Graphic card problems (blue screen, jumping and flickering screen)

[Smisen]

Hi,

First of all, I'm new to this forum so correct me if I'm in the wrong corner of if I'm violating any rules. Second, I don't have much knowledge about computers so please, describe the possible answers so easy as possible.

Since a year I occasionally have problems while watching youtube video's. In most cases when I switch video's my computer screen turns blue with blue vertical stripes (but other colours like black and grey also happened) while my sounds keeps on playing for a few seconds before turning off. I only can get my computer back working with switching the power on/off. This never happened while gaming. Since 2 weeks this worsened and now this blue screen pops up right after my boot menu and right before I can log in to my account. I have to switch off the power up to 5 times to get behind the log in screen. Now, even while I use facebook or any 'regular' site, my screen starts jumping/skipping and flickering. This is getting out of hand because it starts to influence my productivity for my study etc.

I have saw on other threads in other forums that It could be my graphic cards or DVI cable but I'm not sure. I never experienced this during gaming, only during regular use (or watching movies). Could someone please help me fixing this problem?

In case, here are my specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3550 CPU @ 3.30GHz
Video Card: AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
RAM: 8.0 GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (build 7601), 64-bit

Note: I never overclocked anything.

I hope some people can help me with this problem.

 

[FnaticMeister]

So, basically, this is a display problem.

There could be many factors distributing to this problem, I will try to make it as easy to read as possible.

1. Power supply might not be pushing out enough power during some tasks.
2. Graphics card might be acting a little poorly on its part.
3. Your display could actually be acting oddly.
4. And yes, it is possible that your display cable might be acting strangely.

Now, upon reading what you have stated with having to turn your computer on and off, that suggests much more towards a graphics card or power supply problem.

Have you tried downloading the recent drivers for your graphics card for your OS system? If not, please try that now.
Have you updated your windows versions and all necessary drivers inside of your OS into your system? If not, please do so.
Do you have another graphics card and/or another display cable to test out the connection between the system and the display? Please try it on another system with a reliable power supply if possible.

Please reply back after these options have been completed! Best of luck!

 

[jakubek160]

It's high time to upgrade your gpu. It's farely old and it seems like it's tired with life. I would suggest to go for 1050 ti if you are on a budget or gtx 1060 6gb version if you can spend more than 200 gbp. Here are links to the cards I recommend , because I was using them :

EVGA Superclocked gtx 1050 ti - https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/bce/EVGA-NVIDIA-GeForce-Superclock-GAMING-Express-Graphics/B01MG0ZJRO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496067152&sr=8-1&keywords=gtx+1050+ti+evga

EVGA Superclocked gtx 1060 6gb (It's discounted by a lot and it costs only 214 gbp now) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-GeForce-Superclocked-Express-Graphics/dp/B01IOWT538/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496067181&sr=8-1&keywords=gtx+1060+evga

Asus Dual gtx 1060 6gb - https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/bce/Asus-NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-1060-DUAL-GTX1060-6G-Graphics/B01IUA9Z52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496067218&sr=8-1&keywords=gtx+1060+asus+dual

Gigabyte G1 Gaming gtx 1060 6gb - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-Nvidia-GeForce-Express-Graphics/dp/B01M8O1JEB/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496067245&sr=8-3&keywords=gtx+1060+gigabyte

Msi Armor gtx 1060 6gb - https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-GeForce-GTX-1060-ARMOR/dp/B01IPBC4WC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496067263&sr=8-3&keywords=gtx+1060+msi

I recommend you to get the EVGA gtx 1060 6gb version. It's very cheap at the moment and one fan keeps it cool all the time so don't worry. Remember that you can have two fans running slower or one fan running faster. It does a great job in terms of cooling and overclocking. Before you buy I suggest you to invest in a new HDMI cable to be sure that your card is damaged. Hope that I helped you.

 

[Smisen]

Hi FnaticMeister & jakubek160. I tried to update my drivers and I think I did it alright (downloader several installers en going through them). I also updated my windows 7 but I had trouble installing my VGA cable. I bought one today to replace DVI but my AOC 2236Vwa says 'VGA' and then 'no signal'. I re-plugged the VGA again and checked if everything was fitting correctly but still my screen says 'no signal' while when I plugged and selected in my DVI he connects to it... I think it also might be time to upgrade my gpu because I think its indeed farely old (bought it in 2012). Can someone help me trying to connect my VGA to check if it's not a cable problem?

 

[jakubek160]

For me it seems like either a cable or gpu problem. If you have HDMI outputs buy a new cable and plug it in. See if that's the case. It might be it!

 

[Smisen]

Hi, A little update here. I tried different VGA cables (3 in total) to check if it's a cable problem but my monitor won't detect them. I have no HDMI port in my monitor so I have to stick with my DVI cable. I have made my whole computer clear of any dust, hoping it would change anything (I havened dusted it since 2012), but no succes. My guess would also be that it is a gpu problem. Regarding a new gpu. Can I get a decent one for around €100,- ? I'm not a die hard gamer but I would like to game with decent graphics (very high/ultra). When I buy a new gpu, would it also be neccesary to buy a new processor or power supply of any kind?