Monitor/Video card problem

I am trying to determine what I need to do. My monitor will black our periodically, and only return if I turn it off, and then back on. Sometimes this will allow me 2 seconds of viewing time, and sometimes 10 minutes. I have a Sony VAIO desktop computer, and a Sony flatscreen, both about 3 years old. The screen will have a faint flicker to it as it goes black.

How do I know if this is a bad video card or monitor, or am I even on the right track?

 

Sounds more like a monitor issue than a video card problem.

The easiest way to find out would be to test the monitor on another computer system to see if that is the cause of the problem.

If it behaves the same on another system then it's definitely the monitor.