I have a UNIQUE computer problem

[DavidE]

In one of your other threads you said you couldn't take it elsewhere for testing because you are in midtown NYC.
Are there any reputable PC shops in your neighborhood ?
If something happened in April to cause this issue, maybe they have heard about it from other folks, and could explain it.
Also, if it's possible to take a desktop box to the shop they should be able to test it with a Digital monitor as well as a VGA monitor.
I'm sure there would be a $ cost so you would have to ask them what they would charge for this.

 

[Magikal]

This is frustrating, and I can see you've been at it longer:

At my wits end! Hope someone can help! - Geeks to Go Forums

Is it Windows or my PC? | Windows Secrets Lounge

After reading through those two threads, your theory about the bad graphics chip might be true. I believe you said in one or both you bought the machines from Ebay?

That got me to thinking about dried out thermal paste, and I couldn't find anywhere that anyone mentioned about testing for a bad Motherboard (MB).

You could use Prime95 to test the MB to see if it can handle the stress, and heat, I can point you to it, but I don't know much about it because I've never used it.

Here's some documentation: Prime95

If you decide to go with the Jaton card install (Support) don't forget to go into the bios and disable the on board graphics, and personally in my humble opinion, I'd stay away from Ebay.

If it's not too late return those units and deal with a local computer shop.

All the e4100's I got from e-bay. But the e-4610 I got from New Egg. Manufacturer refurbished. And the first e-4100 I got was running fine until April. That's when this strange issue just appeared. I think if the motherboard were bad I'd be having many more problems than this weird slant. I checked out my BIOS, I don't have an option to disable on board graphics as simply that. I do have options to use PCI, PCIe (PEG) or IGA as primary video adapter though. Currently, it's set to auto to use the intel chip. By the way what's thermal paste and what would it have to do with this issue?


Someone said I should've just gotten a new Gateway PC on Amazon but for like $800+ dollars? Not to mention all of Gateway's new towers are those giant fat ones. I have gotten used to my small form towers. According to my research, most if not all display issues are tied to the graphics chip or card. Because they are solely, and directly responsible for how Windows displays on your computer monitor.

 

[Magikal]

In one of your other threads you said you couldn't take it elsewhere for testing because you are in midtown NYC.
Are there any reputable PC shops in your neighborhood ?
If something happened in April to cause this issue, maybe they have heard about it from other folks, and could explain it.
Also, if it's possible to take a desktop box to the shop they should be able to test it with a Digital monitor as well as a VGA monitor.
I'm sure there would be a $ cost so you would have to ask them what they would charge for this.

No PC shops in my neighborhood unless you count the high end places that are in the business of selling, and have no clue about anything else beyond getting you to BUY a PC. As far as it's inner workings, they're clueless beyond the usual stuff. They're salesman, nothing more really. I've asked. Just got blank stares.:huh:

I thought about a bad motherboard but bad motherboards just don't pop up like that. It's usually a series of events that are rolled out beforehand like dead pixels, burning smell, out of place colors or pixels, BSOD's, etc. My PC is in excellent physical condition. Runs smooth, fast, programs and files open and close quickly and painlessly. No blue screens or weird shut downs, it hibernates when I set it to do so, flawlessly, etc. Colors are crisp, clear, and normal. This weird side-slant is my ONLY current PC issue. Hence why I doubt the motherboard is bad.

In total, after the first e-4100 I bought last October, developed this weird issue in April....I've bought 4 replacements from e-bay. And an e-2000 as well. All have the same issue. So I got an e-4610 from New Egg. And the same issue again. So it must be the graphics chip, or something in the area messing with my signal. Which is why I asked at the start of the thread if there was a piece of equipment I could buy to null any signal interference in this instance?

 

[DavidE]

I just find it hard to believe all the graphics chips would have the same issue, but before April there was no problem.
I think in one of your other posts you said you tried a different graphic card and had the same issue, right?

So, local outside interference seems the most likely cause with everything you have tried...

Crazy as this sounds...
Is there a basement in your building you have access to and can take a PC there to test it?
If it's local interference I think that would at least help in eliminating it...being below ground within concrete walls.

 

[Magikal]

Nope our landlord has the basement locked up. Only folks allowed down there are Con Edison to read the meters, and workers and such who need access to the panels. Don't wanna come off as a total freak running around my building with this issue anyways.

Yes, one e-4100 I ordered had the on board graphics disabled. And had a Nvidia graphics card installed. But looking at that card it didn't seem to be a PCI card. Looked AGP to me. Here's a link to how THAT other card looked...http://www.pcliquidations.com/p9703-nvidia-180-p0009-0000?r160164167166161. It looked EXACTLY like that, except it had a low profile bracket, and the VGA socket was on the bottom, and above it was a plug of some kind for something else. But it was DEFINITELY an AGP card, not a PCI. See the bottom rows that fit into the mother board slots? They were a trio of small ones, just like that one has. Not one long one, and then one short one. So the scenario was an e-4100 sent to me with an AGP card installed in place of the on board graphics.

My next idea, is using my Gateway e-4610 with W7-64 bit, buying a Jaton PCI card and installing it into the PCI slot. Thus taking place of the on board graphics.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have read through this thread but forgive me if I missed something.
Please use this Tutorial by Brink to post your specs. It might help others help you.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

Power Supply.
A power supply can put off RF signals if it is not of quality and working properly. It could very with temperature.

 

[Britton30]

True, very unique problem Magikal. I read the whole thread. I don't really see why a bad GPU would cause the same issue across 3 PCs and multiple monitors.
NYC is not a place I'd consider to be free from freaky people putting up towers and doing strange science. It could even be a terrorist group using some sort of spying equipment, or maybe more likely, the Feds and military. Not trying to be dramatic, but in my mind I think this has to be an external interference from....somewhere. There is a lot of military activity in the NYC area and some agency may be experimenting with a new communications system or VLF (very Low Frequency) system.

It's possible there is a malfunction of part of your power grid, say a transformer, outside or maybe in or on your building.

All fascinating stuff.

 

[Sub Styler]

Did the AGP card have this issue aswell?

 

[DavidE]

In order to have a digital display, I'd have to buy a whole new monitor. My DVI socket on my pc tower is DVI-D.

Can you connect your PC to any of your Flat screen TVs?
If a TV has a DVI input you may just need the right cable?
If the TVs only have HDMI input, you may be able to get a DVI/HDMI adapter or cable?

 

[Britton30]

I don't know what DVI-D is, but DVI stands for Digital Video Interface.

 

[TanyaC]

I don't know what DVI-D is, but DVI stands for Digital Video Interface.

DVI-D means "Digital only Digital Visual Interface".. There is also DVI-I and DVI-A.

DVD-A is analog only and DVI-I is integrated Digital and Analog.

Each of these specs also supports a single link and Dual link mode.

Tanya

 

[Magikal]

Did the AGP card have this issue aswell?

Yep. But hard to tell if the card was bad or not. Still, this means I have not tried to troubleshoot the issue yet with a PCI or PCI Express card.

 

[Sub Styler]

If the AGP card did the same as two on board GPU the chances if it being a fault with all 3 is very slim indeed. Two identical systems may share a common fault but to have a 3rd differnt GPU produce the same issue pretty much eliminates the GPU as the cause.

You say there is a slant forwards/backwards just on the left hand side. Does this mean the overall image appears to twist?

 

[Anak]

It would be nice of you Magikal to post a screenshot or take a picture of the display problem and post it so every one knows exactly what your describing, instead of everyone guessing what the display looks like.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Also, please fill in your System Specs. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

 

[Sub Styler]

It would be nice of you Magikal to post a screenshot or take a picture of the display problem and post it so every one knows exactly what your describing, instead of everyone guessing what the display looks like.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Also, please fill in your System Specs. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

Actually both would be good. Screenshots (which I expect will look normal to us) and pictures from a camera positioned central to the screen to show the porduced output.

Forgive my mistypings. Using mobile right now.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I've encountered screen distortions on OPC's (other peoples computers) before. Normally it's caused by a magnetic devise positioned close to, or on the monitor. Have you added a new set of speakers? Is this distortion the same in different areas or rooms of your domicile?

 

[Magikal]

I've encountered screen distortions on OPC's (other peoples computers) before. Normally it's caused by a magnetic devise positioned close to, or on the monitor. Have you added a new set of speakers? Is this distortion the same in different areas or rooms of your domicile?

I've had the same set of speakers for about 4 years now. Yes, the distortion is the same in both bedrooms, and the living room. I tested in both bedrooms without speakers or the internet. Jut mouse, keyboard, and tower.

 

[Magikal]

It would be nice of you Magikal to post a screenshot or take a picture of the display problem and post it so every one knows exactly what your describing, instead of everyone guessing what the display looks like.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Also, please fill in your System Specs. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

Here are my specs accordingly....decided to type them by hand.

Manufacturer: Gateway
Model PC SYSTEM E-4610S MFUBTX 3P1
Processors: Intel Core(R) 2 CPU 1.80GHZ
Hard Drive Capacity 70 GB Western Digital
Total Memory 2 GB
CD Drive DVD-ROM, CD-RW Lite On LTN 48915
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
Graphics: Intel Q965/Q963 Express Chipset Family

 

[Magikal]

It would be nice of you Magikal to post a screenshot or take a picture of the display problem and post it so every one knows exactly what your describing, instead of everyone guessing what the display looks like.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Also, please fill in your System Specs. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

Actually both would be good. Screenshots (which I expect will look normal to us) and pictures from a camera positioned central to the screen to show the porduced output.

Forgive my mistypings. Using mobile right now.

I've sent screenshots to people of this issue, and the screenshots show no distortion. I think it's because it only takes photos of what the signal is sending out. Not what the monitor itself shows.

 

[Magikal]

If the AGP card did the same as two on board GPU the chances if it being a fault with all 3 is very slim indeed. Two identical systems may share a common fault but to have a 3rd differnt GPU produce the same issue pretty much eliminates the GPU as the cause.

You say there is a slant forwards/backwards just on the left hand side. Does this mean the overall image appears to twist?

Yeah. Like the task bar and browser windows looked crooked and tilted because of this glitch. Still readable but very abnormal looking.