Black screens and random resets

Roadjull · 03-16-2005, 02:03 PM

Ok. I'm not 100% sure that this is the place to put this thread. If I was sure as to where this belongs I probably wouldn't need help.
The problem started about a month ago. I own a system composed of an Asus A7N8X-D, with a 2600+@2200Mhz, 512 RAM, Leadtek Ti4600 and 2 WD HDD (40, 80). I usually leave my computer running 24/7. Since a month ago I started finding it @ login screen in Win XP once in a while. I didn't think much of it, as I blamed it on power outages (frequent at the time).
But then, about 2 weeks ago, it started reseting while I was working or playing on it. No BSODs, no "system has recovered from a serious error", no anything. It just went to black screen, monitor went in stand-by and after a few seconds it would reset. Hdd was working while it did this.
I am playing a lot of World of Warcraft atm, and that's where it agravated. It would go in black-screen at random intervals, then the monitor would go to stand-by then it would reset (sometimes by itself, sometimes I had to do it) After reset it could either work fine for a while (most of the time when it was left shut for a few minutes) or just go black @ windows logo screen.
A week ago it got worse. It now goes into black-screen 98% of the time @ windows logo. The other 2% it boots ok, reaches desktop and then dies.
First I thought it was a power supply issue. I own a 430 w Antec True Power. So I took out all the ROM's and supplementary cooling fans and gave it a go. Same thing. Then I thought maybe the O/C was dealing damage to temeprature levels. So I reset everything to default in BIOS and opened the case door for better airflow but that didn't work either. Then I thought my Leadtek Ti4600 has finally succumbed, so I took that one out and placed it in my other comp (pentium 4 @ 2,4). To my surprise, it worked just fine, no problems whatsoever. I then took the video board that was on the Pentium 4 system and put it in the Asus MB. The result was that I got artifacts, screen freezes @ windows logo etc
My conclusion was that the MB was the culprit... prolly AGP slot issue of some sort.

And just as I was about to buy a 939 socket board and switch to 64, the pentium 4 system which still had the Ti4600 inside did the same act. Same black screens, same stand-by issues. To top it off it now displayed artifacts. With my stress levels reaching sky-high I borrowed a 6600 GT from a friend. I installed it first on the Asus A7N8X system. Same black screens, same everything. I even got a black screen while changing master-slave settings in BIOS :|
Then I placed it in the pentium 4 system and it works fine over there as we speak. I should mention that I never changed the monitor. Kept on both systems. It's a Sony E430.

Also, both systems are running Win XP Pro, are up to date in regard to drivers and BIOS updates and both are trojan and virus free.

Any ideas as what to do to the Asus system? Please help.

dai · 03-18-2005, 03:15 PM

underpowered

Roadjull · 03-25-2005, 12:16 AM

Ok. I took some stuff apart and found something interesting... I think. The ATX power connector belonging to the 430 W Power source has 3 pins that have the plastic around them fried. The plastic appears brown as the normal colour is white. I'm really no expert, so I'm asking you... could this be related to the problem affecting my computer?

Thx.

JustJim · 03-25-2005, 05:37 AM

Something on the board is drawing too much amperage. You will eventually ruin the power supply. I had the same thing and replaced the board. Stopped the problems and stopped the color change on the power connector to the board.

**waffleweed** · 03-25-2005, 05:55 PM

hey roadjull i had the exact same problem. to cut it to the chase i did testing on other computer components thinking that they were the problem but it turns out to be the power supply. when i took the power cord out, i notice that 4 out of the 20 pin plastic cases were fried.

thank god i had another antec 350watts spare power supply and now my system is working fine. sucks though i really liked my antec 450watts SL power supply. i didnt even leave my computer on for 24/7.

oh well.

03-16-2005, 02:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Roadjull Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Black screens and random resets Ok. I'm not 100% sure that this is the place to put this thread. If I was sure as to where this belongs I probably wouldn't need help. The problem started about a month ago. I own a system composed of an Asus A7N8X-D, with a 2600+@2200Mhz, 512 RAM, Leadtek Ti4600 and 2 WD HDD (40, 80). I usually leave my computer running 24/7. Since a month ago I started finding it @ login screen in Win XP once in a while. I didn't think much of it, as I blamed it on power outages (frequent at the time). But then, about 2 weeks ago, it started reseting while I was working or playing on it. No BSODs, no "system has recovered from a serious error", no anything. It just went to black screen, monitor went in stand-by and after a few seconds it would reset. Hdd was working while it did this. I am playing a lot of World of Warcraft atm, and that's where it agravated. It would go in black-screen at random intervals, then the monitor would go to stand-by then it would reset (sometimes by itself, sometimes I had to do it) After reset it could either work fine for a while (most of the time when it was left shut for a few minutes) or just go black @ windows logo screen. A week ago it got worse. It now goes into black-screen 98% of the time @ windows logo. The other 2% it boots ok, reaches desktop and then dies. First I thought it was a power supply issue. I own a 430 w Antec True Power. So I took out all the ROM's and supplementary cooling fans and gave it a go. Same thing. Then I thought maybe the O/C was dealing damage to temeprature levels. So I reset everything to default in BIOS and opened the case door for better airflow but that didn't work either. Then I thought my Leadtek Ti4600 has finally succumbed, so I took that one out and placed it in my other comp (pentium 4 @ 2,4). To my surprise, it worked just fine, no problems whatsoever. I then took the video board that was on the Pentium 4 system and put it in the Asus MB. The result was that I got artifacts, screen freezes @ windows logo etc My conclusion was that the MB was the culprit... prolly AGP slot issue of some sort. And just as I was about to buy a 939 socket board and switch to 64, the pentium 4 system which still had the Ti4600 inside did the same act. Same black screens, same stand-by issues. To top it off it now displayed artifacts. With my stress levels reaching sky-high I borrowed a 6600 GT from a friend. I installed it first on the Asus A7N8X system. Same black screens, same everything. I even got a black screen while changing master-slave settings in BIOS :\| Then I placed it in the pentium 4 system and it works fine over there as we speak. I should mention that I never changed the monitor. Kept on both systems. It's a Sony E430. Also, both systems are running Win XP Pro, are up to date in regard to drivers and BIOS updates and both are trojan and virus free. Any ideas as what to do to the Asus system? Please help. Last edited by Roadjull; 03-16-2005 at 02:11 PM.

03-18-2005, 03:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,577 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	underpowered

03-25-2005, 12:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
Roadjull Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Ok. I took some stuff apart and found something interesting... I think. The ATX power connector belonging to the 430 W Power source has 3 pins that have the plastic around them fried. The plastic appears brown as the normal colour is white. I'm really no expert, so I'm asking you... could this be related to the problem affecting my computer? Thx.

03-25-2005, 05:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
JustJim Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 21 OS: 98SE	Something on the board is drawing too much amperage. You will eventually ruin the power supply. I had the same thing and replaced the board. Stopped the problems and stopped the color change on the power connector to the board.

03-25-2005, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
waffleweed Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 629 OS: winxp	hey roadjull i had the exact same problem. to cut it to the chase i did testing on other computer components thinking that they were the problem but it turns out to be the power supply. when i took the power cord out, i notice that 4 out of the 20 pin plastic cases were fried. thank god i had another antec 350watts spare power supply and now my system is working fine. sucks though i really liked my antec 450watts SL power supply. i didnt even leave my computer on for 24/7. oh well.