Blue horizontal lines, red splotches, random flickers, screen goes black

Question

Dell Dimension 8400, 17 inch Digital Flat Panel Display, System Type:  Optiplex GX270, Wireless Keyboard and Mouse, ATI Radeon X300 SE I use my computer approximately 2-4 hours per day.  During that period of time the monitor displays blue horizontal lines and red splotches (in brick shapes).  The screen flickers and the lines become more intense until the screen goes to black.  So far the screen comes back to whatever I was working on, without loss of information.  Is this a monitor problem, a video card problem-what?  I have had this problem for several months and it happens both on line and off.  I have run the diagnostics and it does not report an error.  What other information can I provide to help you help me solve this problem?

drew-and-not-u · Answer

Sounds like it could be a faulty videocard, a heat problem, or a video card driver problem. It's possible that it could be the monitor but I don't think so. Do you have other computers and monitors that you can try switching in order to troubleshoot the problem?

JJThumper · Answer

Thank you for your quick response.  I do not have access to an additional monitor.  Would it be possible to troubleshoot by changing the video card and or the video driver?  I don't think it is a heat issue, the monitor is sitting in an open backed cabinet and it is has approximately 6' of air space around the top and both sides.  The tower is positioned on the floor with top and one side fully exposed and the second side is approximately 4-5' away from the base of the desk.

JJThumper · Answer

How do I acquire a new video card or driver for my system?

Monitors

Blue horizontal lines, red splotches, random flickers, screen goes black

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