Weird problem...is it monitor or video card?

A5

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2000
4,902
5
81
When I'm using my computer (specs in sig), sometimes (once an hour or so?) the screen will go black for a moment and then come back. While the screen is black, the monitor will show the input in the upper-right corner like I had just changed the input or re-connected the monitor. I can't find a specific application that makes it happen more often, but it definitely happens in both games and normal applications.

A few months ago, I added a front case fan to blow fresh air into the video card area, but it doesn't seem to have helped much.

I don't really want to replace my video card yet (waiting for BF3), so some other strategies to keep this from happening would be appreciated.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,574
10,211
126
That sounds like the video driver is resetting or rebooting. Could be driver bug, could be bad hardware.

Is it the Radeon 4890 in your sig? What driver version are you using? And what OS?
 

A5

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2000
4,902
5
81
That sounds like the video driver is resetting or rebooting. Could be driver bug, could be bad hardware.

Is it the Radeon 4890 in your sig? What driver version are you using? And what OS?

Yeah Radeon 4890, running Cat 10.12 on Win7 x64.