Screen blanking out at random, vid card or monitor?

Once in a while at random, my monitor goes black for about 1 second, it
will usually happen twice within a couple of seconds and then wait 5-10
minutes and happen again. My first thought was the PS going bad but I
suspect that would cause lockups. Since the system isn't locking up I'm
afraid it might be my monitor. But could it be my vid card?

EVGA FX5900

The system is about 3.5 years old.


--
Mac Cool

'Mac Cool' wrote:
| Once in a while at random, my monitor goes black for about 1 second, it
| will usually happen twice within a couple of seconds and then wait 5-10
| minutes and happen again. My first thought was the PS going bad but I
| suspect that would cause lockups. Since the system isn't locking up I'm
| afraid it might be my monitor. But could it be my vid card?
|
| EVGA FX5900
|
| The system is about 3.5 years old.
_____

The simple way (and the ONLY way) to answer your question:
1. check the seating of the video card in the connector slot
2. check the seating of the connectors on the video cable
3. wiggle the video cable and check for a similar problem
4. if possible, try a known good video cable with your system and check for
similar problems
5. try a known good monitor with your system and check for similar problems
6. try a know good video card with your system and check for similar
problems
7. try your monitor with a known good system and check for similar problems
8. try your video card with a know good system and check for similar
problems

Any other answer is just a guess.

If you can't obtain the extra components, and connector problems are
eliminated, then you have two choices, take the system in for repair at a
reputable computer shop, or be prepared to replace one of the components,
only to discover that the other is the culprit.

There are clues that would be helpful, but you will have to describe those
extra symptoms exactly, this may help. But I would try the easiest tests
first.

Phil Weldon


"Mac Cool" wrote in message
...
| Once in a while at random, my monitor goes black for about 1 second, it
| will usually happen twice within a couple of seconds and then wait 5-10
| minutes and happen again. My first thought was the PS going bad but I
| suspect that would cause lockups. Since the system isn't locking up I'm
| afraid it might be my monitor. But could it be my vid card?
|
| EVGA FX5900
|
| The system is about 3.5 years old.
|
|
| --
| Mac Cool

The only easy way to diagnose the problem is to replace either the video
card or the monitor with a known working unit and see if that fixes it. You
are right in that it sounds like one of those two components is the problem.

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---------------------
DaveW
"Mac Cool" wrote in message
...
Once in a while at random, my monitor goes black for about 1 second, it
will usually happen twice within a couple of seconds and then wait 5-10
minutes and happen again. My first thought was the PS going bad but I
suspect that would cause lockups. Since the system isn't locking up I'm
afraid it might be my monitor. But could it be my vid card?

EVGA FX5900

The system is about 3.5 years old.


--
Mac Cool