Computer weirdness - anybody capable of troubleshooting a graphics issue?
 

I have a 4 year old Dell desktop running Windows 7. The graphics are built into the motherboard. When I ordered the computer 4 years ago, I had them add a DVI card (PCI E) so that I could have two monitors. It's all been running great until last week. Out of the blue, the monitor on the DVI card started connecting and disconnecting. If you bring up the device manager, you can see it appear, then disappear, appear then disappear ad nauseum. It comes and goes about once per second.

I tried a different monitor with the same results. Also tried a different DVI cable and a different DVI card. All result in the same behavior. However, if I unplug the VGA cable from the onboard graphics card, the DVI monitor runs fine. If I plug the VGA cable back in the DVI monitor starts cutting in and out again.

Haven't changed any settings for added anything to the system. This just started out of nowhere. Any suggestions?

Onboard graphics card may be going tits up.

Do you have auto updates enabled?

Tried swapping the monitor on the VGA side?

Haven't tried a different VGA monitor. I did uninstall and reinstall the driver for the onboard graphics. No change.

Yeah, I'm thinking the onboard card is the issue. I just ordered an external VGA, HDMI, DVI card from eBay. Figured I'd try a $35 fix before starting to shop for a new computer. My current computer isn't high end, but works just fine for everything I do. After having two monitors for 4 years, it's pretty painful to have only one again.

I hear ya.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1415334540.jpg

Tease. :(

Is that GBA Metroid running in an emu????

Doesn't your discreet card have connections for more than one monitor?

The onboard has VGA, the PCI E card has DVI. The PCI E card I ordered has VGA, DVI and HDMI. Figured it was worth a try.

The odd behavior continues. Currently I have the VGA unplugged from the motherboard and just the DVI monitor up. It works fine until the screen saver starts up. Then it starts connecting and disconnecting. Makes me wonder if the external video card is going to work or not.

Product we worked on, Fenix Rage.

Fenix Rage

Go get it.

It's fun.

Sounds like something going out of sync.

It is odd that the old card didn't have multiple output, but it probably doesn't matter at this point. Have you checked the power supply? If it has dropped voltage you can see issues like this. Does the new card require power from the motherboard only or from the power supply as well?

Looks interesting. I see a LOT of artistic/visual cues from the GBA version of Metroid (Fusion).

I have neither Steam, XB1, or a PS4, so I doubt I'll have the chance to play it. From the video it doesn't look like it requires more horsepower than the average game on iOS or Android...

Not an expert here. But a couple of years ago my monitor started acing up, going on and off frequently. It was hooked up the Asus motherboard on-board graphic processor. I suspected the on-board processor and bought a cheap PCI-E card. That card fixed the problem. Also that card is set up for dual monitors though I only use one monitor. For two monitors I would only use a video card set up for 2 monitors. There seem to be plenty of cheap video cards out there and I think it is a good idea to get a new one and try it out.

I'm hoping this works for me. Mine was shipped out yesterday.