Back, Maybe

Sorry everyone. My computer started black, white and magenta screening. The screen would turn a solid color despite the processors and audio still working. I took it in to the repair place I use and they held the thing for a week. The just called me back the other day and claimed nothing was wrong with it. (Despite my being 99% sure its the video card.) So now I'm left to troubleshoot with Dell. We'll see how it goes. :/

gl

Does sound like a graphics card issue, what do you have? Could either be going faulty (it happens) or just simply overheating. When/how does it happen - all the time from the moment it's turned on, or after the PC has been on awhile, or after/during a game maybe? Do you get any graphical "glitches" such as blurred/dotted lines running across the screen randomly, or intermittant colours etc. that come and go?

If it starts after awhile and you think it could be a heat issue, the first step (I'm guessing you/the repair shop did this) is just have a good clean - open up the case and gently get rid of any/all dust, especially inside fans and heatsinks where it builds up quickly. Of course, turn everything right off/unplug it all first! It's ok to vacuum if you're careful and there's nothing loose in there. It's amazing how much things can get clogged up and it can cause temperatures to soar.
Next download GPUTemp and let it run where you can see it while you're using the PC. It'll tell you how hot/stressed your GPU is getting and when, and you can easily look up via google how hot your graphics card (it'll tell you what it is, too, if you don't already know) can get. If it's ever getting beyond 100ish degrees Celsius, that'll be your issue, although the exact working temperatures will of course depend on your hardware.

Could also be a monitor issue and the repair shop was right (although I wouldn't put much stock in them either). Hard to say with what you've said so far!

Hope it helps a little,
- Y.

Tanuki, nooo D;

May we please have a status update?