Posted: 11/14/2004 6:25:19 AM EDT
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My home system has suddenly developed a problem. Without warning and with no discernable time regularity, the video system simply shuts down. There is a "click" in the CPU and the monitor screen goes completely black. I'm typing this as fast as I can because I have no idea how long it will stay up. My system is a six year old Pentium III 600MHz, 768 RAM, 19" Sony monitor and an ATI video board with 32M of RAM. I THINK I may already know what is wrong...but I'm looking for some backup to this thesis: About a year ago, the little fan on the video chip failed and was making a howling sound. I disconnected the micro fan. I recognized that it might lead to overheating...but nothing happened...initially anyway. I now suspect that the video microcomputer is failing. Have any of you had the same problem? Thanks! |
Thats it, go get a new fan (I don't know what kind is on there) or a new video card. |
Its a click from the CPU
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Not nessisarily. It depends on what he is using it for. However, with good machines SO cheap, it might not be a bad idea. I just priced out an upgrade to my machine. $323 shipped (Newegg) for: AMD XP 2700 (2.17 Ghz) Soltek KT880 MB Samsung 80 GB SATA HD Corsair 512MB PC3200 Memory That is alot of power for not much scratch. Plus, I think you can snag a GF5200 video card for like $60. |
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1. I am in the market for a new machine. To date, this one has proven to be a sat performer...so why change? Now I have cause to do so. 2. The "click" is from the CPU. 3. I can't do ANYTHING once the screen goes black. I've tried Control-alt-delete...nothing. The only alternative is for me to secure the CPU at the power source and restart. 4. It always restarts w/o any problems. 5. I've run the dianostics embedded in Windows. Nothing out of the ordinary. Thanks for the help so far. Miz LWilde and I are headed out. I'm going to buy a new video card and see if that cures it. Anything I need to know about loading up another card s/w? Will I have conflicts? Do I delete the ATI-related apps after I load up the new board or...? |
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I think it's fixed. Just as I was about to answer the last thread earlier today...the damn thing failed again. I agree gents...it is likely heat related and I believe we have fixed it. I went to Best Buy and purchased a little fan assy. that fits into a PCI slot. I also very carefully cleaned the tiny fan on the video processor fan with alcohol and compressed air. I did do it before...but apparently not well enough. I turned on the system about three hours ago...and knock on wood...no failures yet. Surprisingly, the tiny fan assy. on the video board is running quietly again too. Thanks for all your help! 
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