Need help diagnosing a monitor issue

November 26, 2011 12:08 PM

I have a monitor problem. Or maybe a motherboard problem. Or maybe both. Or maybe neither. But there is a problem with my computer, and I need some help diagnosing it.

I have an Asus CM1630, which came in a bundle with an Asus monitor. A few months ago, the sound stopped working. I thought, "well that sucks- I guess I'll have to see about getting a new sound card one of these times," but I never got around to it.

Then a couple of weeks ago, the video started getting really wonky. It flickers a little bit, then goes out completely after a few minutes, when it works at all. Sometimes you get long enough to do something, sometimes you don't. When I disconnect the cable, the monitor displays a "no signal" message.

My wife thinks that the motherboard got fried in a power surge, and that this is the source of the trouble. The entire mess was not surge protected, and we've had some power outages recently.

I've started a ticket with Asus support- at this point they want me to try the computer with a different monitor and download the most recent video and audio drivers. I did a system restore backa couple of weeks, and the sound seems to work, now. It took a few days to find a monitor to borrow, but today I tried my Mother-in-law's old CRT monitor with it.

There was no display with the CRT monitor- nothing at all. So I tried using the CRT as a display for my laptop, and it worked. I then tried using the new Asus monitor on the laptop, and got the same response I got from the Asus computer- it came on, flickered a little bit, then went black.

So I think the monitor is broken, but I don't know why the CRT monitor I borrowed wouldn't work. I might try it again to make sure.

I hope I've made this clear- I'm a little confused with the number of computers and monitors and cables and whatnot we've got floating around myself.

Thanks for any light you can shed on this quandry.

posted by Shohn to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

I think regardless of what's going on with your sound, your monitor sounds like it's on the way out. The first thing I would do is replace it. If it turns out that isn't the problem, you can return the new monitor.

If the new monitor doesn't fix the problem, then it's probably your video card and/or your motherboard if the video card is integrated onto it.

Replacing a motherboard is a big hassle, so try to eliminate everything else but that.
posted by royalsong at 12:49 PM on November 26, 2011

Assuming that the video you are using now comes straight from the motherboard, you might try throwing a video card in and seeing if you can get by that way.
posted by richrad at 1:06 PM on November 26, 2011

Best answer: When trying the CRT again, try rebooting with it connected (eg. see if POST displays.). If you see the bootsplash then its possible your OS is just defaulting to a resolution or refresh rate the CRT can't handle. But so far, your LCD is likely on its way out...and could have been caused by a surge (ballast is my guess). If it was a surge, it is possible other components got hit however...unfortunately...

There's no easy way to really know without trying/testing with spare components. One thing you could do in the meantime, is pop open the case and look for bulging capacitors, which can cause similar erratic problems. Odds are not as high as they were from mainboards made between 2004-2007 during the bad capacitor epidemic...but might be worth a look anyway
posted by samsara at 10:18 PM on November 26, 2011

Response by poster: Looks like it's the monitor, after all. I booted the computer with the CRT plugged in, as samsara suggested, and it works. Now to try a warranty claim for it.

Thanks for the help,all!
posted by Shohn at 2:07 PM on November 27, 2011