Screen randomly turns black computer keeps running

[nubki11a]

Hey all, I have a strange issue with my new computer and I can't find a solution anywhere.

For about three months my screen randomly stops working (turns black). My computer keeps running and the sound keeps working for about 30 seconds before going silent.

It usually occurs when I'm using the internet (Reddit, Youtube, Netflix etc.). The league of legends client seems to trigger it as I can hardly finish a queue before it happens. When I'm 'in game' it never happens. When I'm in any other game the screen works fine too.
Sometimes it happens every few minutes and sometimes the screen works fine for a few hours or a whole day.

My specs are:
Intel Core i5-4590 Boxed
ASRock H97 Anniversary
Asus R9290-DC2OC-4GD5
Seagate Desktop HDD ST1000DM003, 1TB
Corsair Carbide 200R Closed
LG 22M35A Zwart
Crucial Ballistix BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00CEU
Samsung SH-224DB Zwart
Seasonic S12II-Bronze 520W
Crucial MX100 128GB


The screen I'm using did not fit on my R9290 so I'm using this adapter:
http://www.startech.com/AV/Converte...pter-Converter-Cable-1920x1200~DVI2VGAE#dnlds

Does anyone have any idea what is causing this issue? Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[Ken g6]

The screen I'm using did not fit on my R9290 so I'm using this adapter:
http://www.startech.com/AV/Converter...DVI2VGAE#dnlds

You couldn't find a passive adapter? Though I doubt that's the problem.

Are the drivers for your AMD card up-to-date?

Is everything seated properly in the case? Mainly GPU, RAM, power plugs (particularly the CPU one), maybe SATA plugs.

 

[Burpo]

I suspect it is your adapter..
From one of the reviews..
nexis · 05/07/2015
Good product but the screen flashes all the time and when i am playing a game the screen is unusable.

Another reviewer said on 3 different monitors it registered as "Out of Range"..

This is what I use.. Cheap & it works for me..

 

[nubki11a]

You couldn't find a passive adapter? Though I doubt that's the problem.

Are the drivers for your AMD card up-to-date?

Is everything seated properly in the case? Mainly GPU, RAM, power plugs (particularly the CPU one), maybe SATA plugs.

Passive adapters don't work for a VGA-DVI-D conversion so I had to go with this one.

Drivers are up to date and everything is properly seated.

EDIT: Fixed DVI-I --> DVI-D.

 

[ArisVer]

Passive adapters don't work for a VGA-DVI-I conversion so I had to go with this one.

I use the same passive adapter as the one pictured by Burpo from my video card's DVI output to an old monitor with a VGA input. It works because the DVI plug has analog output as well as digital.

 

[daveybrat]

You've already found the answer. It's that DVI to VGA adapter you're using.

There are a lot of bad reviews on Amazon for this device using newer LCD monitors.

Here's a quote from one of many on Amazon:

First things first, I have amazon prime, which it was suspose to be shipped and delivered last weds. It wasn't here till today which i've been previously angry with this company because one deivice i bought from them didn't work and they never contacted me back. Second I waisted $30 on this and i was so happy when it came and it doesn't even work. I've fiddled around with it and still nothing. Now I'm doing this to setup my dual monitors and I don't see the other one working. All it's doing is blinking like crazy and making my main screen go smaller and larger constantly and I can't get out of it until it decides to stop working. If anyone has any comments or knows how to fix this please let me know.

 

[sm625]

Passive adapters don't work for a VGA-DVI-I conversion so I had to go with this one.

In practice I've never had one not work. Have you actually tried it?

 

[Ken g6]

I'm not sure it's the adapter, because the computer shuts down too.

 

[nubki11a]

I use the same passive adapter as the one pictured by Burpo from my video card's DVI output to an old monitor with a VGA input. It works because the DVI plug has analog output as well as digital.

Sorry I was wrong - it is a DVI-D to VGA adapter. Reason I can't use a passive adapter like that is because the signal has to be converted into analog.

I'm not sure it's the adapter, because the computer shuts down too.

Yeah that's why I'm so puzzled. Sometimes the audio keeps playing for a while but then it stops. Stuff like Skype also keeps working for a while so I think it has something to do with the graphics card, adapter or (cheap) screen.

 

[sm625]

What graphics card do you have that actually uses DVI-D?

 

[Seba]

He has a R9 290 (and it does not have DVI-I, only DVI-D). Read the OP.

First I'll test with the integrated graphics (and the dedicated card removed), since the problem also appears during normal usage (browsing, Youtube, etc.). In this way, you can also remove the active adapter from the equation, since your motherboard has a D-Sub/VGA connector for integrated graphics.

Did you paid $47 for that adapter? You could have put that money towards a newer monitor, with at least DVI.

 

[nubki11a]

Alright I've tested it like you suggested (left the 290 in though) and it didn't happen anymore.

Therefore it's probably either the adapter or the 290 but I don't think I've got a way to test that. Also the fact that the whole computer crashes after a while suggests that it isn't just the adapter. Could it be the PSU? Its a good quality unit but maybe it has issues when the graphics card increases its core clock.

Got the adapter at another shop btw.

 

[Ken g6]

Could it be the PSU? Its a good quality unit but maybe it has issues when the graphics card increases its core clock.

Yeah, maybe. I see you have an overclocked R9 290. Bench shows maximum power use for an R9 290 in a loaded system at <400W, but that's not including overclock. And your PSU's maximum 12V power use is 480W. So, yes, it might cross the threshold just occasionally enough to cause this.

 

[nubki11a]

Yeah, maybe. I see you have an overclocked R9 290. Bench shows maximum power use for an R9 290 in a loaded system at <400W, but that's not including overclock. And your PSU's maximum 12V power use is 480W. So, yes, it might cross the threshold just occasionally enough to cause this.

According to http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_radeon_r9_290_directcuii_oc_review,9.html the power consumption of the Asus version isn't much higher and it never happens during (high-load) gaming so that's weird...

 

[Seba]

Therefore it's probably either the adapter or the 290 but I don't think I've got a way to test that.

You can test the adapter with the DVI-D from the motherboard (integrated graphics).

 

[nubki11a]

You can test the adapter with the DVI-D from the motherboard (integrated graphics).

Hadn´t thought about that yet, thanks. I´ll try that and swapping out the screen soon. After that I´ll try reinstalling Windows see if that helps.

 

[piasabird]

Converters sometimes limit the throughput speed. Try reducing the resolution a little. Sounds like you are over driving the video.