I put an MCE machine together last year using an older PC I had (P4 2.53GHZ 533FSB, 1GB RAM, Gigabyt 9600 Vid Card).
I have been real pleased, but every now and then the screen would blank and it would be like it was frozen. I'd reboot it and all would be fine. It did not happen too frequently so I did not prioritize it very high.
Well I have a little time off so I moved the machine upstairs where I could more easily test it. To do this I tried some 3d games and I loaded them on another machine as well so I could see the result (networked games).
What I was able to reproduce:
1. The screen would blank every now and then, and then after 10-15 seconds come back. I tried hitting keys on the keyboard but watching the 'player' from the other computer showed no change and neither did the text on that computer.
This made me wonder is it video or the cpu that is having a problem.
2. I did get it to go completely blank like I mentioned originally. The difference was that I would not see a mouse cursor, where on the above scenario (#1) I would still see that, just everything else black.
My question is, anyone have any ideas on troubleshooting? I was going to try and swap the video card and see if I can reproduce it. My hope is that it would not, only problem is I only have non MCE approved cards for this testing.
I suspected (we will see if this is true) that it is either the card or the CPU. I found only some strange informational messages in the event viewer under ACEEventLog. I discounted them originally but I am going to redo the tests and see if the blank-outs occur when these are written. These seem to be a category for the ATI graphics card which makes me suspect the video card as the culprit.
Assuming this is the case, anyone know if all 6x00 and 7x00 series nVidia cards are 'MCE' compatible? I could not find an update from the one I posted originally. If this is indeed the video card, I am going back to familiar territory in the form of nVidia cards.
I have been real pleased, but every now and then the screen would blank and it would be like it was frozen. I'd reboot it and all would be fine. It did not happen too frequently so I did not prioritize it very high.
Well I have a little time off so I moved the machine upstairs where I could more easily test it. To do this I tried some 3d games and I loaded them on another machine as well so I could see the result (networked games).
What I was able to reproduce:
1. The screen would blank every now and then, and then after 10-15 seconds come back. I tried hitting keys on the keyboard but watching the 'player' from the other computer showed no change and neither did the text on that computer.
This made me wonder is it video or the cpu that is having a problem.
2. I did get it to go completely blank like I mentioned originally. The difference was that I would not see a mouse cursor, where on the above scenario (#1) I would still see that, just everything else black.
My question is, anyone have any ideas on troubleshooting? I was going to try and swap the video card and see if I can reproduce it. My hope is that it would not, only problem is I only have non MCE approved cards for this testing.
I suspected (we will see if this is true) that it is either the card or the CPU. I found only some strange informational messages in the event viewer under ACEEventLog. I discounted them originally but I am going to redo the tests and see if the blank-outs occur when these are written. These seem to be a category for the ATI graphics card which makes me suspect the video card as the culprit.
Assuming this is the case, anyone know if all 6x00 and 7x00 series nVidia cards are 'MCE' compatible? I could not find an update from the one I posted originally. If this is indeed the video card, I am going back to familiar territory in the form of nVidia cards.