Monitor turned off... randomly

C

corup7ion

Weaksauce
Joined
Apr 21, 2006
Messages
121
So let me get into this first. the light on my monitor is green when its on, yellow when its idle.

I was playing some WoW today, and my monitor suddenly went from green to yellow, even though the computer was still on. ( black screen). I figured my video card was loose, or a cable got loose. No. Even tried a different port. Anyone have any idea?

Also, it was pretty hot, but its always that hot year around... this happened before i believe. i couldn't do anything then suddenly a few hours later it worked again.

Is it my video card or what?
 
Need more details. What graphics card and what drivers? What OS, XP or Vista? There are a number of things, but lets get started with the base details of your machine and go from there. List out your computer's specs so we get an overall detail of what the system looks like.
 
4 gigs ddr2
8800GTS 640MB
Windows vista home premium..

Nvidia drivers.. work fine..
 
OK, you are using an 8800GTS 640 which is the older G80 series Nvidia card. You stated you shut down the machine and let it sit and later turned it on and it was fine. Sounds like you have a few possible issues:

1) Video card is overheating:
a) Take case panel off and put a room fan blowing in to the PC
b) Grab some compressed air and blow all your fans out including the graphics card fan. Dust can clog up working fans over time
c) With the machine off, remove and reseat graphics card and the power lead running to the card. Your GFX card could be sitting in the PCI-E slot but not seated properly due to bumping the case

2) Your monitor
a) Make sure your cables are secured properly
b) verify your game is running at a resolution your monitor supports
c) turn V-SYNC on in the game options

3) Power Supply
a) The hotter the ambient temp is in your room, the more power draw happens on the PSU

How hot is it getting in your room? Also, what are your temps like for both your CPU and GPU? You can use either MBM or CoreTemp for CPU, and use Nvidia's Control panel for the GPU temp.
 
Doh, Its a 550W. NZXT.

Let me clarify, after it crashed once, ( the screen) it doesnt turn on. it stays idle even when i restart the computer. I did everything there, even tested a different port. I figure i should let it cool down for a while?

I'd say its a good 85 degrees in my room. truthfully its like 70 outside but my computer warms my room to a toasty and almost unbearable heat.

I couldnt tell you the comps temperature at the moment, since I have no display.
 
And no one has asked yet what monitor or how old it is?

I had a similar issue once a few years ago, but then, the monitor was ancient and on its last legs. Bought new monitor, problem solved.

Do you have another monitor you can try?
 
Negative. its an acer. 1916 or something like that. LCD. It still works though. the Idle thing pops up the acer logo and everything.
 
My Acer ihas an AGP > DVI adapter to plug into the 8800, I tried 2 different adapters... no success... 2 different dvi slots, no success... power cycled the damn thing.. no success... just sitting on idle. Also plgged it into another computer so i assume it is the monitor.

It made my laptop switch to "Multiple Monitors" but its still a blank screen.

(But the screen works! the acer logo pops up whenever i first turn it on!

could it be the AGP cord?
 
You have to isolate the problem.

Borrow a working monitor and plug that in --- you'll have to play with it for awhile and see if you can replicate the issue. You can try replacing the graphics card if that doesn't work, although I'd use a card that uses the same unified driver as you currently use (ATI or nVidia).
 
Ill try plugging the monitor in on another computer. It just seems if the logo works, and the power works, it SHOULD STILL WORK. And i'm an idiot. VGA is what i mean... Is it possible my damn monitor is done for even though everything else works?
 
I narrowed it down a little. It's not the monitor. I plugged it into another computer with a standard VGA port, it worked perfectly.

It's either my video card or my motherboard? ( I did try 2 different slots, both failed)

Also, I took the video card out of it's port, and if you look at where you put it in, there are little golden line things (don't know the names for em), Well it looks like 1 if them has a little dent of it missing... (very small piece missing)

Is that normal? on the left side if you are plugging it in i believe.

If its my video card, am i just screwed? and do they stay on warranty for a while?
 
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