video card problems (dual mode)

roy thinnes · Post by **roy thinnes** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:09 pm

hi there,
for about 6 months I was very happy with my DAW (see bottom).
but since two weeks now I have problems with the analog output of my nvidia GeForce7600 video card.
at first, the screen connected to that output was only miscolored (lilac), and only for about 1-2 sec. but lately, (stage1) it was lilac all the time, and, later on (stage2), switched to standby-mode, not showing anything except "no signal".
what I did so far:
I interchanged the monitors + cables to see if it's one of the displays: no avail, monitors are ok.
I inserted a new video card of the same type: was ok for 1 day, than began to have miscolors again, then totally switched off.
I exchanged the video card digital2analog adapter: was ok for 1 day, than began to have miscolors again & finally switched off.
I did some BIOS modifications related to GraphicAdapter: no avail (restored initial settings)
finally, I disconnected the digital output adapter, leaving the analog only. result was, that it at least showed something, but miscolored.
btw, this artefact already appears at the boot select menu and in all of the 3 winXP partitions I've installed.
and: at stage2, windows doesn't even recognize that there is a 2nd monitor. so I think this is not win-related.

in short, the digital output is ok all the time, analog output having problems almost invariably.

conclusion: to me, it seems that the mobo is to blame (but hey, it's just 6 months old! ).
other candidates: power supply, memory.
what do you think?

os: winXP
mobo: asus p5p
cpu: conroe 6300
ram: kingston 2gb
creamware scope
creamware pulsarII
Geforce7600 videoCard
2x Samsung 60gb hd
logitech cordless laser mouse
netgear wg311

husker · Post by **husker** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:20 pm

wierd - I would say power supply - one the voltages is probably fluctuating

roy thinnes · Post by **roy thinnes** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:35 pm

ok, just checked the BIOS hardware monitor:
vcore is 1.280v
3.3 volt is fluct. 3.280 to 3.296 v
5v is constant 5.094 v
12v is constant 12.249v
I don't know - is this 3.3v jittering that crucial?

Post by **garyb** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:43 pm

maybe under load....

roy thinnes · Post by **roy thinnes** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:52 pm

hm...is there are utility to check this under windows?
I do have a digital multimeter somewhere, but..., er, am kinda unwilling to use it (could also say too lazy to unscrew case a.s.o.)

roy thinnes · Post by **roy thinnes** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:02 pm

oh, I just monitored voltage with asus Probe software (p5b setup cd).
nothing remarkable here = all within limits.
I don't believe it's the power supply.
anyway, I'll contact my dealer tomorrow (again). maybe he has to check the machine.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:10 am

I'd say it's either PSU or mobo (in that order).

In the case of it being a dying PSU the easiest approach (imo) is just to buy a 'relatively cheap' PSU locally for testing purposes (I personally wouldn't spend more than 30 euro on such an item for testing a few personal machines). I'd do this 1st, just going from my own experiences.

In the case of it not being the PSU, then you might have a slight problem because it might well be the mobo.

roy thinnes · Post by **roy thinnes** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:23 pm

thanks for all your help.
after 5 days w/o scope (system being checked in the computer store, w/o result: all normal there), I finally installed a new video card with 2xdual dvi, which seems ok (for now).
the causation, though, still remains uncertain.
I remember that back in the atari days, I had problems with my Visaton speakers (their strong magnetic field caused a distorted monitor display).
I still have the Visaton speakers - maybe they play a role in this mystery.