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Monitors lose signal, PC stays on

Tags:
  • CPUs
  • Vanguard
  • Corsair
  • Asus
  • GPUs
  • Monitors
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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July 19, 2014 8:08:18 PM

Hello everyone. Firstly here are my system specs:

PSU: Corsair HX750
Mobo: Asus B85 Vanguard
CPU: i5 4690
GPU: Asus Geforce GTX 750 TI
RAM: 8GB DDR3
+PCI: Asus Xonar HD Audio
+ 4x mixed size HDD's and assorted USB drives
Running Win7 64bit

This is a newly re-built system (a few days old). Previously I had a different motherboard/cpu/gpu, but still had the same problem. As I've had numerous issues with my GPU I just simply assumed my GPU was to blame, but after having re-built my PC (changing the mobo and CPU was simply a bonus decision I made because I had a crappy ASrock board) the problem persists.

What's happening is I'm randomly losing signal to both of my monitors (so I know it's not the monitors at fault...) but the computer stays running. On occasion, the PC has gone into hibernation, but most of the time just the screens go dark. Everything still seems to run, I can still hear sound and things like network connections stay connected. The last few times I've had this problem, I simply pressed the power button on my tower and the screens come back on again. In cases where the computer hibernates, it wakes up again. I think maybe one time I lost power entirely.

As I've changed my GPU I don't think it's the problem. Could my Corsair be having trouble, and what can I do to find out? Note that, this happens randomly. I haven't seen a pattern yet. It could be when I'm watching a movie, playing a game, or simply sitting at the desktop.

Thanks in advance!

More about : monitors lose signal stays

July 19, 2014 8:12:23 PM

Have you tried different cables?
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July 19, 2014 8:34:15 PM

Different PSU cables, or monitor cables? No. But it happens to all my monitors, so I think those are fine...

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July 19, 2014 8:43:30 PM

Here's the troubleshooting steps I'd take:

1. Try new HDMI/VGA/DVI cables. If you bought them of the same brand especially on the same order or purchase, you may have selected from a bad batch.
2. Go through all of the advanced power settings in Windows.
3. Try alternate DVI operational mode, available in nVidia control panel.
4. Uninstall, clean, and install latest nVidia drivers.
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July 19, 2014 8:56:28 PM

Thanks for your response:

1. The cables are from different suppliers.
2. I've checked the power settings, everything seems fine - I've disabled power saving on PCI-E etc.
3. I don't have a Nvidia Control Panel. But, I don't think that will help. Reason:
4. As I said, this problem occured with a previous setup (totally different GPU and different install of windows). To add, it also occured with only onboard graphics and no GPU installed. The only thing that hasn't changed in my computer is the PSU, RAM sticks and HDD's. I'm just having a hard time accepting that such a good PSU could be failing (it's less than 2 years old).
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a b C Monitor
July 19, 2014 9:15:20 PM

PeteJB said:
Thanks for your response:

1. The cables are from different suppliers.
2. I've checked the power settings, everything seems fine - I've disabled power saving on PCI-E etc.
3. I don't have a Nvidia Control Panel. But, I don't think that will help. Reason:
4. As I said, this problem occured with a previous setup (totally different GPU and different install of windows). To add, it also occured with only onboard graphics and no GPU installed. The only thing that hasn't changed in my computer is the PSU, RAM sticks and HDD's. I'm just having a hard time accepting that such a good PSU could be failing (it's less than 2 years old).

I would try installing the NVIDIA Control Panel (which should automatically come with your graphics drivers) and attempting what Dilan Gilluly said. It may work.

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July 19, 2014 10:20:41 PM

This option doesn't appear in the Nvidia Control Panel. Where is it?
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July 20, 2014 6:50:48 AM

Should be under monitor settings, however it's worded in nVidia terms. Usually alternate DVI operational mode is a universal term. Maybe it's worded "DVI alternate mode", or "DVI frequency."

Does it do it randomly when you're using it or only when waking up from idle?
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July 20, 2014 6:13:30 PM

I believe I've found the solution. Fortunately it has nothing to do with my hardware, and is down to the multiseat software installed on my computer 'SoftXpand'. Simply disabling the software fixes the problem.
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