REALLY need help with monitor!

[Dyson]

I'm going out of my mind with my new comp i've built. Everything is fine apart from the fact that my monitor switches itself off every now and again.

Mainly happens when starting BF2 and Test Drive Unlimited, but has started happening more often now. Used to just be as I started game, now it can be mid game, or when im just on the desktop. Doesn't do it when I start any HL2 based games, or quake 4.

I have a Veiwsonic VA2012w monitor, which is great, but I need to know if it or my graphics card (8800 gts) are faulty.

Please, please, please, can someone help?????????

Rest of spec in sig.

[acrobat]

Sorry if this is a stupid idea, but my monitor used to switch itself off too, and then I realised it was because the monitor had an "Off Timer" on it which was set to about 30 minutes as default... No idea why. But basically it turned itself off every 30 minutes. Once I realised that, I just turned the "Off Timer" off and its good now.

If thats not it, I'm not sure what it could be. First guess would be to check all your leads/cables. Power lead into the monitor and plug, and cable into the graphics card and stuff.

[Dyson]

Cheers Acrobat, not that though. It's got to be either a prob with my gpu, or the monitor I think. Cant work out which though...

[dancingmatt]

Could it be to do with the resolution? Does it say any kind of message about "out of sync" or "out of range"?

Have you tried booting in safe mode?

DM

[Dyson]

I get no error message, just a "pop" from the monitor as it turns off. I then have to unplug the vga lead, then power lead. THEN, replace the vga lead followed by the power lead.

Just cant understand why its ok for HL2 based games, and not BF2 and TDU.

Running screen and all games at 1680 x 1050, 60Hz refresh.

Ref dancingmatt, do you mean running the apps that cause the problem in safe mode?

[acrobat]

I get no error message, just a "pop" from the monitor as it turns off. I then have to unplug the vga lead, then power lead. THEN, replace the vga lead followed by the power lead.

Just cant understand why its ok for HL2 based games, and not BF2 and TDU.

Running screen and all games at 1680 x 1050, 60Hz refresh.

Ref dancingmatt, do you mean running the apps that cause the problem in safe mode?

Ohhhh, based on what you just said, I'd be willing to bet it is your 8800GTS. I have a similar problem with my 8800GTX. Unfortunatey.... there is no real solution The problem is evidently due to the drivers. And the only "possible" solution, seems to be to upgrade to Vista and hope those drivers work better. Or to just wait and hope they sort it out soon.

That may not be your problem though.... but it sounds suspiciously like my problem.

Basically, my problem is that I have about a dozen games, and half of them crash. The other half I can play all day and night without any problems at all. But the ones that crash, can crash after 1 minute, 20 minutes, 1 hour, who knows? What happens, is that the screen goes all haywire with crazy colours in little lines and dots and whatnot. And then the PC either restarts itself, or I have to reset it. After its been reset.... the screen sometimes still stays messed up, and even after rebooting back into windows, everything is still distorted. The only way to get rid of it, is to actually turn my PC completely off for a moment, and then turn it back on.

I tried everything to solve this and there is evidently no solution besides what I said above. Its not particularly uncommon either

So this may not be the same as your problem, but its possible.

[kalniel]

Friend of mine has the same problem with an x1950pro and vista..

[acrobat]

Yeah I read about it with the x1950pro's too.

[Dyson]

All my games actually run fine (im on vista 64), the only problem is my screen actually turning itself off, and me then having to unplug it all to get it working.

Once replugged in, the games still there ready to go. Tends to be just as I launch the game.

[acrobat]

Once replugged in, the games still there ready to go.

Ahh, thats different to the problem I described then. The problem I was talking about is an actual crash which kills the game and can even lock up the PC.

Your problem sounds different. Hard to know what that is.

I thought it might be that perhaps the game is selecting a refresh rate that the monitor is incapable of. But that wouldnt be it, if the game is running fine and then all of sudden stops. That rules out a resolution problem too.

Can you get another monitor by the way? Borrow one from a friend? Or have a spare in your house somewhere? Even an old CRT? Because that would go a long way telling you if its the monitor or the graphics card.

I did a quick search about your monitor online, but the only thing I could find similar, was this:
http://www.hardforum.com/archive/ind.../t-990660.html

And I dont think thats the same as your problem. Although it might be.

[Dyson]

Thanks Acrobat, not quite the same, but almost.

I've emailed viewsonic now, and they're going to get someone in tech support to contact me soon.

Will post what happens, but off on holiday next week, so it'll be a while!

[acrobat]

Good luck I'd be interested to know what it is.