Video going out

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Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
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248
Not sure where this belongs. Please move accordingly.

Monitor: Viewsonic VX724 LCD
Video Card: Geforce 6800 128MB

I had this problem awhile back, it went away for a good while, but now it's come back. It seems while under heavy graphic stress (ie watching a DVD, playing a game, etc) my video goes out. The monitor lights remain on, but the screen goes completely black and it's not like a black image being cast on the screen... it looks like the screen does when the power is cut to it. My first guess was something was overheating, but I checked temps and here is what I found... (using MBM 5)

Case: 75F
CPU: 102F
GPU: 47C / Ambient 31C

In the nvidia settings the 'core slowdown threshold' is set to 127c. I enabled alarms in MBM5 and will leave it running. This also happens in Ubuntu, which is my primary OS.
 
Maybe this wasn't the correct forum to post in? I really could use some advice on this one.
 
Sounds like a possible driver issue, or overheating - but those temps look fine (assuming that MBM 5 is reporting accurately). So, my money is on the drivers. Good luck ;)
 
The problem with that is, it does this both in Windows and Linux. But I will switch drivers anyway. I think the temps look fine too, even to the touch the heatsinks feel cool.
 
Your power supply, how many watts, how many Ampere on 12v?
If you got around 300w it might not be enough and if it is a generic no-name power supply it could be even worse.

Your refresh rate settings, check so it is set to 60hz or 75hz if your screen use 75hz.
 
Check the graphics card fan. Leave the side of your pc open, and start playing a game or dvd. Check the fan periodically before the failure to see if the fan stops. I've had this issue before where the fan just stops, but temps look normal. Also check the processor fan. Other than that, it could be the graphics card starting to take a crap, or the mobo. Run some diagnostics like memtest as well.
 
We'll it hasn't occurred since I make this thread. But I don't think it's the fans. I need a new CPU Fan anyway, the thing makes all kinds of racket, but according to MBM it's performing fine and temps are normal. The video card fan looks to be running fine, but I don't think I checked it when the lockups occur, I just checked the temps and they looked ok, so I assumed it wasn't the fan. Thanks for the suggestions all, but until the problem reoccurs I won't bother with it.
 
I'll change that CPU fan ASAP if I was you, when it starts to make funny noises it could give up any time and there's no guaranty the computer will shut down before some serious damage is done.

About your problem. It doesn't have to be your graphics card, It could just as easily be something else.
Have been working a bit with computer service and seen this happen for a number of reasons.
Most common is a bad power supply but that doesn't seem to be your problem.
Next is windows, number of ways it can get screwed up so a total format and reinstall might be something to consider.
Sound card and sound drivers. Seen them screw up computers to no end. Try to get the newest drivers and see if that helps, problem is that old sound drivers are a bitch to get rid of compleatly and they can still mess up your computer.
Heat is always an issue and not only for CPU or graphis card, motherboard chipsets can get very hot and the volt regulators around the CPU wouldn't mind some cold air.
Memory is another thing that can mess things up for you.

Hope this gives you some ideas where to start looking.
 
Big discovery. I noticed the fan on the northbidge isn't moving at all, it has died completely. I can't even movie it with my finger. So I will be replacing these fans soon and hopefully that is the cause of this problem. It happened again lastnight, but I wasn't in the mood to go cracking the case open and looking.


I'll take any recommendations on a cheap CPU/NB fan set too. Must be SUPER cheap as I am a poor poor college student.

Thanks all.
 
redhate said:
Big discovery. I noticed the fan on the northbidge isn't moving at all, it has died completely. I can't even movie it with my finger. So I will be replacing these fans soon and hopefully that is the cause of this problem. It happened again lastnight, but I wasn't in the mood to go cracking the case open and looking.


I'll take any recommendations on a cheap CPU/NB fan set too. Must be SUPER cheap as I am a poor poor college student.

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

Ive had a similar thing happen to me 3 times now, with my new 7600 which ive been using since xmas, i cant seem to isolate it to any one thing but it has always happened while stressing the graphics card in some manner. I reseated the card and it seems to have went away. It would be nice to be able to reproduce this issue on any type of regularity. Im pretty sure whatever issue we have is the same. Interestingly my northbridge is passively cooled. IM guessing that heat on the north bridge could possibly be an issue but just not sure. Mine doesnt get very hot so who knows.
 
redhate said:
I'll take any recommendations on a cheap CPU/NB fan set too. Must be SUPER cheap as I am a poor poor college student.
Click to expand...

Depending on your case and where the NB is on the mobo, you may be able to use a Zalman NB heatsink. It just depends on airflow. For example, in one of my P180 cases, I don't have fan installed in front. However, there's plenty of airflow coming off of the vidcard's flower heatsink/fan to keep it cool. My other P180 does have the front fan, so it's even better. My NBs run fairly cool.
 
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