Grey lines on monitor

peachauto211 · Post by **peachauto211** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:34 am

My monitor shows grey horizontal lines on the screen. I connected two other monitors to my computer to verify that the problem is not with any one monitor, but the lines seem to not go away. This makes me suspect that there's a problem with the computer or hard disk itself.

After my "experiment" with different monitors, my hard disk crashed and I had to replace it with a new one. The grey lines are still present on the screen even with the new hard disk.

Does anyone know what the problem might be?

Thanks much,

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:52 am

I'd try another video card and see if that resolves the issue.. GL eGo

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:09 am

Ditto. That's more likely to be a hardware problem with the video card rather than anything else. The HDD crash might have been a co-incidence.

One other possibility: bad PSU. Check your voltages (5 volt and 12 volt are all that's important). It's possible the PSU is putting out a high voltage on one of them which could have damaged the HDD and may be causing the video problem. It's a stretch, but possible.

The hardware voltage monitor on the motherboard is notoriously unreliable. Invest $20 in a digital multimeter at Radio Shack and test the voltages at one of the spare HDD power connectors (red & black is 5 volts, yellow & black is 12 volts). Monitor the voltages over a time while the system is under load (playing a 3D game stresses the PSU the most). Voltages should be within 5% or I'd replace the PSU.

Hope this helps...

Invisible Evil · Post by **Invisible Evil** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:47 am

I was having this problem once with a 9600 pro, kept coming unseated in the agp slot, fan was shaking it aloose.

TruckStuff · Post by **TruckStuff** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:10 am

Is this a trinitron monitor? Trinitrons display two horizontal gray lines across the monitor all the time. Its part of the design.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:41 am

Is this a trinitron monitor? Trinitrons display two horizontal gray lines across the monitor all the time. Its part of the design.

I was going to mention this, but it sounds like they're actually in the image.

peachauto211, what Truck is describing are 1 or 2 faint gray horizontal lines that will only be visible on a white background (like a full screen explorer window or if you have a light colored wallpaper).

They're physical WIRES inside the picture tube. They're only used in Trinitron tubes (other manufacturers other than Sony also use Trinitron tubes). If you tap on the tube you should see the wires vibrate.

Detailed explanation here: http://www.monitorworld.com/faq_pages/q28_page.html

peachauto211 · Post by **peachauto211** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 10:28 am

Oh...I forgot to mention that my computer does not have a separate video card. It has integrated audio and video. But I will check out the voltages inside the computer.

Thanks for all the input!