I've just installed a new ATI AIW 128mb 8x AGP card into a friends pc . Bit of a relic but just need to keep it running until a new pc can be purchased . The old graphics card would automatically turn off the monitor , switch back on but only in 8 bit colour . The obvious thing was a cheap but new graphics card .

The new ATI ( backward compatible to the 4x ) does exactly the same thing . The monitor is archaic and is due replacement . Just wondering if the new card / old card and graphics problem might be due to fluctuation in power supply as the graphics only seem to reset on boot into OS ? The pc can be left on for hours after resetting graphics back to 32 bit and no graphics change occur .

Obviously the replacement monitor will resolve any possible monitor issues .

Originally Posted by cyberjunkee

The obvious thing was a cheap but new graphics card .

As you have encountered that isn't the only possible cause to your problem and yes it could also be your monitor. Provided you completely removed the old drivers [did you use a driver cleaner?] I would say that it is more than likely hardware related since the problem applies to both cards. Do you have another computer in which you can test the cards? Do you have another monitor you can test with? I don't know if a PSU can cause such a problem but it could also be the slot or the chip set. If it has on board graphics is the on board graphics disabled? If it only happens when it turns off the monitor then I would say to try and disable monitor shut off in the power configuration.

Hi ,

Yes cleared the old Nvidia driver and checked all error logs in event viewer - most errors were caused by a previous install of AVG free edition which had actually been uninstalled anyway in favour of Avast . I removed AVG with AVG cleaner , deleted any old drivers , ran malwarebytes and then ran CCleaner to remove any old files .
The onboard graphics aren't even VGA and I think only a person with many years in furtherance of my own would even recognise the connection type .

The idea it might have been a power issue was that the card only faults at boot into OS when the HD is requiring more power than when idle . I have suggested using power options to save having to reset graphics or a very basic " shell " replacement of case , mobo , cpu , psu and ram as some hardware doesn't require replacement due to my friends pc usage . Mainly msn , internet based usage with some spider solitaire thrown in just for the added " edge of seat " thrill factor .

I have a spare psu but that's been evicted into the garden shed and has been subjected to damp conditions so I wouldn't deem it particularly safe to plug into a socket . I don't have access to another VGA compatable pc but the purchased ATI card was new so can't see it being faulty ( although I have seen many " as new " items that are sold as new but faulty )

I've a decent online pc retailer that I can use who custom build to spec requirements , so the essential machine components could be replacable without too much expenditure .

No using that other PSU doesn't sound like a good idea to but what about a temporary substitution of your good PSU for testing purposes? Just long enough to determine whether or not the problem goes away with a different, good, PSU. I doesn't matter what the on board graphics are, It needs to be disabled to avoid resource conflicts. Just note that it probably is VGA but you just heard it as something else. What about substituting a monitor with a good one? When you have a problem that is probably hardware related you isolate the problematic component(s) by substituting parts suspected to be bad with others that are known to be good. Just only substitute one part at a time. The new graphics card is probably good (unless your OS has rejected it) so that leaves the monitor, PSU, OS, and motherboard. If a swap of the monitor or PSU doesn't work my next move would be to reinstall the OS to ensure that there is no conflict there. If that didn't work I would suspect a problem with the slot, the chipset of something in between. Basically at that point you could probably declare the MB as being FUBAR. You could go with the on board graphics or a PCI card but that will only delay your problems. It will probably get worse if it is the chipset.

Hi ,

Can close this thread , most definitely a voltage issue on the mobo . The computer is archaic to say the least - I'm suprised it even powers up haha . A new monitor was purchased and installed with the same drop to 8 bit colour .