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Question

Monitor cuts out, need help

Oct 2, 2018 3:38PM PDT

Hey everyone, I have been having some problems with my computer and trying to get some help. I'd rather not take it into repair since that would cost quite a bit of money.

So, I have an Alienware X51 R2, and for years it ran fine, no complaints, but about a month ago it started having these issues.

Whenever I launched a video game, any game, the monitors would lose signal, and the computer would make a loud noise, like a fan, which I assume is the GPU. I asked around for any help and everyone told me it was an overheating issue, as my GPU was hitting temps of 95C. My old GPU was a GTX 750.

I bought a new GPU, a Zotac GTX 1060 Mini, and it still happens, but the GPU isn't overheating. It's not even hitting 60C while gaming, so that's not the problem. I checked the monitors too, no problems there.
Also, with the new GPU I can play games for around an hour or so before it cuts out, whereas with the old one it would cut out instantly as soon as I would launch a game.

My guess was that there was some broken script or something that was overloading the GPU and causing it to just die, since when the monitor cuts out there is a loud fan noise from the computer.

Any thoughts?

Post was last edited on October 2, 2018 3:43 PM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
So about 2015?
Oct 2, 2018 3:48PM PDT
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No
Oct 2, 2018 3:52PM PDT

No, I have never cleaned it. I could try to I guess, but could the issue be that simple to fix?

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Not from 2015?
Oct 2, 2018 4:07PM PDT

I think I need to number my questions. It's pretty clear you did write it has never been cleaned.

There are MANY YouTubes about cleaning so watch a few and don't get to alarmed as some go deep. For now I'd like to see the cover off (POWER OFF FIRST, REMOVE POWER CORD!) and then just an once over with the usual canned area being sure to get into the heatsinks of the machine and the graphics card.

THE ONE THING TO NOT DO is to spin the fans at 100,000 RPMs. You can spin them with the air but short blasts won't over-rev the fans.

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Canned Air
Oct 2, 2018 4:10PM PDT

I don't have any, I'd need to wait until tomorrow to go to the store, I'll send you a pic too then.

Assuming it's not that that's causing the problems, anything else that might be causing it?

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Agree with Bob.
Oct 2, 2018 4:16PM PDT

The canned air cleaning is a cheap start. After that we look at other issues. The Speccy will help.
Dafydd.

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Given the story the liklihood it's just that. ∞
Oct 2, 2018 4:17PM PDT

Went to nearly 100%. I see I asked for a Web Speccy report but don't see that so we can't check out the PC that way.

When you have the cover off, let's get the make, model of the PSU or at least its rating and the number of +12V Rails and the Amperage for each +12V rail.

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PS. A simple thing to do now.
Oct 2, 2018 4:18PM PDT

While you wait just remove the case cover and leave it off. Might help.

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Speccy
Oct 2, 2018 4:37PM PDT
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Answer
A Speccy reading. Look at those temperatures.
Oct 2, 2018 4:53PM PDT

1. Right off the bat the temperatures are well above average. This is typical for machines that are used for years without maintenance. Clearing and after that making sure all fans work like new usually clears this up. This work is for most a can of canned air, some time on YouTube and done.

Motherboard, CPU are high but the HDD and GPU is ~39C. Could be a failed fan or just built up dust, lint, etc. Try the cover off testing.

2. Something odd is in the NOT INSTALLED HOTFIXES. Did something block updates?

All in all pretty clean but the temps fit with no maintenance.

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Hotfixes
Oct 2, 2018 5:03PM PDT

I am not sure about the updates. How would I go about fixing that? Can the firewall maybe be blocking that?

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Didn't find a firewall.
Oct 2, 2018 5:06PM PDT

That's partly why I asked. Go ahead and post that question in the CNET Security Forum.

Example: "Windows 8.1 has a lot of pending updates. Why is that and how do I fix that?"
Add your Speccy Link and see what advice is found.

-> https://www.cnet.com/forums/spyware-viruses-security/

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Alright, thanks
Oct 2, 2018 5:07PM PDT

I'll do that, thanks for the help.

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Didn't fix anything :(
Oct 3, 2018 5:02PM PDT
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Still those high temps. Let's move on with DDU
Oct 3, 2018 5:19PM PDT

In some cases (most actually) I get DDU (what is, how to use is on google) to remove all GPU drivers and install the latest.

Let's do that next.

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DDU
Oct 3, 2018 5:28PM PDT

Okay, so I remove them with DDU and install the latest with what? Is Geforce Experience ok?

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Your choice there.
Oct 4, 2018 8:15AM PDT

Some have very strong feelings about which drivers to use. Here I just want to be sure the drivers are clean.

There is another area to cover such as video settings in game but we have other things to work in my opinion. Still that heat is high and not something I'd let be. I'm surprised the cover off use didn't drop the temps. It may be time to replace all the heatsink compounds. Those heatsinks would be the CPU and the motherboard pieces.

I'm going to repeat that we must be sure in game video settings do not exceed our monitor capabilities.

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Update
Oct 4, 2018 8:54PM PDT

Hey, so I did that and I also got all those updates installed.

At first I thought I had fixed the problem as I was able to play a game for over 4 hours but then it happened again sadly.