Coloured lines on monitor display?

Question

Hi! I have just built a new computer with a P5GZ-MX motherboard. Everything was working spiffingly but after less than a week the display suddenly gets these columns of coloured lines through it, I can see the desktop through the lines but I am unable to do anything like move the mouse or use my keybard to shut the computer down. I have tried reinstalling the motherboard drivers, and this seemed to fix the problem temporarily, but then it came back again. I assumed it could be the onboard VGA on the motherboard, so I replaced the motherboard completely with the same model, but the same problem happens again. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

Thanks for your answers everyone! I did forget to mention that it is an LCD monitor and the first thing I did before mucking around with the drivers was to try a different monitor but the same problem occurred with both monitors... also tried different cables.

Yes I have a feeling I will need to edit the VGA settings in the BIOS however I have no idea where or what... I tried changing the chipset default Internal Graphics mode from 8MB to 1MB but this was the only thing I was willing to adjust and it made no difference.

Answer 1

have you tried adding a PCI graphics card? Maybe the motherboard has an inherently bad VGA section.

I remember once when I bought a motherboard from Fry's Electronics, and had to replace it almost 5 times before I finally got a MB that worked!!! Sometimes a particular batch of MBs maybe bad due to a fauly component.

Answer 2

What type of monitor are you using; LCD or CRT (big tv style)? If its a CRT monitor check its menu to see if it has a degaussing selection. There could have been a build up of magnetic field around it which would impair its display. If its an LCD I would need to be replaced more than likely. First thing you should do is find out if its a monitor or computer issue. Hook up the monitor to another computer and see if you have the same result, if you do then its a monitor issue. On the other hand if you have another monitor hook that up to the PC you just built to see if has the same result then. Since you've replaced the motherboard and have the same issue I would think its a monitor or monitor cable issue.

Answer 3

You have tried a different monitor, right? Check on the monitor cord if all 15 pins are there and are looking good. This could be the monitor so i would try a different monitor.


EDIT: Try going into BIOS and check all of the VGA options there.

Answer 4

Hi. I agree with 'hi' (no pun). Check and clean the cable and jack. If you use an LCD screen this could cause columns (or rows) of unusual artifacts. The monitor, as stated, may be bad, but changing the drivers would not have fixed it, even temporarily.