Screen just turns off.

Morning Major Geeks.

I have a small problem

My screen turns off at random times, and it is happening more and more.

Everything in the PC stays on, there are no sounds when it happens. And I have to wait 15-20 minutes before I can turn it on again.


Help needed.

This is my spec.


Asus Blitz Extreme Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLACR, 95W, S775, 2.40 GHz, 1066MHz

Paliat Nvidia GTX 480 GPU

Corsair 2GB DDR3 (2x1GB)
Crucial 4GB DDR3 (2x2GB)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB ST3500630AS SATA-II 16MB Cache

Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler

Samsung DVDRW Dual Layer

Thermaltake Toughpower Series Cable Management 1200w

 

Greetings, Drivetime.

What operating system and service pack # are you running?

By 'turning off', do you mean losing power, blank screen, rebooting or what? And, by 'turn(ing) it on again', how do you accomplish this?

Just trying to get a clearer picture of your symptoms - the only thing that really stands out is the '15-20 minutes', which may indicate an overheating problem, but any additional info you can provide will be helpful.

 

Does the power indicator light on the monitor stay on when this happens (even if it changes color to yellow)?

If the monitor itself is turning off (no power light) the issue is likely a bad power transformer. If you have an external power adapter for the monitor, it will be cheaper and easier to fix - good aftermarket ones can be found on eBay for about $10-$12. Internal power units on flat screens are harder to replace; don't attempt to do so unless you're sure of what you're doing. If it is an old CRT (picture tube) monitor DO NOT attempt to open it, even if unplugged - a serious electric shock hazard will still exist. If a CRT, it isn't worth fixing. Please dispose of it properly at a recycling center.

If the monitor power light stays on, Caliban has good points on troubleshooting. Since the PC itself is staying on, my inclination is an issue with the video card. If the video goes out sooner on a reboot where the PC is at full operating temp, it is likely the GPU is overheating. If this is the case, see if a friend has an old working video card to test in your PC and see if it solves the problem.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi Guys

Thanks for the advice so far.


The power light on the monitor turns off. The only way to get it back on is to power down the PC and wait a for a few minutes.

Its a flat screen with internal adapter.

The GPU stays on after the screen goes off. Also it does not happen just when the card is hot, so I am thinking gman is on to something. I'm gonna hook up another screen to test.

 

Not sure what brand/model of monitor you have; however you might want to check your warranty before you chuck it.

Some brands (incl. Samsung, LG & some Dells) have a three year mfr. warranty. If you paid for it using a major credit card, many cards automatically add an extra year warranty through the credit card issuer (if so, the details will be in the fine print brochure you received on the extras such as Rental Car Insurance or you can call the "800" number on your card to see if this applies).

If totally out of warranty, I would spring for a new monitor. Samsung is one of the best; Hannspree is one of the better budget brands. Look for one with a three year warranty on all parts and labor. Stay away from the cheap Acer and eMachines monitors - the pic quality isn't as good and you only get a one year warranty.

On the bright side, Black Friday cometh: You should be able to find a decent 22-23" for well under $200.

 

Got a LG flatty. Still in warranty, just need to find proof of purchase. Thanks

 

I feel your pain. When something breaks it seems I can find every receipt except for the one I need for the RMA. :banghead

If all else fails; LG may approve the RMA based on the serial # if the date of mfr. is under three years (I got lucky with the once on an LG DVD+RW drive but I can't guarantee it'll work with a monitor).

If you can remember the approximate date of purchase and where you bought it, many larger retailers (Fry's, Newegg, etc.) may be able to trace the purchase and give you a duplicate copy of the receipt. Online it may be possible using your e-mail or login ID; stores like Fry's can usually do it using the credit card you used to make the original purchase.

Hope this helps.

 

Yo!

Just to let you know I got LG to RMA my old screen. Was pretty simples, they did not even ask for proof of purchase.

Thanks for all your help.

 

Good job! Glad you're up and running, and thanks for the feedback. :major