Computer video shutting off
 

So my brothers computer has been having this same problem for a year now and we havent tracked down the issue.

System:
Motherboard:Epox EP-8KDA3+ PRO
Processor: Athlon 3400+
Ram: 1 Gig Kingston
HD: 120gb Sata HD
PSU: Raidmax 400w psu
Video: PNY Nvidia 6800 GT 256mb AGP
Let me know any other specs you need.

Here is what is happening:
We will be playing a game and the monitor will go blank and say there is no signal. but the computer stays on and running. And you half to restart the computer to get the video back. We tried running 3dmark to have it bluescreen us.

Here is what we have tried:
We have tried replacing motherboards
We have tried replacing ram
We have tried replacing Video Cards
We have tried replacing PSU

I have no idea what to try next. It is not a software issue. we have reinstalled windows multiable times. Any suggestions would be great.

I tried running 3dmark

replace the minitor.

Is it always the same game? The same point in the game? Have you checked to make sure your computer meets the minimum specs for the game? You say you've reinstalled Windows. Have you checked to make sure Windows has the right drivers for your video card, and the most up-to-date versions of those drivers?

Might be a heat problem. Usually that's what it is when your computer shutsdown while doing something intensive (like gaming or running 3dmark). If your motherboad bios supports it check the tempature after it resets to see if it's beyond the limits.

You're sure the refresh rate in the game isn't sending your monitor into the weeds? Check vertical refresh Hz from Windows' desktop properties vs. the game resolution and refresh settings. Games often set their own refresh rate which can send your monitor into self-protection mode. If exiting the game (via memorized key sequence) instantly brings the video back I'd definitely suspect this is the problem.

I do not think its a monitor issue.

And i also do not think its a heat issue because when it restarts the temps are no higher than 54c.

And i dont think its a game issue sending the wrong refresh. It does not go blank as soon as u open the games. it goes blank in the middle of them. I dont think the game changes refresh rate in the middle of it.

Also we have had it do it just in windows. While it is doing something that takes alot of resourses.

I asked around alittle bit and they said they though it was a HD issue. I have no idea how a HD could cause this but hell i will try anything. So i am copying my files onto a diffrent HD and tring that.

Personaly i believe it to be a processor problem. that is the only part beside the HD i have not changed out. And it seemes to mess up evertime to do something that takes alot of processor. If i had a nother 754 processor id try it. But i dont.

What exactly is the monitor?

viewsonic 190f

I'm not a PC tech - but I'd be suspecting overheating on the graphics card.

Then again, I have seen glitches in games. Depends though on whether you have this in multiple games or just one.

Another idea, and I don't know how reasonable this is, is a power glitch. I've an old box - but I hear those new cards use a lot of juice. I'm theorizing that you could max the supply just enough to glitch the card, during peak moments. Can't think of any easy way to check that really, so I suggest looking into cooling options first.

I don't see any 190s in their list. Could it be E90f? CRT or LCD?

Anyway, if your settings are at the monitor's limit it could do what you describe semi-randomly. It may be that monitor has an issue that makes it slightly less capable than the spec. What are your resolution and refresh settings? Have you tried dropping them to see if there's an improvement in behavior? Best absolute test would be as Dilbert suggested. Exchange temporarily with someone else and see if the problem moves.

Not to be stubborn, but you've pretty much eliminated everything else.

As for the processor, depends what you mean by "stays on and running." I took that to mean it responds as you might expect a normal system would to keypresses and such besides your not being able to see anything. If it's just making fan/HD noise but is otherwise locked then you could be on the right track.

I had the exact same problem - my solution was to replace the video card. For me, it happened in multiple games.

ok lets look back at what Smackre said. The screen says lost signal, but the computer stays running, while it is running, does the sound keep playing in the game; can you shoot a gun and still hear the gun fire? If the GPU was overheating, you would first see some artifacting, and then the system would lock up, the sound would begin to loop the last quarter second and it would continue to loop until it is reset. I have a lot of experience with overheating video cards, my geforce 3 ti200 overheated allot (crapy heat sink design), my 9800 pro overheated as well (passive heat sink and a hot case) and currently the top 6800 ultra in my SLI rig overheats unless I remember to turn on the extra fan I mounted.

Next time it happens, try unplugging the monitor, turning the monitor off, and then plugging it back in and turning the monitor back on. Or try swaping your 2 monitors for a week and see if it still happens.

Well i started working on it alittle more today. I reset bios settings. Then loaded windows to just have it bluescreen afew min's after windows loaded. So i reboot and this time it stays on forawhile. So i load 3dmark2006. It goes threw the graphic tests and moves onto the cpu tests. i dont know if this is normal. but it was running 0FPS on the cpu tests. Should a 3400+ be running 0 FPS?

My brother wants to take it up to bestbuy and have them run there tests on it. i have no idea if this will find out the problem or not. i hope it does because frankly its got me pissed off.

Afew friends of hes told him a Hd could cause this problem. but i have no idea how a HD could cause the video to shut off. Yes it could cuase the bluescreens. but not the video shutting off.

Here is the message the bluescreen is saying evertime:
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

You even changed the RAM? Try updating the BIOS then.

The PSUs that you traded out...they all the same size?

I've had a couple of computers over the years pop up that damned error message and diagnosing it is never easy. Since you've said you've already swapped out the most likely of offenders....

The only two things I can think of that haven't already been mentioned is an IRQ conflict (it happens...) and an inadequate power supply. The fact that you said the system has a tendency to lock up under CPU intensive stuff leads me to advise trading out the 400w for something bigger (that is...unless you already have, which case I'll just sit here quietly looking like an idiot :suave: ). You've got some serious stuff in that case and, again, I'm no expert on PSUs, but it seems 400w is a bit on the small side anyway.

Good luck

Well we have a 400w in it now. But b4 we had a 550w Thermaltake psu in it. so i dont think it to be a psu issue. i mean what are the chances of having 2 diffrent bad psu's.

well the little sensor on the motherboard is saying FF.
Which in the manual mean 1 of these 4 things:
1.bios chip inserted incorrectly
2.incorrect bios update verison
3.mainboard problem
4.add-on card inserted incorrectly

can you elaborate on this?

Also 54 C is a bit hot for after a reset, can you run the system with out the case on and get an extra fan or 2 to help cool it down. I still think it is the monitor, but 54C is a bit high for after a crash.

if it was the monitor then why is it bluescreening almost ever time i try and run 3dmark06. and why is the motherboard throwing errors at me. the case has alot of fans in it. well today not once has the video just quit on me. but it has bluescreened a good 50 times. keeps throwing the same bluescreen at me. we took it to the geek squad people at best buy. they told us the same thing as the dam motherboard manual told us.

I truly think its the processor malfunctioning. he is going to order a new one and see what happens. Any suggestions for a good processor for a gaming system. Hes motherboard is a Epox 8KDA3+ Pro

http://www.epox.com.tw/eng/products_content.php?ps=343

Right now hes running a 3400+ i believe.

Keep in mind people are trying to help. We don't have all the information, hence questions. We're curious about if the system is still functioning beyond video or if blanked video also means it's crashing. However, it does sound like your system has issues beyond the blank screen. Can you give us the rest of the error? Toward the end of the bluescreen. Something like:

STOP: 0X000000D1 (0X00000000, 0X00000000, 0X00000000, 0X00000000)

BLAH.SYS Address ffffffff base at ffffffff, Date Stamp ffffffff

You could have a dead driver, pagefile, or the error is pointing to bad hardware. If we know the rest we might help track it down.

you did not say it was blue screening when you ran 3dmark, you said you tried running 3dmark to have it blue screen.

If you had said to begin with that it was blue screening on you, that would have helped. As cyrnel said, if you can get the error code from the blue screen that would help a great deal. As for it being the monitor, now that i know it is blue screening, then no, it is doubtfully the monitor.

its funny how stressful something like this can be. after work today i will try and get more of the bluescreen error.

The IRQL bluescreen error is a driver issue. Basically a command that was supposed to be sent to one piece of hardware, was sent to the wrong one, due to the driver telling it to do so. I know SoundBlaster Live! cards had this problem with one of their drivers a while back, but it honestly could be any device. I would suspect the sound, or video driver to be the most suspicious, since they are the only ones that really affect your machine at the run-level low enough to cause this sort of error. Upgrade those 2 drivers and see how it does.

Your suspicion of the processor is valid as well, since if a logic gate fails to write, all the data it outputs afterwards is garbage, which could easily cause the same error. Try running a window fan blowing into the case while you play a game to see if you at least get a longer play time, it will help troubleshoot if it is heat-related (because as mentioned, 54c is actually pretty hot after a reboot). If you are savvy enough, you could also go into the bios and raise the Voltage Core in the processor BY ONLY ONE TICK (if your BIOS has any overclocking). This will help the processor in cases of voltage loss, but makes it run hotter than it normally would, so do this with caution.

Sorry i havnt updated. ive been working long days. just got off a 14 hour shift. We just ordered 2 new cnc machines are work and we have been getting the building ready for there arrival in july. so havent had time to update. i will try and update asap.

Even though I think everyone has covered most of the bases for possible troubleshooting tips, I wanted to throw out an idea or two. Hopefully I won't get to repetitive.

1. Update all of the drivers, for every component in the box. (i.e. sound card, video card, NIC, Chipset, all add-in components) it can't hurt to keep these things updated regardless.

2. Update the firmware for all of your hardware in the box as well. Again, it can't hurt to have the latest and greatest when new programming can give your old hardware a bit of a boost.

3. You talked about coping files over to a new hard drive.. not sure how you went about putting the new drive in, but I recommend installing the OS from scratch, and only loading the bare minimum, including drivers, the benchmarking utility, as well as maybe one graphic intensive game. Then run your tests.

4. I know this might sound ridiculous, and I'm sure you have already looked. but if not, check the event log. Maybe there are some signs in there.. (I know, who uses the event log right?! ya never know :p )

5. It might be a motherboard issue, and not a processor issue. Have you looked around the motherboard for any areas that may look burned or charred? Make sure to pay special attention to and around the mobo's capacitors. I've had a machine or two that had bad capacitors and those will always create odd problems that can appear as failed components.

Did you have these problems off the bat? Or had you built the machine and the problems crept up over time?

Best of luck! Let us know if you ever find the culprit.

J