Screen Flickers Randomly

[michaelt86]

Hi

I recently built a system for a friend with the following parts:

Asus m2n sli AM2 socket mobo
2 gigs of corsair ram 2 x 1 gig
antec 900 case
antec power supply
eVGA 7900 GS with ZeroTherm HSF
AM2 X2 5600+ with Arctic Freezer 64 HSF
seagate HDD 300gb
creative soundblaster audigy
netgear wireless network card

The problem we have been experiencing is a random screen flicker. The screen flickers occasionally when he is playing a game, surfing the web or using microsoft office. Sometimes it goes a whole day without flickering other times it flickers 3 times in one use. When the screen flickers it is for a split second, similar to the length of time your eyes are shut when you blink, but about 1/4th of a second longer.

When the screen flickers randomly none of the programs that are running are affected -- everything comes back to where it should be (after flickering for a half a second) -- games are still running if they were running before hand etc. I tested the system when I first built it at my house for him and it never did the flicker for me at my house in the hours I spent setting it up and testing it with 3dmark 06.

We are not using the most up to date video card drivers; however, we originally had spring 2007 beta drivers and updated to november 2007 non-beta drivers and saw no difference (screen still flickers) We have yet to update to the most up-to-date drivers.

I am uncertain what to do and my friend says that he regrets letting me talk him into building a PC because of this flicker problem. I have a 939 rig using an asus mobo and a evga 7900GT with the same cooler and I have never experienced the flicker problem.

Please give me your advice -- I am at the forums mercy for help.

P.S.

when I put the PC together for the first time and tested it the EVGA vid card had its stock cooler on it. When I changed the cooler to the ZERO therm fan and ran 3dmark 06 once, I saw no change in score so figured nothing bad had happened with the install. I did not exactly test it very long after changing to the fan, however, I never actually saw the screen flicker while the PC was at my house on my Chimei monitor (my friend has a dell monitor)

 

[Strebor]

What type of monitor is being used?

 

[Narse]

What OS are you using? If its Vista make sure you are using the most up to date drivers.

 

[michaelt86]

The monitors :

When I set it up at my house I did not experience a flicker problem on my Chimei Brand Monitor using DVI (Bought from New egg)

My friend's monitor is a dell monitor using DVI.

The operating system is Windows XP Home w/ SP2

 

[Strebor]

Guessing its not a CRT if he's on DVI. You might check the cable, wiggle the ends around while gaming and see if that could be the problem.

 

[michaelt86]

We both use LCD monitors. I will have his computer one of these weekends and try it out again to see if it flickers on my monitor - It hasnt been over at my house since i built it in august 2007

 

[Germonicus]

Or more easily,swap DVI leads and see if it's the cable at fault.Saves you lugging his whole PC to your place if it's not necessary.

 

[hayas]

We both use LCD monitors. I will have his computer one of these weekends and try it out again to see if it flickers on my monitor - It hasnt been over at my house since i built it in august 2007

michaelt86,

I know this is a very old post, but since there is no answer, I figure, I just send you msg direct to ask. Did you manage to resolve the Dell monitor flickering problem? If you do, do you mind tell me how you resolved it?

Thanks!

Hayas