Optiplex 620 - Blurry Lines, Overheating Issue the Cause?

Can you borrow a video card from one of the other 99 GX620's and put it in the problem computer? If the problem disappears then you know it is the video card itself that has a problem ( and not the system itself; e.g. bad airflow, or something else wrong with the comp).

Also, download rivatuner or "ATI tool" (works for nVidia cards too). Use either tool to monitor video card temps while performing whatever it is you do to reproduce the problem (sounds like not much). For light use, 85-90C would be pretty high. If the temp is lower, then it could be the video card memory? Either way, you should probably just RMA it.

Umm, I replaced the card.

I'm doubtful of an issue with the following:

A) Video Card:  As I said, I replaced this already.  Everything appeared fine, then the lines came back.

B) Wires:  They were replaced.

C) Monitor:  Problem developed after replacing the computer.  Doubtful it would break in that short time window, also the lines were gone when the new card was inserted (but came back eventually.

D) Driver:  Driver would either work or not work.  The lines wouldn't come back after time.

All that's left is the box itself.  The card being very warm, I figure it's a heat issue with the fan on the power supply.

Oh, the way I read it, I thought you meant that you "put the card back in/reseated it".

You are probably right about the video card being warm, but I still recommend checking the temperature with one of the tools I mentioned (or if this is a nVidia card using it's software to check) instead of simply touching the video card.

If the video card temps are normal, then something else like the power supply (not supplying enough power or unstable power) or the motherboard (AGP/PCI-E slot?) is the culprit.

What video card are you using?

Message Edited by Transco901 on 05-31-200608:37 AM

Are these new or old monitors?

I have some cables on my KVM on my desk that make the video look horrible on my 1704FP LCD screen.

Old monitors in general can look bad at some frequencies, try different refresh rates, 70, 72, 75, 85 etc.

Which specific card were you using? My GX620 came with a Dell/ATI X600 256MB that would show lines on the 2nd monitor only that looked like it was interlacing the picture. The refresh rate didn't make a difference, and trying 1024 didn't help either. The monitors I have are a P793 (primary) and P780 (secondary).

Swapping monitors made the issue follow the plug on the dongle (the one specific in the driver to be the 2nd monitor). I then tried a replacement videocard and splitter cable and the issue persisted.

After uninstalling and reinstalling the driver the 2nd monitor at first wasn't turned on. When I turned it on, it defaulted with 640x480. At that resolution it looked ok. So I upped to 800x600 and that looked ok too. Then I went to 1024x768 and that was ok too. When I then went to 1152x864 the issue was back. Going down to 1024 didn't help. I had to go down to 640x480 again to clear. So there's something with that card (I suspect the RAMDAC for the 2nd monitor) and driver that has a problem with 1152 resolution.

I ended up buying an X1300, which doesn't have the problem. I'm not using it for gaming at all (pure work PC), so I wasn't too worried if the X1300 was slower than the X600 or not.