Monitor randomly loses signal when playing games

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YourBreadstick

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Aug 8, 2013
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I'm not a genius when it comes to computers, so help me out here

I guess this has been happening for a while now but I have failed to notice as I haven’t been playing games for some time

So I noticed, at first with Sims 3 that as I'm playing, after about 15 mins the monitor (HP x22 LED) randomly loses signal (the power light goes from blue to orange)
When this happens the pc is still running with the same level of noise, there is nothing I can do apart from manually holding the power button until it switches off. The same thing has been happening with Portal 2.

There aren't any problems when it comes to watching videos or using different software.

I've bought the pc along with the monitor in January 2011, about a week ago I decided to open the case to see how dusty it is. To be honest, it was less dusty than I thought it would be. But still there was some dust – I was too scared to use the vacuum and I had no compressed air so I just blew on it slightly. It didn't help at all, but then again I didn't do much.

By the way instead of using the VGA cable, I'm using the DVI one – could that make things worse?

Here are my specs:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Version
6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
System Model HPE-490uk
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 870 @ 2.93GHz, 2934 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT 230

Oh and by the way, I did a System Factory restore and have updated all the drivers I could. Still, it hasn't helped.

If there’s some info that I've missed, please ask.
 
Solution
mauller07
under the gt230 tab the tmpin is the temperature and basically the graphics card is overheating which is causing the problem, its running at 80c idle on desktop which is terrible.]

it means either getting a new graphics card or replacing the thermal paste on the card if you wanted to try since you wont be able to game with it regardless.
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mauller07

mauller07

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Mar 28, 2010
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dvi is better to use than vga.

it could be a driver issue, grab the latese nvidia drivers for your card from their website and get a program called driver fusion.

uninstall the current display driver from programs and features and do not restart.
run driver fusion and run the nvidia driver cleaner then restart when prompted.
on restart install the newer driver from the site as custom and only install the display and hdmi driver.

see if this helps at all.

you might also want to get ccleaner and use the file cleaner then run the registry cleaner multiple times till it finds no errors.
 
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YourBreadstick

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Aug 8, 2013
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Well yesterday I was told to do a factory system restore, so everything was wiped out and all the drivers have been updated. Should I still try what you said?
 
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YourBreadstick

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Aug 8, 2013
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Well I uninstalled everything like you said from programs and features, without restarting I cleaned the nvidia stuff from driver fusion. Then I went onto the nvidia website and installed only the graphics driver. Now my pc has restarted and ill see what happens. I decided to run the game in windowed mode to see what happens in the background, but nothing happens - i simply switches off D: Unfortunately your solution didn't work :(
 
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YourBreadstick

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Sometimes, for like 30 seconds after the screen switches off there's sound but it's always lagging.. I'm not sure whether what would be the right word to describe it - basically it's just a noise that repeats itself, like when something freezes
 
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YourBreadstick

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So i ran ccleaner and all the issues have been solved but this one keeps coming back, I doubt it's a problem but still..
http://puu.sh/3WOaQ.png

And I'm using Norton 360. I've always been using it so I wouldn't think it'd cause issues
 
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mauller07

mauller07

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Mar 28, 2010
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under the gt230 tab the tmpin is the temperature and basically the graphics card is overheating which is causing the problem, its running at 80c idle on desktop which is terrible.]

it means either getting a new graphics card or replacing the thermal paste on the card if you wanted to try since you wont be able to game with it regardless.
 
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Solution
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YourBreadstick

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Aug 8, 2013
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To be honest, I thought that was the problem all along. I wanted a new graphics card anyway. Ahh I'll try to get that sorted out, thanks a lot for your time :)
 
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mauller07

mauller07

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the ati 7770 is a nice little card if you just want to play some games every now and then, it runs cool and is low power.

thats if you just want to get a new card and not try replacing the thermal paste but its worth a try and cheaper in the end.
 
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YourBreadstick

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Aug 8, 2013
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Oh yeah, another question - how would I know whether the graphics card would be compatible with my motherboard?
 
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mauller07

mauller07

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it will be compatible, i checked the pc out, by the looks of it you could remove the gt230 and use the motherboard graphics for the time being just to be safe since 80c is quite bad for a gpu.

could even give you the chance to tinker with the cooler on the card and try replacing the thermal compound if you wanted to try it.

the 7770 should work with it fine, it does not need a power connector so will be just a straight pop in and work job.
 
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YourBreadstick

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Aug 8, 2013
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Well I think I'd be too scared to tinker with something in case I break something :p But I will try to get a new graphics card ASAP

And what's your opinion on EVGA Nvidia GTX550Ti 1GB 192-Bit 3D Ready Graphics Card cause I've been looking at it for a while and there's a good offer on amazon.
 
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YourBreadstick

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Aug 8, 2013
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