I have a Dell Optiplex GX1 450mhz with 768mb of Ram. eVGA Gforce4 MX440 64mb PCI video card with vers. 93.71 drivers. Winxp home edition. AVG viruscide / spyware- free version. The original CPU was upgraded using a PowerLeap iP3/T Celeron 1.4GHz Update. This configuration has been satisfactory since 2004 and added another life to an old P3 machine. A very good reasonably priced alternative to a new machine.
I added an Envison En7220 LCD monitor with native resolution of 1280x1024 @60hz about 18months ago and it has performed as designed with the exception of some overscan during the bootup sequence. Otherwise the screen image has been fine until recently.
The screen blacks out intermittantly for a second to two when in the middle of a program or surfing. some times the screen image freezes and may take a reboot to unlock it.
I have removed the video card, used de-Oxit to clean the contacts on the card and firmly reseated the card in its original slot. I did the same for the 3@ 256mb sdram Dimms. I blew out all of the dust and generally cleaned up the chasis. I double checked to make sure the 8mb of onboard video memory was deactivated, IT IS.
I ran the Microsoft memory tester boot up software for over 4 hours and everything came back as passed.
I contacted eVGA the Video card maker and asked for assitance and direction, they were of little if any help. Frankly I found them downright nasty. The suggested I try 1) using another monitor to duplicate the Black out condition 2) Run the LCD at less than the native resolution, 3) Update or change the "chipsets" on the motherboard(?), 4) Buy a New video card!
Well for starters, I did have another LCD on hand. A Brand new, just out of the Box, DELL E207WFP 20" LCD monitor with a native resolution of 1680x1050 @60hz. I swapped out the monitors AND the Video cable.
Fired up the new monitor and let it settle in for about an hour and sure enough the black screen problem continued. I lived with the new monitor for bout 3 days, then when back to the original Envision 7220 LCD
where the problem continues .
Thats where I am at right now.So I know its NOT the LCD monitor with the problem.
Considering the monitor, video card and motherboard have been operating fine until this point, I am considering the next step vis a vis the "chipsets" on the mother board. Then the last resort would it be a be a new PCI video card?
I'm looking for some hand holding to walk me through Updating the chipsets or whatever it is you do to change them. I'm not even certain DELL offers updates! As well as some testing methodology to address this issue.
