Screen Colour Dimmer And Some Black Flickering

I’ve started having display issues. I think my graphics card may be on it’s way out. It wouldn’t surprise me as the PC is eight years old now, but was well specced at the time and I’ve taken good care of it.

Colours
So, I noticed that colours on my monitor seem just a tad dimmer. Almost as if there is a slight cool filter applied over them. Playing Guild Wars 2, may of the colours appear as if either they are dodged or burned. They even seem just a touch grainer than they were before.

Flickering
The screen very very briefly flickers black for a moment when alt-tabbing between windows, but only when I haven’t switched views for a while. If I just sit there alt-tabbing constantly it’s fine.

This ultra-brief black flicker can be seen on certain UI elements too. For example, when I add a bookmark in Opera, the brief flicker is there behind the UI element. And sometimes web pages can sometimes be slow to appear, even though they’ve already loaded (hitting backpage for example).

And when the PC shuts down, there is a brief black flicker then back again, just before it shuts off.

Here’s what I’ve done
I tried a second monitor of exactly the same spec.
Played with all the settings on each monitor.
I tried a different extension lead plus new DVI cable and power lead.
I’ve plugged the DVI cable into the second GPU slot.
I’ve dusted out the PC with an air duster (it wasn’t that bad as I’m usually on top of this, and very careful when I do it).
I used GPU-Z to check the GPU temp which is fine.
I downloaded Novabench to benchmark my GPU. It got a score of 531 out of an average for that card of 564.
I’ve downloaded the AMD Radeon software and updated the drivers that it chooses. The software also seems to indicate that the card is functioning normally.
I’ve also tried adjusting the settings via the AMD software.

Notes

In game performance is still good (Guild wars 2). I get good FPS apart from areas with huge groups.
There are no artefacts or tearing in game. No stuttering either, even in large groups.
However, I have noticed that in certain areas, textures can be slow to load, but this is a common problem in the more recently designed areas of the game.
I did also have an issue during play where the screen went dark, but elements of the UI could still be pulled up. I had to force quit the game. This too is a known issue.
Video playback is also fine, with no stuttering.
On the AMD website, I couldn’t figure out what drivers to manually update from their list (it’s an old card), so I downloaded the tool.

PC Specs from Belarc Advisor

Windows 10 Home (x64) Version 1909 (build 18363.720)
3.60 gigahertz AMD FX -8150 Eight-Core
Board: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. M5A97 R2.0 Rev 1.xx
16314 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
AMD Radeon R9 200 / HD 7900 Series
Hanns.G HW191D [Monitor]
Display drivers are version 26.20.15029.15007

Yes it’s an old PC and an ancient monitor (both are) and I realise it may be time to upgrade. I can’t afford it though, so I want to try and keep going with this machine if possible. I’ll consider a GPU upgrade if necessary.

Any advice as to what might be happening would be appreciated. Many thanks for reading!

 

That is not normally a symptom of the graphics solution (card or integrated) failing - especially when using a digital video signal. That is typically a symptom of the monitor itself failing (or aging eyes!). But since you said you tried a 2nd monitor (always the first thing to try! ), then it would appear to be in the computer somewhere.

That said, I think it would be hard to qualify "a tad dimmer" with our naked eyes. More light coming through the window could make a monitor display appear "a tad dimmer".

Certain textures taking longer to load would seem to be a software problem, not hardware - and your comments about that being a known issue with that game would seem to confirm that.

I see (or don't see) you tried that card in a 2nd computer. That said, except for the flickering, I am not sure there is anything wrong - and it is hard to pinpoint the cause of flickering.

One thing to remember is EVERYTHING inside the computer depends on good, clean stable power. While this does not appear to be a power problem, as a hard ware guy, I always want to ensure I am supplying good, clean stable power whenever I troubleshoot potential HW issues. So if me, I would swap in a known good PSU to see what happens.

As you noted, your entire computer is getting on in years and while it appears to have served you well, I am not sure I would be willing to put much money into it. Your motherboard supports DDR3 RAM, for example. DDR4 is the current standard. So if you upgraded your RAM, you could not carry it forward to a new computer/motherboard. Same with an upgraded CPU.

If an entire new build is not in the foreseeable future (in which case, I would just recommend waiting until then), then I think I would look at upgrading the graphics card now. The good thing there is PCIe is not going away any time soon so a new graphics card will surely be compatible with a new motherboard in 2 or 3 years. So you could carry forward a new graphics card.

Just remember, graphics cards are often the most power hungry devices in our computers. So it is not uncommon to require a bigger power supply when upgrading the graphics solution. While I generally don't recommend buying components for a new computer piecemeal, getting a new PSU now (and before a new graphics card) might be something to consider. A new "quality" PSU now will (1) verify if your current supply is good - or the cause of your current problem, (2) prepare your computer for when/if you do upgrade the graphics card, and (3) can be carried forward into a new build in a year or two.

Even though you don't know what HW you will have in the end to properly size a new PSU today, you can probably get a good idea of the size you need by plugging in the potential components in to the eXtreme OuterVision PSU Calculator (the only PSU calculator I use and recommend). If you use components that you would get today if your budget allowed, the recommended size should be pretty close. If you increase CPU Utilization to 100% and Computer Utilization to 16 hours a day of gaming, the calculator will add a little more headroom. That will ensure you get a big enough supply and will also let it run a little cooler, thus quieter. Always a good thing (I hate fan noise).

Don't go overboard, though. Most computers use much less power than their users realize and so they end up with a PSU size that is way overkill. Most users could easily get by with 550W or less. Needing more than 650W is a rarity unless running with two graphics cards.

Regardless, get a good supply. You don't buy a new Porsche then fill it up at the corner Tobacco and Bait shop. I like EVGA SuperNova and Seasonic "Gold" supplies. You don't need Platinum or Titanium.

 

Thanks for the reply. My power supply is actually a CORSAIR 650W ENTHUSIAST SERIES™ TX650 V2-80 PLUS® BRONZE.

I have wondered about power issues too, that it could be the PSU.

LOL yeah I know, I keep saying 'it's nothing, it's fine, it's your eyes. but it's not, there's definitely an issue, albeit subtle. I can live with it, just want to be prepared if i can and to squeeze as much life out of this PC as possible as it still suits my needs fine.

I have been planning to manually uninstall the graphics drivers using DDU in safe mode then reinstall them with a previous version to see if that helps first. Annoyingly, AMD want to install Adrenaline software to do this, but I believe I can cancel the install and point Windows at the Radeon directory to pick up the drivers manually. I'm talking with them about it to see if there is a work around.

I will certainly consider the PSU as you have advised and also a replacement card that will be compatible with my ageing specs. Whatever is the least expensive and easiest to fit first.

Many thanks

 

The TX Bronze series from Corsair were considered pretty decent supplies. But that series has long been retired - attesting to its age. Sadly, there is no "conclusive" way for normal users to test a power supply. To properly and conclusively test a PSU, it must be tested under a variety of realistic "loads" then analyzed for excessive ripple and other anomalies that affect computer stability. This is done by a qualified technician using an oscilloscope or a dedicated power supply analyzer - sophisticated (and expensive!) electronic test equipment requiring special training to operate, and a basic knowledge of electronics theory to understand the results. Therefore, conclusively testing a power supply is done in properly equipped electronics repair facilities.

Some may suggest using a multimeter. Again that is not conclusive because again, properly testing a computer PSU must be done under a variety of realistic loads. Plus, most multimeters don't test for ripple.

So swapping in a known good supply is a tried and true method of troubleshooting used for years, even by pros.

Compatibility is not really a problem since PCIe is forwards and backwards compatible. You might have a problem if the new graphics card requires an additional, direct power connector as many new cards do, and your current supply does not have one. But again, if me, I would consider getting a new PSU first anyway for the 3 reasons I gave above. It will surely have the necessary power connectors.

 

Thank-you. I'll get on this at some point soon. In lock down here as many are, so I'm taking the opportunity to get out in the garden whilst the sun shines. It will rain soon enough so I'll save mucking about with the computer till that happens.