© 2003-2025 Ironclad Games Corporation Vancouver, BC. All rights reserved.
© 2006-2025 Stardock Entertainment
Search
Forum Home | Login
Grimlorn
Grimlorn
Join Date 05/2007
0

Grapics card not working, Help please

I think it's graphics

April 8, 2008 1:21:38 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

I was playing this game 1v1 against the comp. Anyways all of a sudden these vertical lines appeared on my computer and they haven't left. I quit the game and they were still on my desktop. I turned off my comp immediately and restarted but they were still there. I left my computer off for about 8 hours and restarted and they are still here. They are like red lines when there is black background and light blue lines in white background.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4195/aewerewrwetr7.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5592/aerererexa2.jpg

Please tell me if there is a way to reset my screen so it works properly or my graphics card. This is driving me crazy and I think I broke my computer or something. I have a nvidia 8800GTS video card. Intel Dual Core E6600. 2 gigs ram, 250 gig hard drive. I've never had a problem with grapics card so I don't know what to do. I don't think it's the monitor because the startup screen the monitor shows looks fine but I could be wrong. It's difficult to say.

I'm running resolution on 1024x768 and 32 bit. I have Windows XP. I've tried changing the resolution rates to 800x600 or higher than 1024x768, no help and even the hertz rates from highest to lowest have no effect.

Should I try remove the video card or something and fit it back in? That's the only thing I can think of off hand.

Please help. Thanks.

technical
Locked Post
Search this post
Advanced Search
Subscription Options
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
hydrocarbn
Join Date 09/2007
+45
Reply #1 April 8, 2008 2:00:32 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
The lines don't show up in the screenshots therefore the problem is with the monitor.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
Grimlorn
Join Date 05/2007
0
Reply #2 April 8, 2008 2:16:57 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
ok thanks for that. It looked a little weird on those shots like the lines I was seeing weren't there. How do I fix it? Is there a way to reset the settings on my monitor? The reason I ask is because around the time this happened I know I hit some keys on my keyboard and it showed up all of a sudden. Could be conincidence but I'm not sure.

Is there anything I can do besides get a new monitor and how does a monitor go bad when playing a game?

I have a Benq FP91GP monitor Flat screen 19 inch I think.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
hydrocarbn
Join Date 09/2007
+45
Reply #3 April 8, 2008 2:26:09 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
So it's an LCD?

Are you running it above the recommended refresh rate? This usually isn't a big deal for LCDs (only CRTs) but it could be the problem.

Also, if it's only happening when you play Sins it could be an overheat on the GPU. Does it happen in any other games? Have you updated drivers?
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
Grimlorn
Join Date 05/2007
0
Reply #4 April 8, 2008 3:32:32 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
It's on all the time. It's never happened before. That's why I showed that google website shot and this website shot. I haven't opened the game since it occured. I keep on restarting my computer messing with settings and the lines always show up right after the monitor starts and goes off it's logo screen. The reason I posted this was because it happened while playing Sins and hasn't stopped since.

Tried messing with all my refresh rates and video sizes. Even turned hardware acceleration all the way off.

I've gone through all the trouble shooting for video and animation problems. I even tried uninstalling the monitor driver under device managing in system. It didn't work.

They are everywhere. I can't do anything on here without seeing those lines. It's equivalent to paper being shredded thats how often I see light blue lines on a white background. The red lines in the black background are more frequent. Like 4 the lines.

I just need to know if there is anything I can do about my monitor to fix it or reset it or something so I don't have to get a new one.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
baka_tare
Join Date 03/2008
0
Reply #5 April 8, 2008 3:55:35 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
It's on all the time. It's never happened before. That's why I showed that google website shot and this website shot. I haven't opened the game since it occured. I keep on restarting my computer messing with settings and the lines always show up right after the monitor starts and goes off it's logo screen. The reason I posted this was because it happened while playing Sins and hasn't stopped since. Tried messing with all my refresh rates and video sizes. Even turned hardware acceleration all the way off.I've gone through all the trouble shooting for video and animation problems. I even tried uninstalling the monitor driver under device managing in system. It didn't work.They are everywhere. I can't do anything on here without seeing those lines. It's equivalent to paper being shredded thats how often I see light blue lines on a white background. The red lines in the black background are more frequent. Like 4 the lines.I just need to know if there is anything I can do about my monitor to fix it or reset it or something so I don't have to get a new one.


look for magnetic sources near the monitor..
hook a different monitor up, see if it is still doing it..
take the video card out, put it back in, see if it is still doing it..
hook another video card up, see if it is still doing it..
mail your video card in to the manufacturer and see if they'll fix it for you..
buy a new monitor..
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
baron2100
Join Date 01/2006
0
Reply #6 April 8, 2008 4:11:17 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
It is related to your video card driver. You want to use either the latest one, or the most recent driver that was "certified" with your PC. I would recommend the support website of your computer's manufacturer. You want to go there and download the latest graphics driver for your specific model. If it is a self-built PC, download the latest "certified" and recommended graphics card driver. Some will say get the latest no matter what, but in my expirience, the latest drivers cause pesky compatibility issues. One game will work, another one won't.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
Grimlorn
Join Date 05/2007
0
Reply #7 April 8, 2008 4:43:33 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Just hooked up a different monitor and it works fine. It's just an old CRT monitor that is like 13 or 15 inch. Looks like crap right now compared to my LCD. I really think this is like 13 inch screen and the funny thing is it's like 20 inches long. Huge back.

So it's not the graphics card. If anyone has suggestions on what to do about monitors let me know. I already sent in a technical support thing to the Benq (monitor)website, however I'm not sure if I'll get a response. I've done this before with Intel and never got any help but figured out the problem on my own. So we'll see.

I have to ask since this happened while playing the game, were the graphics too much for my monitor? I had them up pretty high by default. Most games I've gotten recently load them up high and I just play them like that. Like Oblivion or Call of Duty 4 or whatever. It's just odd for it to break all of a sudden. I think I'll stay away from Sins for a little while until I figure this out.

Already did the drivers thing, I also uninstalled them and reinstalled them like troubleshooting told me to. Didn't fix it with the LCD.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
bonscott
Join Date 04/2003
+19
Reply #8 April 8, 2008 9:37:14 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Are there any updated drivers for your LCD monitor? And yes, there are drivers for monitors.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
kryo
Join Date 05/2003
+458 sdemployee
Reply #9 April 8, 2008 10:56:44 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
It is possible that the display is simply failing as well (BENQ support should be able to tell you that), in which case your only solution will be to RMA or junk it, unfortunately.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
Grimlorn
Join Date 05/2007
0
Reply #10 April 8, 2008 10:57:10 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
no there were no updates for drivers on monitor or display adapter. I uninstalled them and reinstalled them. No change. It's the monitor. There's no reason for those lines to pop up for no reason, and then when I use a new monitor, they aren't there. I'm just hoping that I can get whatever it is fixed without buying a new monitor. It has a 3 year warranty and I've had it for less than 2 but I never mailed in the warranty card even though I still have the receipt and can prove I paid for it 2 years ago. Hope this doesn't bite me in the ass.

I'm just kind of weary this happened to a pretty new monitor and while playing a new game. I mean I was only on my 3rd 1v1 random map against the comp. I was trying to get 1 game in with all the races to see if which one is the best out of it, and this happens.

What's RMA it mean? Repair or something?
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Grimlorn
kryo
Join Date 05/2003
+458 sdemployee
Reply #11 April 8, 2008 11:03:59 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
RMA would be to return it to BENQ or the store (depending on policies) for repair or replacement if it's still under warranty.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
View all recent posts
Mark all posts as read Delete cookies created by the forum Return to Top
Stardock Forums v        Server Load Time:   Page Render Time: