Monitor Blackouts

[MinatoArisato]

It's like it sounds, except it most commonly occurs while playing Warcraft III.

I've seen plenty of blackout threads, but none that fit my description all together, so i've decided to make a thread for it.

I will be mid game, or rarely mid doing something in general, and the screen will freeze up. Sometimes flash to a pile of coloured lines for a quick second. And most of the time switch to a permenent black screen, where any keyboard or mouse motions have no effect on what actually might be going on.

Except in reality I'm actually lagging out of the game, but what's more curious is, I can still hear my winamp music playing in the background just fine. Though I've lost all control until I manually reset the computer.

There has been a few times that the monitor has RECOVERED from this state by flashing to the stream of colours, then back to the Warcraft III window and everything just fine.

I've switched to windowed mode recently, though it did happen before. I think from my experience it's more common now than it was.

Specificsisplay Adaptors: RADEON X600/X550 Series
RADEON X600/X550 Series Secondary
I updated the drivers yesterday as X600 I think. ^That's from Device Manager.

I have an ADi Microscan monitor, No telling how old it is or if it's bucket kicking ready.

Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
3.00GHz, 512 MB of RAM

 

[goombawaho]

If you've updated the drivers and it continues to happen, it sound more like a video card that is dieing to me than the monitor. I've seen those lines on laptops and it was the video card that needed to be replaced both times.

Can you borrow a video card from someone or buy a really cheap PCI video card that would just be for testing?

 

[MinatoArisato]

Most likely not given my current financial situation. I more or less want to figure it out in advance so I can put away money for it.

 

[wahnula]

My thoughts would be to try and eliminate one or the other, either the video card or the monitor. I will admit that this does sound like a videocard problem, as usually when a CRT monitor goes bad it makes some sort of buzzing or crackling sound.

It could also be the videocard heating up, shutting down, then cooling off & coming back on. Try running the PC with the side of the case open.

Any chance of borrowing a different monitor to troubleshoot?

My guess (and only a guess) would be 75% vidcard, 25% monitor.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[goombawaho]

You can't purchase the correct replacement item (which would waste your money) if you don't have the correct diagnosis!!!!

Beg, borrow or steal either a temporary video card and/or monitor to make the diagnosis CORRECTLY before you order anything.

 

[MinatoArisato]

The Monitor did produce a crackling sound for awhile, that seemed to come from the back cord.

 

[goombawaho]

Not a definitive test or observation. If you don't want to troubleshoot properly, buy both a monitor AND a video card - problem solved, but more money spent.

 

[G0AOZ]

The Monitor did produce a crackling sound for awhile, that seemed to come from the back cord."

The "back cord" most likely to produce a crackling sound would be the mains power lead. For safety's sake, I'd get this monitor checked out by a professional if you're not going to consign it to the rubbish bin! Arcing power cables can lead at best to a burnt out fuse or power cable, and at worst a catastrophic fire. Do yourself and those around you a favour and get it checked...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

Go to ebay or craigslist for your area and buy something(monitor and or video card) cheap that will work. If that fixes your problem then you can save the money and buy a better one (monitor or card) at a later time. keep the ones from ebay as troubleshooting tools and be done with it.

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!