monitor

[DSTM]

Hi Pete, reading your post I think I follow. My Bios is prob different to yours.
Try this and see if it works for you.

The Bios is Open.
You are in "Advanced Mode"
You have used the down arrow Key and you are at the bottom with "USB Configuration" highlighted as an example.
At this point you are finished with "Advanced Mode" and wish to go to "Security" mode.

DONT press the "Escape" Key..

Simply use your "Right Arrow" Key and watch up the top.
Every time you press the "Right Arrow" Key you will advance one mode up the top till you reach "Security"
By pressing the right arrow key you will automatically EXIT the mode you are in.

Try this and tell me what you get?

I am using a EUFI BIOS.

 

[peterr]

I was told to look in the BIOS to see if there was information about an issue but that a person's PC and mine are different and the information was not there. I go to the BIOS to change boot order at times.
Thank you and I understand.
Peter

 

[DSTM]

You can change the Boot order by pressing F8 or F11 repeatedly on Boot up, and get a "make default" option.
Saves going into the Bios.

 

[peterr]

My Dell XPS 8300 has an F 12 key which I use when booting into Macrium for example. I think you are suggesting, however, that I use these keys you provide to set the boot order and keep it as default. I will try.
Macrium is a bad example as the stick boots right through UEFI/BIOS into the program itself. It is made for guys like me - ez. I am going to try F8 and F11.

 

[peterr]

When I restart, the PC says F2 ad F 12 are the keys to use. I tried F 8 and F 11 and neither worked, however, my older PC use to respond to F 8. This one is 4 1/2 years old.

 

[peterr]

I am trying to get closure on this screen flicker. It seems to be intermittent and slight but abnormal. It occurs when I open a page like while online but also opening My documents.
I therefore excluded a browser. It is better with Edge than Chrome but still stutters or jumps/flickers opening and closing. I have run tests for RAM and the sticks seem good. I have cleaned and re seated the video card.
I replaced the PSU but it needed it.

I was thinking of three approaches;
1- run just the on board one
2- try the laptop with this monitor.
3- get a $30 video card as the PC is 4 1/2 years old.

To run the PC with just the on board one, after removing the card, do I uninstall all NVidea software? I guess I'll lose some RAM as the NVidea card had its own.
If I hook the laptop with the monitor, what do I do so the right screen will run?
I can return the video card within 30 days.

I have a Dell XPS 8300 and ran the F 12 diagnostics. Nothing showed up. I have googled this to death and many forum members have been good about suggestions but ....
I'm elderly and a bit infirm so the easiest the better.
Any ideas appreciated.

 

[DSTM]

Hi Peterr
Yes replacing the PSU was a must. My guess the card is damaged from low wattage prob for a long time.
Low wattage increases voltage to the card.
If it runs OK on inboard Graphics then why not leave like that.
It's really whether you need the card for any specific purpose that inboard Graphics can't handle.

 

[Bill M.]

Peter, if you remove the video card, the on-board video should start automatically. You don't have to uninstall the nVidea software.

Dougie and I must have been typing at the same time. But I think he is right about the damaged card.

 

[peterr]

Regarding RAM, would I be better off with this older PC to run just on board or get a low end one with its own RAM as far as speed and overall performance goes?
Incidentally, am I doing any harm by using this card - the flicker is very slight and intermittent but I do not want to hurt the PC needlessly.
Geez, I am really glad to get to the bottom of this - thank you

 

[Bill M.]

Kind of depends on how well the on-board video works and if you like it. Only you can make that judgement. But certainly try the on-board before you spend any more money on this system.

 

[peterr]

How about doing damage or not, continuing to use the PC NVidea card?

 

[DSTM]

You said you wanted to stop the flickering. I don't follow your thinking.

 

[peterr]

The flickering is not so bad that I cannot tolerate it. It is just abnormal and I though I could fix it that is why i pursued it. I appreciate your suggestion to use the on board card, very much.
i was simply asking If I will damage my PC if I continued to use the NVidea card. I know I will lose some RAM if i go with the on board card as it has none and has to borrow.

Incidentally, I went to the Dell site and they do not recommend using my PC with Win 10 as they have not tested it.

So yes, the question remains, will damage be done if the current card is still used.
Sorry abut the mislead.

 

[Bill M.]

No Peter, using it will not damage the rest of the machine, but someday the card will just die.

 

[DSTM]

You system specs show your system has ample ram to support on board video.
As for will it damage the PC to continue using the damaged card I can't give an informed reply.
Would I continue to use the damaged card? No I wouldn't take any risk.
I have never continued to use a damaged card

 

[peterr]

I will follow your advice and run the on board one. Thank you for your patience and help.

 

[DSTM]

Your Welcome, Peterr.

 

[Digerati]

Low wattage increases voltage to the card.

Ummm, sorry, but that's not how it works. Because of the regulation imposed by the PSU itself and across the motherboard, voltages are constant (+12V and/or +5VDC or +3.3VDC). In DC circuits, Watts = Volts x Amps. So "if" the wattage decreased, with a constant voltage, the "current" had to decrease too. Voltages do not increase or decrease - only the current flow does (assuming the supply is capable of supporting the demand).

But regardless, if the power supply was incapable if providing sufficient current (thus wattage) the graphics card (or likely the whole computer) would have become unstable. And you are not reporting that.

The ATX standard for tolerances in power supply outputs is ±5%. So IF Speccy is correct, your 12V is fine. But as others suggested, your +5V is too low. That said, I have noticed Speccy (and other HW monitors too) don't always show some of the voltages properly. For example, clearly my voltages could not be correct if Speccy was correct.



But a quick check with HWiNFO64 shows the real picture:



So I recommend before paying for a new supply, you either have your PSU professionally checked, swap in a spare PSU and see if your problem goes away, or invest in a decent PSU Tester. The advantage of this model is that it has a LCD readout of the voltages instead of just a LED suggesting the voltage is within "some" range.

I also think you should try your monitor on your wife's notebook just to be sure this monitor is okay. As the second monitor, it likely is, but this is a free, easy and conclusive test.

Assuming your PSU really is fine, I suspect it is your graphics card. This "flicker" may just be getting confused over resolutions - or even type of signal (digital or analog) it is supposed to be using. That is, it could be losing sync with the monitor. Or the card is just failing. I don't suspect the PSU because typically, if failing or underpowered, you have computer stability issues where it suddenly reboots, shutsdown or freezes. And if you don't go overboard with a high-end card, you should not need to get a bigger PSU to support it.

That said, I am a firm believer in supplying good, clean stable power to computer components. So investing in a decent supply is not a bad idea. I like EVGA and Seasonic "Gold" supplies but their Bronze are certainly reliable too.

 

[Bill M.]

You're a little late to the party. Peter has already replaced the PSU.

 

[Digerati]

Oops. Sorry. I thought I read through thoroughly - missed that. Thanks.