Screen going black

[APOC]

Ok so this problem has been happening lately (just happened right now as im typing this) I have 2 screens and of them will randomly go black for a time (1 second to 30+) everything I found says things for 1 screen and to get the latest drivers which I have. The thing that gets me is why only 1 screen and not the other?

System
OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate
Version 6.0.6002 Service Pack 2 Build 6002
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Model P5K Deluxe
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0902, 6/19/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6002.18005"
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.42 GB
Adapter Description NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275

APOC

[FozzyBear]

Make sure all your connections are tight.

If you have an extra monitor try and see if the problem persists, at the very least switch monitors and see if the problem follows to the other monitor. If it does it is something on the output. If not, it is something with the monitor itself.

All I got right now. Might make sure none of the cables have been damaged while you are at it.

Foz

[papasan9]

you are probably touching yourself too much. back down to 1x daily and see what happens.

[Gruthar]

You're running both monitors off of a single card, yes? I would start with what Fozzy suggested.

If the monitor is not the source of the problem, and drivers don't fix it, it's possible that one of the display heads on the card is about to kick the bucket. It happened to a friend of mine with his 7600GT back in the day; eventually both heads gave out on the card, and it was useless.

[Shadowryche]

Check your power saving settings, I have seen a couple Vista machines have a simular issue. Vista likes to default to balanced settings. And I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think it does it when it runs its check thinking your system has been idle. In otherwords Vista have brainfart, and maybe you need to tell it to not have brainfart?

And I have seen the problem Gruthar suggests too, mostly with Nvidia cards for some reason.

[APOC]

Ok ill be checking all those things here a little later today...though one thing I have just noticed is that the problem only happens when I have my browser open (its the only thing that uses that screen) its sitting on the desktop and never goes black.

APOC

[Gruthar]

Ok ill be checking all those things here a little later today...though one thing I have just noticed is that the problem only happens when I have my browser open (its the only thing that uses that screen) its sitting on the desktop and never goes black.

APOC

OK, that changes things. Sounds like more of a software issue now...

[APOC]

But its not even with the same browser...I thought it might have been chrome(my normal browser) but it happens with firefox 3.0 as well, also if it were software would it happen on my other screen as well?

EDIT: Just realized I didnt have the monitor driver installed will see if changing from the generic driver will help.

APOC

[FozzyBear]

Any updates??

[APOC]

Havent had much time to tinker, new driver didnt work (screen or card) still need to try switching ports etc.

APOC

[APOC]

Update: I know its been awhile since I posted the problem but was packing/moving/unpacking so didnt have much time...I have the problem still.....I hooked it up again and it went black randomly so I switched the cables to test both the slot and the dvi cables at the same time, with no luck im guessing it to be the monitor since the other screen using the same port from the video card and same cable has had no problems.

APOC

[Gruthar]

So I guess that confirms it's the monitor. When it goes black, does it power off completely, is it very dim, or does it just display black?

[APOC]

It just goes black, the power is on, and it will blink sometimes showing me the picture then go black again.

APOC

[Shadowryche]

The inverter in the monitor could be going bad. I have no idea how tech savy you are, but in my experience it isn't a difficult repair and can often find the component on eBay for less than $25. A decent computer shop will likely charge $80 - $100 to repair it. So if you can't do it yourself it maybe more economical to replace the moniter with a decent 19" LCD for $150.

In my drunken stupor I neglected to ask if it was a LCD, which this would likely be applicable to. If its a CRT I'd advise against opening it up to service it.

[APOC]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I have 15 days left on the warranty calling to get it fixed as I type. They say it sounds like an input problem inside the monitor, They are paying for me to ship it to them and ship it back.

They have to have some of the best customer support Ive dealt with...Was on the phone a total of 12 minutes, that includes the automated machine,waiting for a rep and him getting it all set to ship it to them. I think from now on anything I need to buy like monitors etc will have to be from them just for the quality of the customer care and well they have good products from what I have had.

APOC

[JustMeBF2]

and what company was it?

[APOC]

Samsung

APOC

[ft-agent]

If at all possible when you get it back can you snap a pic of the two in action. I'd love to see what that looks like.

[APOC]

Just got my 2nd screen back, shipped it out on the 16th, full turn around of 8 days...works like a charm.

APOC

[FozzyBear]

Excellent!

[Bonez]

usually have no problem with Samsung tech support. except their local repair guy is really bad at diagnosing problems.(old, beer bottle glasses, doesn't understand what i meant by picture geometry, ect)