Computer Help Needed

Kapitan_Phillips · 01-16-07, 05:14 PM

Calling anyone with computer knowledge - Urgent Message

My monitor keeps flickering, the power stays on constantly, but it flickers between being on and showing nothing but a black screen and mouse pointer, to "No Signal". I doubt its anything to do with refresh rates, as I havent messed with those. I think it may be the card, but it doesnt explain why its sporadic, i.e I had screen flickering before, but it seemed to fix itself

Do you have any ideas, or do I have to shell out another <expletive> hundred or so quid for a new graphics card?

Tchocky · 01-16-07, 05:18 PM

What kind of monitor? Age/Model?

Konovalov · 01-16-07, 05:19 PM

Is the monitor old and what type? Can you borrow a spare video card from somewhere to determine if it is the card?

Kapitan_Phillips · 01-16-07, 05:20 PM

I'm not actually sure which brand it is, but its an LCD, and has a label reading "TCO 99" on it, does that mean anything to you?

Konovalov · 01-16-07, 05:26 PM

TCO99 is just an industry certification for monitors.

Are the connections between your video card and monitor ok/connected properly?

Have you just bought this card?

Have you installed drivers?

Please give more info and history such as the card type and so forth?

Kapitan_Phillips · 01-16-07, 05:33 PM

Okay, I'll do it to the best of my knowledge:

The video card is about 2 years old, NVidia GeForce FX 5500 128 MB.

I had updated all the drivers, but I think that I tried the BETA ones. (However, they have been working fine till now)

The connections between computer and monitor are fine, (though I cant easily remove the plug due to those crappy damn screws that have plastic heads)

It blacked out when I was playing CoD2, and I suspect it may have overheated (which is why I'll try again tomorrow) as it slowed down first, then went poomf.

I have tried overclocking in the past, but had since RESET the values to default

_Seth_ · 01-16-07, 05:37 PM

Hi mate! Is there a patch on the back of the LCD with a name on (There has to be somewhere)?
IMHO, and due to my lack of LCD knowledge, could you try the monitor on another computer? If it dont work there, its the screen, and if it works, its the card.

Kapitan_Phillips · 01-16-07, 05:57 PM

As I said, its going to be hard, but I'll follow your advice if it doesnt work in the morning. It has those stupidass plastic screws on the plug, that bend and deform when you try to undo them with a screwdriver -_-

_Seth_ · 01-16-07, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

As I said, its going to be hard, but I'll follow your advice if it doesnt work in the morning. It has those stupidass plastic screws on the plug, that bend and deform when you try to undo them with a screwdriver -_-

Make sure that the tiny metal pins inside the socket isnt bendt (if there are any)... I broke some of those some years ago, and man, that was a pain.

Kapitan_Phillips · 01-17-07, 10:43 AM

So, the computer was taken in to the shop, and it'll have a few upgrades done to it. Chalk another one up to PC World

danlisa · 01-17-07, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

So, the computer was taken in to the shop, and it'll have a few upgrades done to it. Chalk another one up to PC World

I stay away from PC World (like the plague) for things like Desktops/Laptops. All their systems have the bare minimum resources to cope with the hardware inside the 'box'.

I found this out when I upgraded my GFX a couple of years ago, PSU burnt out & capacitors on the mobo all popped etc. Partly my fault for assuming things are upgrade friendly. Now, I use custom design PC's or even Ebay, which is where my current PC came from.

Good Luck.

Have they told you what's wrong?

Konovalov · 01-17-07, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

So, the computer was taken in to the shop, and it'll have a few upgrades done to it. Chalk another one up to PC World

Sorry that you haven't been able to resolve this problem. Curious to know what upgrades exactly they are going to do? :hmm:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Chalk another one up to PC World

PC World stinks.

Before I was fully confident with what was under the hood of my pc I took my computer there for a repair. Never again.

Edit: Just read what Danilisa posted. Such stories sound familiar.

STEED · 01-17-07, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Chalk another one up to PC World

PC World are you nuts.

They have a poor track record.

Take some very good advice they are part of the Dixon's group and they suck. Never, never do business with them.

Fish · 01-17-07, 01:13 PM

Philips, this prog should tell you what monitor you have. Works as a charm.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

SUBMAN1 · 01-17-07, 01:34 PM

If its not cable, then it sounds like a video card issue. I'd suspect monitor backlight was giving out, but you got the no signal onscreen. You need an x1950 Pro AGP anyway. I know two people that just bought the 512 MB Sapphire version and it made their AGP systems have some additional life. Costs about $250 if you can find it, but the card is so popular that it is frequently sold out.

-S

01-16-07, 05:14 PM	#1
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Computer Help Needed Calling anyone with computer knowledge - Urgent Message My monitor keeps flickering, the power stays on constantly, but it flickers between being on and showing nothing but a black screen and mouse pointer, to "No Signal". I doubt its anything to do with refresh rates, as I havent messed with those. I think it may be the card, but it doesnt explain why its sporadic, i.e I had screen flickering before, but it seemed to fix itself Do you have any ideas, or do I have to shell out another <expletive> hundred or so quid for a new graphics card? __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

01-16-07, 05:18 PM	#2
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	What kind of monitor? Age/Model? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

01-16-07, 05:19 PM	#3
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Is the monitor old and what type? Can you borrow a spare video card from somewhere to determine if it is the card? __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

01-16-07, 05:20 PM	#4
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	I'm not actually sure which brand it is, but its an LCD, and has a label reading "TCO 99" on it, does that mean anything to you? __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

01-16-07, 05:26 PM	#5
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	TCO99 is just an industry certification for monitors. Are the connections between your video card and monitor ok/connected properly? Have you just bought this card? Have you installed drivers? Please give more info and history such as the card type and so forth? __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

01-16-07, 05:33 PM	#6
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Okay, I'll do it to the best of my knowledge: The video card is about 2 years old, NVidia GeForce FX 5500 128 MB. I had updated all the drivers, but I think that I tried the BETA ones. (However, they have been working fine till now) The connections between computer and monitor are fine, (though I cant easily remove the plug due to those crappy damn screws that have plastic heads) It blacked out when I was playing CoD2, and I suspect it may have overheated (which is why I'll try again tomorrow) as it slowed down first, then went poomf. I have tried overclocking in the past, but had since RESET the values to default __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

01-16-07, 05:37 PM	#7
_Seth_ Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In Tromsoe, @Tirpitz' final resting place.. Posts: 3,277 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0	Hi mate! Is there a patch on the back of the LCD with a name on (There has to be somewhere)? IMHO, and due to my lack of LCD knowledge, could you try the monitor on another computer? If it dont work there, its the screen, and if it works, its the card. __________________

01-16-07, 05:57 PM	#8
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	As I said, its going to be hard, but I'll follow your advice if it doesnt work in the morning. It has those stupidass plastic screws on the plug, that bend and deform when you try to undo them with a screwdriver -_- __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

01-17-07, 10:43 AM	#10
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	So, the computer was taken in to the shop, and it'll have a few upgrades done to it. Chalk another one up to PC World __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

01-17-07, 01:13 PM	#14
Fish Eternal Patrol Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,923 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Philips, this prog should tell you what monitor you have. Works as a charm. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

01-17-07, 01:34 PM	#15
SUBMAN1 Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,866 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If its not cable, then it sounds like a video card issue. I'd suspect monitor backlight was giving out, but you got the no signal onscreen. You need an x1950 Pro AGP anyway. I know two people that just bought the 512 MB Sapphire version and it made their AGP systems have some additional life. Costs about $250 if you can find it, but the card is so popular that it is frequently sold out. -S __________________