[Help!] Monitor goes black, computer stays on

I'm trying to figure out the problem here, but I don't have a lot of knowledge when it comes to fixing computer hardware problems. Hoping one of you or some of you could help. This is what happens.

I launch a game, say, WoW or Call of Duty, and soon after, usually within a minute, my monitor goes black, enters sort of a "stand-by mode", and my computer stays on. I turn my monitor off and then back on, and I am met by the Test screen that says "Monitor Test. Your monitor is working fine. Check the cables." or something along those lines. I have unplugged the cable at both ends and re-inserted it, but to no success. If I reboot my computer the display will return but the same problem still occurs.

I noticed last time, or at least I think I noticed that the sound seems to freeze when this happens, and then it dims down. The computer also tones down a bit in sound intensity and it seems like something is shutting down inside of it.

I really would like to find a resolution. This just started happening today, November 11th.

P.S. Sometimes, even without launching a game, my monitor will eventually go black and I'll have to reboot then rinse and repeat

P.S.S. I'm open to any further questions if it means getting closer to a solution.

Here are my system specs:

Pentium IV 3.0ghz
Corsair 1GB RAM / Dell Generic 2 x 256MB, Total of 1.5GB
Nvidia GeForce 7600GT 256MB
80gb Hard Drive
Generic Dell MOBO
SB Audigy 2 Sound Card

If you need more detailed specs, let me know. I'm not exactly sure how to get them but if you could tell me I'd have no problem doing it

My computer is a Dell (-_-) Dimension 4700. I have upgraded the RAM (That 1GB Corsair stick) and the video card (7600gt).

Ironically, the newest part on my computer is the 7600GT.

Download Rivatuner and CPU-Z. use Google to find `em!
Use them to check your system temperatures and cooling fans for correct operation. I suspect your CPU is overheating. Nothing much to worry about, but the heatsink will need to be cleaned-out to correct the problem.

Try the old video card.
It could be the monitor going bad.
I would not suspect the gpu
though it is possible that the psu is starting to go bad
look at your temps and voltages

When I took out my video card I noticed something.

This part of the card I circled here:



appeared to be melted and corroded, and some parts on the top were rough.

However, as I said in the post before this one, with the new card in, I for some reason can't connect to the internet. I made sure all my drivers were updated, and it says that my network card is working fine, but when I try to add a new connection, it says that the hardware is not plugged in.

This is what happened today, it seems strange:

Today at 12PM everything on my computer was running fine. The video card, and the internet. Then later, when I was playing WoW, my monitor went black and I had to restart. The display came up after a restart, and it didn't malfunction again until I launched Call of Duty: World at War. Then I restarted and it worked fine until crashing again when I reattempted to launch World at War.

So I took the card out and replaced it with my old card and the display came up fine. I installed the drivers and I am now able to access all my files and my desktop. But fixing the first problem created a new one. Now I cannot connect to the internet. I'm hardwired to my router, not using a wireless network.

Could this all be a motherboard problem?

Is my video card toasted?

Here are two pictures of my card I just took. Although the card is no longer the problem because I replaced it with an older one, I'm hoping these pictures will allow one of you to tell me if my card is, in fact, totalled.

The close-up:



The full card, not that it helps any

Nope, I sure didn't. I would have never thought of this possibility. I'll go ahead and download it onto my USB drive from this computer and give it a go on my computer.