Major Display Problem

MCTom · 06-23-2007, 05:43 AM

Ok guys I really need some help as I have absolutely no idea what's going on here but I will try and explain it as best I can. (I hope this is in the right section but it seemed most appropriate)

Fairly recently my computer has started making a high pitched noise most of the time, it sounds as if it could be coming from something spinning or just coming out through the fan hole as the noise is slightly intermittent but pretty much constant, it also seems to stop sometimes when the screen goes black before running a full screen program or game. I thought that this could be something physical trapped inside the fan or something however I have opened up the computer and removed all the dust, checked that the fan spins freely and checked for blockages and none seem to be there.

Now is the main problem, quite often the screen will just go black for no reason and stay like that whilst the monitor still says that it is recieving signal, if I turn the monitor off and on again the screen comes back but will disappear again within around 10 seconds, after doing this several times it will stop for up to around 20-30 minutes before doing it again. Nothing I do seems to cause or stop this as it happens whatever I am doing. Now, the fact that turning the monitor on and off brings the screen back I would have thought meant that it was a problem with the monitor however when the screen goes black the high pitched buzzing stops and then instantly restarts when the monitor picture is back on, the buzzing even stops when the monitor is blank due to this but still switched on. (when I turn the monitor off I see a flash of the screen if that helps).

Any advice on what to do to fix this, or whether its just parts of my computer breaking beyond repair, would be great, thanks

**manic** · 06-23-2007, 05:49 AM

Sounds like video card. You may try replacing fan on video card. It may or
may not be to late. If you have a spare laying around you may use it and
see if problem goes away.

MCTom · 06-23-2007, 06:10 AM

Thanks for the advice, I thought it probably was, the problem is that a. I don't have a spare 3D card to test with, and b. my graphics card doesn't actually seem to have a fan on it which can't help much.

**manic** · 06-23-2007, 06:27 AM

Whats making the buzzing sound coming out of the case then?
Is it the fan on your cpu heatsink, or another fan. I thought you
mentioned that the noise was coming from case. You may try
opening up the tower, get a house fan and cooling down the
pc and see if that helps. If its the monitor buzzing and acting wierd
it may be monitor.

MCTom · 06-23-2007, 06:49 AM

Thats the problem, I can't hear where the buzzing is from, it's coming from inside the case but beyond that I can't tell where it's from.

Houndog777 · 06-23-2007, 07:15 AM

Hi, is this a vibrating noise?
If it is, then remove your video card and reinsert it. Tighten the retaining screw at the back properly. Do the same with any pci cards you have.
Now check all the screws inside and outside of the case are tight.
Do not over-tighten, especially the motherboard ones.

Check that none of your spare cables/connectors are stuck in between anything.

If you're still getting the noise unplug everything and start your pc with only the processor and memory. If still noisy, it will be the heatsink & fan or power supply fan.

(I'm actually having a similar problem myself. My noise is like a very quiet washing machine and it's very, very annoying!)

MCTom · 06-23-2007, 07:19 AM

Yup, sounds like I have the same sound as you, kinda sounds like a washing machine from a long way away, not really a vibration sound. All I can think is that something IS loose somewhere and maybe occasionally makes a dodgy connection, which is why the screen will randomly cut out without any real reason.

Houndog777 · 06-23-2007, 07:23 AM

I'll get back to you when I've fixed mine.

Houndog777 · 06-23-2007, 01:46 PM

Hi, my noise is gone.
I unclipped the processor HSFan, (did not remove it) and clipped it in again.
Cleaned the heatsink with a cotton bud, and the fan with my fingers.
Checked all the mobo screws were tight.
That was it.

MCTom · 06-24-2007, 04:00 AM

Cool, thanks, I'll try them :)

06-23-2007, 05:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
MCTom Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Major Display Problem Ok guys I really need some help as I have absolutely no idea what's going on here but I will try and explain it as best I can. (I hope this is in the right section but it seemed most appropriate) Fairly recently my computer has started making a high pitched noise most of the time, it sounds as if it could be coming from something spinning or just coming out through the fan hole as the noise is slightly intermittent but pretty much constant, it also seems to stop sometimes when the screen goes black before running a full screen program or game. I thought that this could be something physical trapped inside the fan or something however I have opened up the computer and removed all the dust, checked that the fan spins freely and checked for blockages and none seem to be there. Now is the main problem, quite often the screen will just go black for no reason and stay like that whilst the monitor still says that it is recieving signal, if I turn the monitor off and on again the screen comes back but will disappear again within around 10 seconds, after doing this several times it will stop for up to around 20-30 minutes before doing it again. Nothing I do seems to cause or stop this as it happens whatever I am doing. Now, the fact that turning the monitor on and off brings the screen back I would have thought meant that it was a problem with the monitor however when the screen goes black the high pitched buzzing stops and then instantly restarts when the monitor picture is back on, the buzzing even stops when the monitor is blank due to this but still switched on. (when I turn the monitor off I see a flash of the screen if that helps). Any advice on what to do to fix this, or whether its just parts of my computer breaking beyond repair, would be great, thanks

06-23-2007, 05:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,244 OS: xp	Re: Major Display Problem Sounds like video card. You may try replacing fan on video card. It may or may not be to late. If you have a spare laying around you may use it and see if problem goes away. __________________

06-23-2007, 06:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
MCTom Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: Major Display Problem Thanks for the advice, I thought it probably was, the problem is that a. I don't have a spare 3D card to test with, and b. my graphics card doesn't actually seem to have a fan on it which can't help much.

06-23-2007, 06:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,244 OS: xp	Re: Major Display Problem Whats making the buzzing sound coming out of the case then? Is it the fan on your cpu heatsink, or another fan. I thought you mentioned that the noise was coming from case. You may try opening up the tower, get a house fan and cooling down the pc and see if that helps. If its the monitor buzzing and acting wierd it may be monitor. __________________

06-23-2007, 06:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
MCTom Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: Major Display Problem Thats the problem, I can't hear where the buzzing is from, it's coming from inside the case but beyond that I can't tell where it's from.

06-23-2007, 07:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
Houndog777 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 2,683 OS: XPpro sp3 My System	Re: Major Display Problem Hi, is this a vibrating noise? If it is, then remove your video card and reinsert it. Tighten the retaining screw at the back properly. Do the same with any pci cards you have. Now check all the screws inside and outside of the case are tight. Do not over-tighten, especially the motherboard ones. Check that none of your spare cables/connectors are stuck in between anything. If you're still getting the noise unplug everything and start your pc with only the processor and memory. If still noisy, it will be the heatsink & fan or power supply fan. (I'm actually having a similar problem myself. My noise is like a very quiet washing machine and it's very, very annoying!)

06-23-2007, 07:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
MCTom Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: Major Display Problem Yup, sounds like I have the same sound as you, kinda sounds like a washing machine from a long way away, not really a vibration sound. All I can think is that something IS loose somewhere and maybe occasionally makes a dodgy connection, which is why the screen will randomly cut out without any real reason.

06-23-2007, 07:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
Houndog777 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 2,683 OS: XPpro sp3 My System	Re: Major Display Problem I'll get back to you when I've fixed mine.

06-23-2007, 01:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
Houndog777 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 2,683 OS: XPpro sp3 My System	Re: Major Display Problem Hi, my noise is gone. I unclipped the processor HSFan, (did not remove it) and clipped it in again. Cleaned the heatsink with a cotton bud, and the fan with my fingers. Checked all the mobo screws were tight. That was it.

06-24-2007, 04:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
MCTom Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: Major Display Problem Cool, thanks, I'll try them :)