PC often black out suddenly

PC often black out suddenly

I bought a new Desktop PC a few days ago. Configuration: Processor: AMD Phenom II (1090T) [six core], Motherboard: MSI 990 FXA GD65, HDD: 1TB Seagate / 500 GB Western Digital, RAM: 16 GB, Graphics Card: Saphhire ATI Radeon HD 6850, Power Supply: A-Data 850 Watt. My operating system is windows 7 ultimate.

PROBLEM: PC runs smoothly but sometimes (and suddenly) the screen goes dead/black out. I mean "No Display" but I can hear the Machine is running (sound of the revolving fan blades inside). Something like "SLEEP MODE", but in this case I can't awake it unless I shut the main power off (or by holding the power switch a little longer) and then start it again. I've tested my OS and monitor. They're OK. I think it's a definite hardware problem.

Clues:
1) Perhaps the sound of inside fans is louder before this problem occurs.
2) As far as I can remember, during 2-3 such occasions I was using Mozilla Firefox browser (which I don't see in my old Intel Core 2 Duo PC with the same HDD)
3) My graphics card driver is up to date.

Try contacting the pc manufacturer and see what they say. Also, try updating your bios.

PC or monitor? Make sure the monitor is okay (possibly turn it off and on) and your cable to the monitor is secure. (Probably won't help, restarting the PC shouldn't fix monitor/cable issues, but worth a try anyway.)

Did you try "shaking" the mouse or taping on the keyboard. Sometimes my monitor goes into "power saving" mode unless I tap my keyboard or shake my mouse.

Do you use a UPS or power surge? Fluctuating current may cause that.

I have the same problem.
Specs:
AMD Phenom X3 (first gen)
2GB RAM

And I can confirm Mozilla Firefox triggers that problem. Did you notice the the screen blackout mostly occurred while you were watching a video (Youtube). I still don't know which is the cause hardware or software problem but only Firefox triggers that Chrome doesn't (at least until now). My theories are: ATI driver (ATI Catalyst) froze so there's no signal to monitor (Catalyst doesn't even open up on my computer), Firefox fucked up with the hardwares or other driver-hardware conflict problem.

Originally posted by shagor1981:

My graphics card driver is up to date.

Is your vga driver updated too, not of graphic card, but of your mainboard system...?? But i would hardly suspect on that

Is the processor properly clocked?? referring to overclocked processors....
Better check the RAM and processor for faults like undue overheating.... You can use prime95 software...

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I'm sorry as I forgot to respond earlier. Maybe 'September 17' has experienced the same problem. I'm sure that the problem occurs most often when I try to watch any videos from youtube using Firefox.

Originally posted by utkarshbisht:

Originally posted by shagor1981:

My graphics card driver is up to date.

Is your vga driver updated too, not of graphic card, but of your mainboard system...?? But i would hardly suspect on that

Is the processor properly clocked?? referring to overclocked processors....
Better check the RAM and processor for faults like undue overheating.... You can use prime95 software...

1) I've downloaded VGA driver directly from their website and it's regularly updating itself automatically.
2) As far as I know, the motherboard is a newer product (they say it "Military Class"). Though I'm not sure about it's BIOS software.
3) I know nothing about processor clocking. But when I can remember that PC seller told me that my processor has overclocking feature.
4) I used the best of my RAMs and processor with After Effects rendering, but can't remember any problem.

Thanks anyway for your suggestions. Can you suggest me one more thing? If I want to report my problem to the manufacturer, then whom should I knock? Because, it's a clone PC and all parts had been bought separately and assembled.

Originally posted by shagor1981:

I know nothing about processor clocking.

Overclocking refers getting more processing output than what it is rated. By doing this, one actually breaks the warranty of the processor. many retailers do sell the processors saying say 3 Ghz, though it may be only 2.2Ghz or something like that...

Originally posted by shagor1981:

But when I can remember that PC seller told me that my processor has overclocking feature.

Every new processors have this. But the main thing is, it should not be done too high from the mainboard bios system that it would rather burn...

Originally posted by shagor1981:

I'm sure that the problem occurs most often when I try to watch any videos from youtube using Firefox.

Maybe your system is all right and ff has the bug itself. You said "most often"... You get same problems on other applications too???

Originally posted by shagor1981:

If I want to report my problem to the manufacturer, then whom should I knock? Because, it's a clone PC and all parts had been bought separately and assembled.

Even i dont know abt this, cause its still unknown whether its a hardwaral problem or software incompatiblity.... And i am listening this problem first time...
Moreover, problem can be anywhere now, even hardware incompatiblity can be a reason. Check that RAM is in QVL list of mainboard, with proper size and clocking too...

After several time searching forums I think it's the ATI driver fault. Do you experience blocky image (trash pixels) on Youtube videos? If so then that's the problem. I found many people using ATI VGA card having the same problem. But for the time being there's no solution, I have been updating driver for more than 6 months but no difference at all.

Oh and you can have the monitor back to work if you follow this:
1. When the screen black outs, on the keyboard press Windows + D (to the desktop)
2. Press Alt + F4
3. Press S (Stand by)
4. Wait till the computer is on sleep mode then press the power button.
5. The will be signals to your monitor again.

This is just a temporary solution not how to fix it completely. I noticed the windows slowed down after doing that so I had to restart the computer.

Originally posted by september17:

I think it's the ATI driver fault

You too have ATi Radeon HD 6850... I mean its specifically to this device or 6xx0 series

Originally posted by utkarshbisht:

Originally posted by september17:

I think it's the ATI driver fault

You too have ATi Radeon HD 6850... I mean its specifically to this device or 6xx0 series

Mine is old 3xxx series

You need to stress test the graphics card... If it doesn't fail, it's a software issue for sure. It's dealing with the graphics card tho. Most any of the other problems mentioned will cause the PC to totally shut its self down.

Really over 90% sure it's software anyway seeing how you have found the cause. Even updated drivers can have issues so try changing the display settings. test to see if this happens on all resolutions, it could be as simple as running at 60hz instead of 70 or such.

it'd be interesting to know at what point it fails. On load or is it after you do something else after loading?

It's 'ati2dvag' that causes the problem. No solution except reinstalling Windows or using Nvidia instead.

That should cause complete failure tho... usually. The error y'all report is more like signal loss to the monitor. Either way, is replacing the .dll not an option?

It's not that simple. Replacing new file (the dll file for example) you have to register with the running registries and services. But I gave up after reading many people tried that but still the problem kept occuring. I uninstalled and reinstalled the driver but the trace still remained. So I could say that there's really no simple solution here.