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Author Topic: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...  (Read 4025 times)

The Ferry Man

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Hi,

Recently my computer has been acting... wierd

Last week I brought BatMan: Arkham Asylum during a sale, and the last two times I played it, the screen goes dead - it goes black and the green power light goes orange, which is the same as what normally happens when the pc is switched off. I seemingly have to restart the computer as nothing I seem to try gets it back on.

Today I was playing Railworks, which I have played numerous times, and today I got the same dead screen :/

Any idea what is causing this?

Many Thanks

TFM
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danny

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2011, 16:47:05 »

That sounds like its either a garphics driver, or directX.
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2011, 16:51:58 »

Well I will see if there is a updated Graphics Driver, but what do I do about checking the directX?

Edit: I have the latest graphics driver...  :-\
« Last Edit: July 11, 2011, 17:18:30 by The Ferry Man »
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--tractorman--

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2011, 18:12:11 »

is it a demanding game? Wouldnt surprise me if your graphics card is giving up in some ways, its an old Nvidia 9600GS/GT?
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2011, 18:39:51 »

Hmmm that's not good then... :/

But if its giving up now for Railworks, what will it do now for ShipSim... :-/
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--tractorman--

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2011, 18:45:58 »

If its installed give it a try..
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2011, 19:11:10 »

yeah will do

I only was on it couple of days ago, and it was OK

but Railworks I was on for ages, admittedly with a coupe of crashes (My PC isn't fond of the Mission editor thingy) but it was OK for the morning...

wierd :/
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vin_sun

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  • Posts: 1260
Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2011, 20:47:13 »

Possible reasons
- inadequate power being supplied to gfx card from PSU
- Gfx card getting heated due to defective fan of card.
- Excessive dust accumulation in fan of card.
- Driver issue - try rolling back to previous version of driver.
- Check if any capacitors on the gfx card have blown.
- Monitor temperature of gfx card.
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2011, 21:00:34 »

Thats a big list of things that may have gone wrong...  :doh:

The driver has been out since about Jan this year though...?


How can I test to see what the problem is then?

Thanks :)
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--tractorman--

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2011, 21:23:15 »

From that, first things first is to open the side while its running, take a look at the fan, if its spinning, thats one of the list of possible problems. Take a nice visual check of how much dust is in there and also capacitors and other components.  If you deem to need a better inspection, turn the computer off, leave everything plugged into the wall etc as normal, just switch the wall plug off, shouldn't get any shocks then :P

Monitoring temperature is an easy thing to do. You may even feel something is not right if the air temperature in your room has increased a lot.

Download this - http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

This will tell you all your system temperatures. Says my graphics card is running at just below 60 degrees, which is alright


Not enough power.. shouldn't be that, its been alright for the past few years

See what happens there, also check all cables are in securely, if one of them pops out the screen effectively 'turns off' as it detects its not being used so it turns off to save power
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2011, 21:31:48 »

OK downloaded the fanTemp, it says the GPU is 56C

*I am assuming  GPU is the Graphics Card

yeah can't see why the power should have changed... although I did have the Motherboard replaced - I assume that shouldn't affect it

I don't have a clue how to open the side though...  :doh:
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Ballast

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2011, 22:01:58 »



This will do  :thumbs:

isn't there some kind of lock mechanism?
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2011, 22:02:39 »

Apparently it unscrews from the back...
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--tractorman--

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2011, 22:04:39 »

slap a picture over of the case
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #14 on: July 16, 2011, 19:37:54 »

OK So update:

I ended up buying a replacement Graphics Card, got a ASUS GTX550 Ti

Given me a few extra FPS in SSE too  ;D

The old was also... covered in dust - when I pulled it out it changed colour - looked like the North Pole  :doh:

So in future going to have to keep cleaning out the dust

Thanks All :)
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vin_sun

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #15 on: July 16, 2011, 20:01:10 »

The old was also... covered in dust - when I pulled it out it changed colour - looked like the North Pole  :doh:

So in future going to have to keep cleaning out the dust

Yes TFM ..... one of the biggest enemies of a computer. You should devote a day every month to remove all the accumulated dust inside the casing and on the various fans. Use a soft bristle paint brush and a USB mini vacuum cleaner.
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The Ferry Man

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #16 on: July 16, 2011, 20:03:06 »

Ahh OK - thanks for the advice :)
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Ralphy

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Re: Computer Screen Blacks out sometimes when playing games...
« Reply #17 on: July 16, 2011, 21:22:55 »

I get my trusty old dyson out with the brush attachment for my dust removal with a pastry brush aswell ;D
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