Fuzzy screen

Carstuck

Hi all,

I posted here before about my laptop screen that just goes all fuzzy with horizontal lines like in the picture for no reason at no specific time. I went to PC World and they had it for a week and said it didn't happen on them. However it done it again today. Anyone have any idea? Its an Acer Aspire 6920, Windows Vista.

Thanks

yoyo

Looks to me like GPU (Video Card) failure, is there a Nvidia 8xxx series video card in it do you know? Find out what the video card is in it and get back to us here

Nick

Carstuck

Thanks for your response. I looked under 'display adapters' in 'device manager' and it says 'ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650'. I think thats the card but not sure!

yoyo

Carstuck wrote: »

Thanks for your response. I looked under 'display adapters' in 'device manager' and it says 'ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650'. I think thats the card but not sure!

Hmm, Thats a bit of good news at least. The problem may not be GPU related, do the lines go away if you tilt/adjust the screen? The problem could be related to a faulty LCD panel, LCD panel has a loose Data Cable or the GPU is acting up, I'd point the blame towarss the display myself. To test this hook the laptop up to an external monitor>Same fault=Video card, Not same fault>LCD Display problem.
If your handy enough with computers you could take appart the laptops display assembly, the fix may be as simple as a loose data cable

Nick

Carstuck

yoyo wrote: »

Hmm, Thats a bit of good news at least. The problem may not be GPU related, do the lines go away if you tilt/adjust the screen? The problem could be related to a faulty LCD panel, LCD panel has a loose Data Cable or the GPU is acting up, I'd point the blame towarss the display myself. To test this hook the laptop up to an external monitor>Same fault=Video card, Not same fault>LCD Display problem.
If your handy enough with computers you could take appart the laptops display assembly, the fix may be as simple as a loose data cable

Nick

Thanks, no when it happens the cursor is the only thing that can be seen but it doesn't move. The only way for it to go is to unplug the laptop. I hooked it up to my PC monitor and TV a few weeks ago when the lines were on it and nothing would should up on either, like it didn't even recognise the laptop. When the lines weren't on the screen it connected to external monitor perfectly.

yoyo

Carstuck wrote: »

Thanks, no when it happens the cursor is the only thing that can be seen but it doesn't move. The only way for it to go is to unplug the laptop. I hooked it up to my PC monitor and TV a few weeks ago when the lines were on it and nothing would should up on either, like it didn't even recognise the laptop. When the lines weren't on the screen it connected to external monitor perfectly.

When you hook the machine up to another screen you must press the FN and Display key, not sure what key it is on your machine, but likely one of the function ones, F6, F7, F8 etc.

Nick

Carstuck

yoyo wrote: »

When you hook the machine up to another screen you must press the FN and Display key, not sure what key it is on your machine, but likely one of the function ones, F6, F7, F8 etc.

Nick

I tried that and could get it to work only when the laptop was working as normal, when the lines were on the screen I didn't pick up the signal no matter what I pressed.

yoyo

Carstuck wrote: »

I tried that and could get it to work only when the laptop was working as normal, when the lines were on the screen I didn't pick up the signal no matter what I pressed.

Hmm, Thats not good, does sound like the GPU is overheating, does the laptop feel quite warm when it happens? If the problem happens regularly try using it while display is mirrored and see what happens, but it does sound like the GPU may be burning out or overheating

Nick

Carstuck

yoyo wrote: »

Hmm, Thats not good, does sound like the GPU is overheating, does the laptop feel quite warm when it happens? If the problem happens regularly try using it while display is mirrored and see what happens, but it does sound like the GPU may be burning out or overheating

Nick

Not too sure does it overheat but when it happen again I'll check it better. Would the GPU be an expensive job on it? What does mirrored display mean? Thanks for all you help.

yoyo

Carstuck wrote: »

Not too sure does it overheat but when it happen again I'll check it better. Would the GPU be an expensive job on it? What does mirrored display mean? Thanks for all you help.

By mirrored I just mean have the display on an external as well as on the internal display. The GPU is likely built in and soldered on the motherboard, not a user replaceable part on laptops unfortunately

Nick

Carstuck

yoyo wrote: »

By mirrored I just mean have the display on an external as well as on the internal display. The GPU is likely built in and soldered on the motherboard, not a user replaceable part on laptops unfortunately

Nick

Thanks I'll try that when it happens. Hope it's not that, don't want to buy another one at the moment!