Respected computer experts,
In the last few days, I've seen quite a few threads regarding folks dredging up old video
cards that have been stored away, some possibly with a burned capacitor smell to them.
One gentleman suggested, "just put it on your motherboard, either it will work or it
wont."
Please allow me to share my $10,000 "test" of a damaged video card:
It has been my experience over a million years, that one should NEVER plug a monitor into
an outlet strip that ALSO has a fluorescent light attached and powered up. Easy
explanation: the frequency of the light fixture's ballast (required for most fluorescents)
plays hell with the frequency of a CRT monitor's fly-back transformer, causing fatal
problems in the monitor. For LCD/LED monitors, the transient levels sent out the line can
play havoc with the LCD/LED monitor's power inverters and in some cases assist in the
rapid deterioration of the monitor's internal capacitors, which is the circuitry that
"talks" to the video card inside your computer..
AND, it has been my unfortunate experience that when the video card goes it virtually
ALWAYS takes something else with it. A CPU (fried), motherboard (shorted out), PSU
(thermal runaway), or other peripherals (usually NOT SSD's or hard drives) installed in
the system.
My $10,000 test (WAR STORY):
My wife (God love her) had trouble reading in the computer office, so she brought in from
the bedroom a circular fluorescent light that had a magnifying glass built in. The only
open AC outlet was on an outlet strip attached to the side of the computer desk (also
connected. two monitors, one server). The outlet strip was plugged into an APC RM3300
UPS.
ON came the fluorescent light.
OFF went the VIDEO on server1.
OFF went the power on server2.
Upon powering up the two units, I now get a terse four line message in the upper left
corner of the monitor on server2. Nothing on server1.
Took the video card from server2 (since SOME data IS getting from the CPU to the monitor)
and go into the music studio and try the card (GEFORCE 8800GT) in the ASUS m5a99x evo
system. Get the 6pin adapter, plug it into the 8800GT, install on the MOBO and hit the
power button.
NADA, Nothing. No power light on the case lighting up, no familiar "buzz" as the fans
come to life. No POST. And the MEMORY OK LED on the MOBO has changed from GREEN to RED.
Tried a different 6 pin cable, different PCI slots.. Nothing but after a few tests a
burning smell coming out of the case. Burning smell was traced to capacitors and some
other circuitry on the MOBO under the onboard heatsinks.
I have yet to take the time to tear down the two office servers, rather I have been
cannibalizing them for the music studio. Had an Antec Quattro 1000 PSU drop dead in the
studio (NOT from the video card problem), and had an identical PSU in Server2, so out it
came, one ANTEC QUATTRO 1000 RMA'ed back to ANTEC.
END OF WAR STORY
However, I have had identical problems happen to multiple clients of my PC biz. In the
case of a CRT type monitor, IT would be the monitor that would blow. If the units had
LCD/LED, it was usually the monitor card and at least one other card/CPU/??? that was also
disabled.
Here are a few links from the net. The first is a tad technical, two are
tomshardware forum discussions.
All I'd like to impart to y'all is PLEASE be careful to keep fluorescent lights,
ESPECIALLY if they have an old starter and ballast in order to function. You can keep the
lights in the room, just plug them into a separate circuit than the computers/monitors are
running on..
LINKS:
http://electronicdesign.com/lighting/consider-circuit-protection-your-next-lcd-design
http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Backlight-for-Your-LCD-Monitor-or-Television/
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2155900/screen-flickers-turning-kitchen-light.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/50406-3-makes-buzz-damage
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2726&page=12
I wish you the best with your DIY creations!
All my best,
mm3
In the last few days, I've seen quite a few threads regarding folks dredging up old video
cards that have been stored away, some possibly with a burned capacitor smell to them.
One gentleman suggested, "just put it on your motherboard, either it will work or it
wont."
Please allow me to share my $10,000 "test" of a damaged video card:
It has been my experience over a million years, that one should NEVER plug a monitor into
an outlet strip that ALSO has a fluorescent light attached and powered up. Easy
explanation: the frequency of the light fixture's ballast (required for most fluorescents)
plays hell with the frequency of a CRT monitor's fly-back transformer, causing fatal
problems in the monitor. For LCD/LED monitors, the transient levels sent out the line can
play havoc with the LCD/LED monitor's power inverters and in some cases assist in the
rapid deterioration of the monitor's internal capacitors, which is the circuitry that
"talks" to the video card inside your computer..
AND, it has been my unfortunate experience that when the video card goes it virtually
ALWAYS takes something else with it. A CPU (fried), motherboard (shorted out), PSU
(thermal runaway), or other peripherals (usually NOT SSD's or hard drives) installed in
the system.
My $10,000 test (WAR STORY):
My wife (God love her) had trouble reading in the computer office, so she brought in from
the bedroom a circular fluorescent light that had a magnifying glass built in. The only
open AC outlet was on an outlet strip attached to the side of the computer desk (also
connected. two monitors, one server). The outlet strip was plugged into an APC RM3300
UPS.
ON came the fluorescent light.
OFF went the VIDEO on server1.
OFF went the power on server2.
Upon powering up the two units, I now get a terse four line message in the upper left
corner of the monitor on server2. Nothing on server1.
Took the video card from server2 (since SOME data IS getting from the CPU to the monitor)
and go into the music studio and try the card (GEFORCE 8800GT) in the ASUS m5a99x evo
system. Get the 6pin adapter, plug it into the 8800GT, install on the MOBO and hit the
power button.
NADA, Nothing. No power light on the case lighting up, no familiar "buzz" as the fans
come to life. No POST. And the MEMORY OK LED on the MOBO has changed from GREEN to RED.
Tried a different 6 pin cable, different PCI slots.. Nothing but after a few tests a
burning smell coming out of the case. Burning smell was traced to capacitors and some
other circuitry on the MOBO under the onboard heatsinks.
I have yet to take the time to tear down the two office servers, rather I have been
cannibalizing them for the music studio. Had an Antec Quattro 1000 PSU drop dead in the
studio (NOT from the video card problem), and had an identical PSU in Server2, so out it
came, one ANTEC QUATTRO 1000 RMA'ed back to ANTEC.
END OF WAR STORY
However, I have had identical problems happen to multiple clients of my PC biz. In the
case of a CRT type monitor, IT would be the monitor that would blow. If the units had
LCD/LED, it was usually the monitor card and at least one other card/CPU/??? that was also
disabled.
Here are a few links from the net. The first is a tad technical, two are
tomshardware forum discussions.
All I'd like to impart to y'all is PLEASE be careful to keep fluorescent lights,
ESPECIALLY if they have an old starter and ballast in order to function. You can keep the
lights in the room, just plug them into a separate circuit than the computers/monitors are
running on..
LINKS:
http://electronicdesign.com/lighting/consider-circuit-protection-your-next-lcd-design
http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Backlight-for-Your-LCD-Monitor-or-Television/
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2155900/screen-flickers-turning-kitchen-light.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/50406-3-makes-buzz-damage
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2726&page=12
I wish you the best with your DIY creations!
All my best,
mm3
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