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Guest
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 Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: System Diagnosis - Hardware Issue |
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CPU: AMD Althon 2100+
RAM: Kingston 3x256MB PC3200
GPU: AGP 128MB NVidia GeForce 5200
Ok, well my computer recently started acting a bit strange. For the
past week or so I've been leaving my computer on, and for the past
couple of days, my computer has started to have some graphical problem.
I'm sure many of you know what it looks like when a computer looks
like it's changing resolutions and how the monitor goes black and a
click can be heard in the monitor and the screen comes back. Well, I'm
having that problem but it started out as periodic, then the frequency
of the events would get higher and higher. After about 7 or so
flickers of the monitor like it's changing resolutions the monitor will
go black and won't come back like the signal was lost. Right before
these episodes though, i would be typing, and my typing would stop, the
screen goes black, comes back, and then all the keys i would have typed
would happen all at once. Sometimes after the computer's monitor loses
signal and you leave it for a minute, the computer would reboot, or
attempt to, on its own.
I've already tried updating the drivers, i've download the latest
NVidia drivers and it seemed to have fixed the problem for the first
day. I've thought that the problem is most likely a bad graphics card,
but a friend told me that it could be that or the power supply. When he
said that i remember that the case i got came with a power supply, and
the reviews for that case said that the power supply on it only last
them for a couple of months, however this was about 2 years back and
still running on the same supply.
I could use some help or suggestions to try and further issolate the
problem so I know what I need to do.
Thanks,
Roger Fedor |
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Mister
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| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:50 am Post subject: Re: System Diagnosis - Hardware Issue |
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I would say it was the power supply, however, if you started leaving
it on, it could also be a heat issue.
Take the side of the case off for a day or two and see if the problem
continues, if it does it is a heat issue.
If that does not do anything, replace the power supply.
On 30 Aug 2006 19:49:00 -0700, rdfedor@gmail.com wrote:
| Quote: | CPU: AMD Althon 2100+
RAM: Kingston 3x256MB PC3200
GPU: AGP 128MB NVidia GeForce 5200
Ok, well my computer recently started acting a bit strange. For the
past week or so I've been leaving my computer on, and for the past
couple of days, my computer has started to have some graphical problem.
I'm sure many of you know what it looks like when a computer looks
like it's changing resolutions and how the monitor goes black and a
click can be heard in the monitor and the screen comes back. Well, I'm
having that problem but it started out as periodic, then the frequency
of the events would get higher and higher. After about 7 or so
flickers of the monitor like it's changing resolutions the monitor will
go black and won't come back like the signal was lost. Right before
these episodes though, i would be typing, and my typing would stop, the
screen goes black, comes back, and then all the keys i would have typed
would happen all at once. Sometimes after the computer's monitor loses
signal and you leave it for a minute, the computer would reboot, or
attempt to, on its own.
I've already tried updating the drivers, i've download the latest
NVidia drivers and it seemed to have fixed the problem for the first
day. I've thought that the problem is most likely a bad graphics card,
but a friend told me that it could be that or the power supply. When he
said that i remember that the case i got came with a power supply, and
the reviews for that case said that the power supply on it only last
them for a couple of months, however this was about 2 years back and
still running on the same supply.
I could use some help or suggestions to try and further issolate the
problem so I know what I need to do.
Thanks,
Roger Fedor |
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Liz
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: System Diagnosis - Hardware Issue |
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Have you tried a different monitor?
I had an HP with similar problems. I went to HP site and found that
there was an issue with certin monitors. The monitor had a bad
connection, and HP replaced it.
Fred the Ferret wrote:
| Quote: | On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:06:47 -0400
Mister <not_a_chance@this_email_address.com> wrote:
I would say it was the power supply, however, if you started leaving
it on, it could also be a heat issue.
I'd look at heat issues first.
Take the side of the case off for a day or two and see if the problem
continues, if it does it is a heat issue.
Unless I'm missing something, I don't follow the logic there at all.
The system case needs to be in place along with all blocking plates etc for
good airflow and the cooling fans to work. But taking off the side, how does
that diagnose anything?
Cooling in your system needs to deal with two main heat-sources: the cpu and
the graphics card. Look at the positioning of the graphics card first: is it
near other cards, or anything that could be blocking air flow around it? Can
the other cards be moved/rearranged to create better airflow? Are the IDE
ribbon cables positioned in a way likely to block good air flow around either
the video card or the cpu? Is the system case in a well ventilated place: does
the fan face a wall or dead-air space? Is the problem worse on heavy use (when
heat from the cpu/video card will increase rather than on idle), and worse on
graphics intensive work or just processor-intensive stuff?
The symptoms point to a heat problem, but it could be the psu: is the wattage
sufficient for the different devices you have installed? Have you added
anything new recently, new dvd drive, anything power hungry? Try disabling
other devices, or swapping the psu for one from a known-good system if you have
access to one.
It could be the graphics card. Can you swap it out for one from a known good
system? Does that improve things? (Although if it did, it could still be a heat
issue related to that card.)
It could even be a memory problem, so the advice:
If that does not do anything, replace the power supply.
is perhaps a bit simplistic. (Of course it could also be corect ;-) )
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Patty
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: System Diagnosis - Hardware Issue |
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On 31 Aug 2006 12:14:09 -0000, Fred the Ferret wrote:
| Quote: | On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:06:47 -0400
Mister <not_a_chance@this_email_address.com> wrote:
Take the side of the case off for a day or two and see if the problem
continues, if it does it is a heat issue.
Unless I'm missing something, I don't follow the logic there at all.
The system case needs to be in place along with all blocking plates etc for
good airflow and the cooling fans to work. But taking off the side, how does
that diagnose anything?
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It is a common practice to take the side off the case to test for temp
problems. This equalizes the temperature inside the case to the room
temperature, which is usually cooler. If the symptoms disappear with the
side off, then yes, it is a heat issue.
Most motherboards allow you to check temps in the BIOS, you could look
there or download a program such as speedfan to see what temps are reported
while you are running the system with the case closed. These temp readings,
however, can be affected by how well the motherboard sensor is making
contact with the component.
Perhaps the video card is running too hot. NVidia has a place in their
software that shows the temp the card is running at. You could have a look
there and see what temp is being reported.
Patty |
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