Tech Video card help...

Video card help...

Ok..So I've had this video card for about 5 years or so (it went from the old computer to the one I have now back in 2005). Just recently, I'd be on the computer and the screen will go blank. The monitor is still on and the computer is still working fine but no image on the screen. Since I can't see what I'm doing, I can only shutdown everything and restart it. At which point, the image on the screen will appear and stay on.

Since I know its not the computer or the monitor, It has to be the video card taking its last few shits on me. So what video card would you recommend that is good but not a fortune. I'm not a gamer but I do use the computer for photo editing and the occasional video editing.

And before you ask:
1) I have checked the connections and its just fine.
2) Everything works but the image just disappears (sometimes it'll reappear without me doing anything but thats rare).
3) Don't ask what I have now cause I don't know off the top of my head..lol. I know its from nVidia.
4) I've cleaned the inside to see if it could be too dirty, but it still happens.
5) I'm looking for something that can fit in a PCI slot.

Thanks in advance.

that happen to me before, when i check i'd found out that i fried the cpu (i play video games so i bot alot). check the cpu first before buying another graffic card and having to waste time to return it.

If it was the CPU, then wouldn't the whole computer not work? cause the computer still works fine...its just the image doesn't show. i was in the middle of doing something and the screen went blank but then it came back on and it was exactly where I was...and how would i know if the CPU is bad?

clean it with dust-off. as stated before check your cable (try a new monitor)

buy a new one...

no i ment the cpu, that happen to me twice actually, the motherboard operates but the monitor doesn't go on though. the first one i chipped a piece when installing the cpu fan and the second one was that i fried the cpu (AMD Athlon 2200). both cases both turn on but did not flash any picture on the monitor.

i'm no computer expert but i have a good feeling that your power supply does not have enough juice to support your motherboard and its accessories. if theres t0o many fan or drives it can also alter your computer performances.

It can't be that either..I've had the same setup for about 2-3 years now. It just started last week. But in your case, did the computer work fine and just no image on the screen? Cause mine comes completely on and brings me to the desktop and everything. I don't think a CPU would even let a computer go that far if it was that.

Corollasbest and Moviestar, I took the side of the case off and blasted the inside with dust-off after the last time it happened. So far, it happened again this morning and my wife turned off the pc and back on and it worked just fine. I'm going to double check to make sure nothing else is loose or bad. I gotta get my hands on another VGA cable.

I just want a new computer, period! lol. But I hate vista and don't feel like dealing with it. I like my XP more.

*Knocking on wood*

I did a final air blast of the entire case. I made sure the air got into spots that I may have missed. A dust ball flew out from somewhere and since then, the computer has been fine. I have the side cover off and spray it every so often now..well..more like when I remember. but its good so far. thanks for the help guys. eventually, I may want to upgrade regardless so suggestions wouldn't be bad.

I would say get whatever pci card you find that is >=128mb. I play some games and do some photoediting and I do just fine with 128mb cards. I have found some pci cards for as low as 9$ with rebate of course...

Take a pic of the gold contacts on your card when ever you have time.