Weird problem with video card......

my computer boots and runs normally when the side cover is removed. After its boooted into windows, sometimes, when I replace the side cover the video goes off. I then have to reboot and all is normal. The funny part i carefully probed the video card for any problems and it runs stabily until i replace the side cover and then.. the video goes out(blank screen). I have no idea what may causing the problem but it is very weird.

 

Sounds like a heat problem, Chuck. Check your fans and vents for dust and animal hair (I have to check mine for my hair!)

And sometimes a video card just can't take "normal" heat any more.

I think I would take the card out and clean the pins and re seat it. Also could be something being displaced by putting the side cover on.

 

I have been thinking about the problem a bit more and have observed that by merely touching the side panel to the chassis will cause the video card to go off, even if the computer has just been turned on. What I am thinking is some how the side panel develops a small static charge that is interfering with the hardware because if i power off the computer, install the side panel, and power up it runs normally. So what I may try is to see if any of the standoffs underneath the mobo are touching a trace or something. Its all I can think of at the moment.

 

Very doubtful because they aren't used much any more but a lot of older cases had a contact and setting for open case or caselock that would cause a shutdown or other similar activity re: circuitry.

 

I have examined the case for any kind of switch on the side panel and there is nothing. I will remove the board tonight and put a layer of insulating tape on the standoff. Its a type of standoff thata is stamped into the metal and not the threaded in type.

 

OK, I found the source of trouble. When i put back the side panel to the case i saw a small static discharge from the panel to the case...but I am confused....since it is to the case and the case is grounded it should not affect the computer? Or should it?

 

Hello Chuck,

Is there good clearance between the video card and the side-panel? Some of those ATI cards can be large(tall) in size. If you have a rather narrow case, the video card could be shorting to the side-panel, then across to the case when you attach it.

That's the only way I can see it happening.

If that is what happens, you may have to consider changing the motherboard to a wider case (or getting a shorter video card??). Also, if the video card "partitions off" a section of the case, you will not be getting adequate air flow around the case and could be getting hot/dead air spots.

Matt
PS. If you think that the video card is shorting to the side-panel, you try putting some stips of insulation tape on the side-panel where it would come in the vicinity of the card.

 

Hey Chuck,

Have you checked the wall receptacle to see if it is properly grounded. It is certainly unusual to get a static charge from what you are saying. When you get this discharge, can you get another by opening and closing the side panel?

Your computer is not sitting on a nylon rug is it? Are you wearing leather soled shoes on working on a nylon rug?

 

I guess the weird thing is that on my old computer I have had the side panel on and off dozens of times with no problems. On my new computer as soon as I did it I had a problem with the discharge of static from the side panel to the chassis upsetting the machine. I can only thank my luck? that I did not zap anything. But I never expected it and it is a problem. Nothing changed with the house wiring etc, same setup as always, however I did add my firewire connection to the motherboard so I am wondering about that.