E2290) had a dead pixel in it. But when I unplugged it, and Windows 7 reconfigured my displays, the little white pixel jumped to the other monitor, in the same position. So this leads me to believe it is the video card, NOT the screens.

My video card is a VisionTek Radeon HD 4850. I have had it for a while and it has always been fine. But about a month ago is when I first noticed the dead pixel.

What can be done?
 
Nope. As mentioned, the pixel "jumps" to the other monitor when one is unplugged, (using the second monitor's cable, of course). So both cables are good.

Another interesting thing:
When Windows FIRST starts, before everything is loaded, there is NO white pixel there. Only after all drivers are loaded does the dead pixel appear.

(always in the same place, of course)
 
Try a different video card if you can. I'm wondering if it's a problem with the ports or the DACs on the card.
 
Yeah, I'm guessing its the card too. Unfortunately, I dont have another one handy. Can I do anything with this one to help the problem?
 
dangfx said:
Yeah, I'm guessing its the card too. Unfortunately, I dont have another one handy. Can I do anything with this one to help the problem?
Click to expand...

No. You have to confirm it's the card first. Doing things aside from confirming a diagnosis is a waste of time and effort if you want your problem solved.
 
what does changing the resolution away from native do? also other port?
 
Could try re-installing the drivers, and or down-clocking or over-volting the card at idle.
 
dangfx said:
Nope. As mentioned, the pixel "jumps" to the other monitor when one is unplugged, (using the second monitor's cable, of course). So both cables are good.

Another interesting thing:
When Windows FIRST starts, before everything is loaded, there is NO white pixel there. Only after all drivers are loaded does the dead pixel appear.

(always in the same place, of course)
Click to expand...



Given that the pixel does not pop up until windows and the drivers load, what to say that it is not a driver/software issue? Have you tried to run windows in safe mode, or reinstalled drivers? Just to rule out a hardware issue if anything.
 
Well all the screens up to the login screen are not going to be native resolution. It is entirely possible that monitor scaling hides the issue. Try different ports on the card, mess with the resolution, etc.
 
Switch ports/ Cords (dvi or vga) if you are using an adapter (dvi to vga) try a new one? Otherwise just listen to Dan. I don't know why but I get the feeling he MIGHT know what he talks about:p
 
Ocean-
When I change the resolution, the white pixel stays. However, the look of the pixel changes along with the resolution (ie, it gets fuzzier at lower reses, just like everything else on the screen).

Arcygenical-
The card is running at stock. Haven't tried changing the clock/voltage yet.

ToastyX-
That brings up a light blue screen. The white pixel cant be seen unless the background is black.

zacrobmer-
I think that the white pixel does NOT appear when in safe mode.

Dan_D-
Even when the computer has logged in (at my desktop), the white pixel doesn't appear until AFTER about 15 seconds. That is to say, native res is running and up, just all of my processes are still loading. THEN the pixel appears (against a black background).

ITSTHINKING-
I am using dual monitors, so two different cables and adapters. Both are fine, since one of the screens is always clear.

UPDATE:
OK, something is weird. Definitely not an actual pixel issue:
The white pixel exists ONLY ON THE DESKTOP. If I put a black window over it (say, Hardforum) it covers it up. I have tried to change my background to different dark colors, and it's always there. But NOT when I have something over it (??)
 
dangfx said:
Ocean-
When I change the resolution, the white pixel stays. However, the look of the pixel changes along with the resolution (ie, it gets fuzzier at lower reses, just like everything else on the screen).

Arcygenical-
The card is running at stock. Haven't tried changing the clock/voltage yet.

ToastyX-
That brings up a light blue screen. The white pixel cant be seen unless the background is black.

zacrobmer-
I think that the white pixel does NOT appear when in safe mode.

Dan_D-
Even when the computer has logged in (at my desktop), the white pixel doesn't appear until AFTER about 15 seconds. That is to say, native res is running and up, just all of my processes are still loading. THEN the pixel appears (against a black background).

ITSTHINKING-
I am using dual monitors, so two different cables and adapters. Both are fine, since one of the screens is always clear.

UPDATE:
OK, something is weird. Definitely not an actual pixel issue:
The white pixel exists ONLY ON THE DESKTOP. If I put a black window over it (say, Hardforum) it covers it up. I have tried to change my background to different dark colors, and it's always there. But NOT when I have something over it (??)
Click to expand...

You need to confirm whether or not the pixel appears in safe mode. Then we'll go from there.
 
I had this problem. The white pixel on the bottom right of my screen only appeared on the desktop, but not in any other windows/programs. It turned out to be some freak coincidence with the drivers and leftover crap from the last video card. Could not figure out what it was after 2 weeks of testing, but after I reinstalled windows, never happened again.

EDIT: Lol. Now that I think about it, I first thought it was a stuck pixel on my monitor, so I spent 30 minutes pushing on the damn thing trying to dislodge it. I'm really glad I stopped eventually before I dented the screen.
 
There's no way it's the video card. Some program is loading and causing the pixel to appear. Start killing processes in the task manager to see if you can figure out which one it is.
 
OK...

No "dead pixel" in safe mode.
I uninstalled the ATI drivers. While they were uninstalled, no "dead pixel."
Then, Windows automatically installed its own ATI drivers. The "dead pixel" appears once that installation is finalized.
I have not installed the drivers from AMD.com or VisionTek yet.

Now what? Do I just have to reinstall Windows?
 
dangfx said:
OK...

No "dead pixel" in safe mode.
I uninstalled the ATI drivers. While they were uninstalled, no "dead pixel."
Then, Windows automatically installed its own ATI drivers. The "dead pixel" appears once that installation is finalized.
I have not installed the drivers from AMD.com or VisionTek yet.

Now what? Do I just have to reinstall Windows?
Click to expand...

If you've got a spare hard drive then you can do a fresh install of Windows on that and just load the drivers you need. That way you don't go reformatting your OS and have to load everything from scratch just for nothing.
 
dangfx said:
Even when the computer has logged in (at my desktop), the white pixel doesn't appear until AFTER about 15 seconds. That is to say, native res is running and up, just all of my processes are still loading. THEN the pixel appears (against a black background).
Click to expand...
Given this, my guess would be that it's the Catalyst Control Center. On a slower machine, you would expect the CCC to take about 15 seconds by the time you log in until the executable is loaded.
 
Might be a driver problem or when the card goes into 3d mode it causes those problems. It could be the ram on the videocard going bad. I had a card before that when you installed the drivers it would have a ton of pixel errors on screen and artifacts when just in desktop mode. The card was fine though when the windows default driver was installed though. Has to do when the driver is installed the driver ramps up the clocks and stresses the card more causing these artifacts. Make sure the contact between the gpu/ram and the heatsink are good. Anything is possible with age. Long periods of overheating can cause damage also.
 
Ajiki-kun said:
EDIT: Lol. Now that I think about it, I first thought it was a stuck pixel on my monitor, so I spent 30 minutes pushing on the damn thing trying to dislodge it. I'm really glad I stopped eventually before I dented the screen.
Click to expand...
I punched one of my monitors last night...There's a dent in the wall from the screen moving backwards when hit. I figured the monitor would be toast now...Nope, all is fine...go figure...Next time I'll punch harder I guess. ;)
P.S. I did punch it with enough force to remove skin on my knuckles and dent the wall behind the screen.
 
E^vol said:
I punched one of my monitors last night...There's a dent in the wall from the screen moving backwards when hit. I figured the monitor would be toast now...Nope, all is fine...go figure...Next time I'll punch harder I guess. ;)
P.S. I did punch it with enough force to remove skin on my knuckles and dent the wall behind the screen.
Click to expand...

You should seek help.
 
Not to de-rail to much but I have/had a friend who through his xbox controller through a brand new hd tv in 2005 (they werent cheap then) He's now in jail last I heard from battery. Just sayin...need to do something bout that anger!
 
pixels do not get die on GPUs.

They do get errors that will cause things to not render on the chip and or driver.

This happens when the sillicon omn GPU is about to die or the GPU is over heating if it is hotter in your house because of a hotter summer the GPU will overheat and will not when the room is cooler.l
 
sounds like a program is opening and leaving the anomaly

open the task manager and go down the list killing all of the processes until the pixel disappears
 
It would be funny to see that it's the wallpaper...
In any case it can't be the card, it would either always be visible (in safe more as well) or jump all over the place.
 
Well, definitely not the wallpaper...
I changed it, and it's still there.

ALSO:
Now, this morning, when I first turned on the computer (from sleep), the "pixel" was NOT there..... for a good 15 minutes! I wasn't using the machine, and it was just idle. But all drivers and processes had been loaded and running. Then, after a bit, it appeared. I am beginning to think this is a heat-connected issue...
 
SonicTron said:
sounds like a program is opening and leaving the anomaly

open the task manager and go down the list killing all of the processes until the pixel disappears
Click to expand...

Sound advice.

dangfx said:
Well, definitely not the wallpaper...
I changed it, and it's still there.

ALSO:
Now, this morning, when I first turned on the computer (from sleep), the "pixel" was NOT there..... for a good 15 minutes! I wasn't using the machine, and it was just idle. But all drivers and processes had been loaded and running. Then, after a bit, it appeared. I am beginning to think this is a heat-connected issue...
Click to expand...

It could still be an issue with the card's DACs. Some people have disputed that, but I've seen some pretty strange crap as a result of failing video cards. Though I'd agree this isn't a typical symptom. But if it isn't cables or monitors then that crap is getting into the image from somewhere.
 
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