Let me ask.

[gvstn]

I've been having graphics issues that are driving me crazy (suddenly go to black screen, blinking on and off). Now my main graphics card was an AMD PCIE. When that got unbearable, I put in an old PCI card (really slow, so I know I can't live with that.

The thing is that this old card that I had been using as a TV streaming thing (where you hook it up to your big screen tv and play movie files. Now it was slow on MKV files but the picture absolutely fine. Now this card is doing the exact thing.

It seems it might a motherboard issue. Could both PCI and PCIE slot go bad at the same time?

One other thing is that unplugging and clearing BIOS seems to bring it back for a few hours or a day.

I really don't have enough money to randomly order parts. It is looking more like a motherboard than graphics issue to me. It just seems like too much of a coincidence, both cards suddenly acting strangely (the AMD doesn't work at all any more so it could be genuinely bad). Any thoughts?

[Go Vols]

1. How often do you crack it open

and clean it?

I do it yearly/10 months and they last longer.


I say do a clean install and add any drivers you need, if not fixed in a day,then address hardware issues.

[gvstn]

2. Crack the video card open because I couldn't tell exactly the tool I need?

Some funny headed screws on there.

The computer itself is very clean. The case must have good filters but I did spray it with compressed air in case any dust was hidden.

I did Linux and got the same thing and sometimes the BIOS doesn't display correctly (or didn't with AMD card which why I think it might be beyond repair.

I'm just thinking with Cyber Monday coming up it might be a good time to try to figure this out. I was just reading that other thread and thought to myself maybe this is a motherboard problem rather than graphics card.

(Because BIOS and Linux display the same behaviour, I don't think it is drivers).

[Go Vols]

3. :)

you know computers,everything is clean and cool.I would say hardware issue.

I would attempt a clean install first after running DBAN,and go from there.

[gvstn]

4. Thanks for your help. I think towards a motherboard.

I only have this one with PCIE slots, otherwise I'd test the card in another computer. I know the PCI one works but I only run that computer a couple hours in the evening so it wouldn't be a great test. I think I'm going to look for motherboard deals this weekend. It just seems like too much of a coincidence that two cards act exactly the same way in this computer.

I think this motherboard is only a couple of years old but I may have got a bum one. We shall see. It's been three weeks of this stuff and I can't take it anymore.

Thanks again.

[Go Vols]

5. DBAN and a clean install cost nothing

its worth trying if you have the time.

[-none]

6. If you did Linux and it did the same thing, it is a hardware problem.

You said the computer was clean, but what about the power supply? Was it blown out? All computers are good air filters and collect dirt. Another reason to never use them on the floor.

One thing to try is to get some canned air and shake the can (yeah I know, it says not to), and spray various parts. Try to keep the frost down. If it starts working properly again, you have found the problem.

[gvstn]

7. I found why the AMD card went blank.

The fan had died.

I going to watch this old Nvidia display carefully and try to figure out if it just can't keep up or whether it still could be a motherboard problem. I just can't believe that two cards start acting up at the same time on this particular computer.

But a burnt out fan definitely explains the AMD one dying after three weeks of showing occasional artifacts.

I just did the canned air this morning and their was a tiny amount of dust behind the CPU but that was really it. I briefly sprayed the power supply but only in the case not from the back.

One of my case doors is a devil to get back on so I'll do the canned air again the next time I HAVE to open it.

Thanks for the advice.

[gvstn]

8. I switched to a VGA cable and everything is working fine for a week or so.

I'm ruling out motherboard and going with bad cable.

I still need a better graphics board. But with a new card and cable. I should be good.

Thanks for all suggestions and assistance

[Fantastic Anarchist]

9. What did you normally use before the VGA cable?

What's the status of your issue now? Is it fixed?

[gvstn]

10. Knock wood.

DVI cable. I never saw any difference between the digital and analog picture but I don't game.

still using the little 128/256/512mb card. It is giving me graphics without the blinking (for at least 10 days or so). Terribly underpowered but passable for browsing but won't play some movies smoothly.

I guessing it wasn't perfectly seated even though I had checked that about ten times before posting.

I've been very unwell and don't want to put in the effort of shopping for a new one. The way I feel, I may not need it.