shimmering display

[BlindBartimaeus]

My screen is shimmering or vibrating back and forth. I had this once before but I don't remember what was the cause. The edges of the web page etc. look like noise...any ideas?

 

[Looney]

EMI interference, either from your environment (speakers near by, air purifier, etc), or your power lines. I have the same problem too. If you can, get a Smart UPS, the ones with line-conditioning. The really cheap UPSes out there, and the generic name brand ones, call them voltage regulators, but they're not the same thing.

Also, you can download Powerstrip, and try a odd frequency for your monitor. Instead of numbers like 75, 80, 85, etc, try 81, 82, 83, etc until you find one that works.

 

[BlindBartimaeus]

EMI from the power lines from the computer? It seems to come and go. I am at 85 hz now and it comes and goes...Any ideas? I will try the power strip thing

 

[Robor]

Could be interference as Moralpanic suggested. Could also be a failing monitor. I've seen plenty of cases of both. Some of our Dells do it at work. These are GX-150 and GX-240 machines with M781P monitors. If it happens no matter what resolution and refresh rate then it's probably a bad monitor. Only solution is to RMA the monitor. Luckily ours are warrantied and Dell has one there the next morning. Dell has excellent service for their "premier customers" but they blow if your just a little guy. I helped a friend of my dad's that obviously had a dead modem and it took nearly an hour for them to determine what I had already diagnosed. Oh well, at least their boxes are cheap.

Good luck!

 

[BlindBartimaeus]

I was afraid and thought that was the case. I think it is going bad...out of warranty...stupid 21 inch monitor.