There are recent problems where computers fail to display correctly.
There are recent problems where computers fail to display correctly.
So I’m planning to share something quite lengthy with you, so give it a listen.
I’ve been using computers for a very long time—building, fixing, and improving them myself, plus helping friends when possible. I’m also A+ certified, though that’s a bit old now except for some newer systems; the rest remains fundamental knowledge.
Anyway, here’s what happened:
My computer has been functioning perfectly for a few years. On September 27th, 2024, and during Hurricane Helene, it was affected. It moved around the room but wasn’t directly hit. Several cables were yanked hard from it, and some USB ports got damaged when components were removed. Still, everything worked fine. Power went out two hours before the incident.
Until recently, I’ve used an ONN Roku TV as a monitor. It had never caused problems before. While working on it, I’d switch to the ROKU feature to inspect something, then return to the computer’s HDMI input. The display became distorted—mostly the screen didn’t fill properly, and the edges would stretch beyond what was visible. Expanded windows in the PC would show Minimize, Maximize, and Close icons disappearing from view. There were also black patches on the sides where nothing appeared, possibly due to resolution issues. This problem could happen even without switching the monitor to the Roku Smart TV mode.
Hardware details:
- TV/Monitor: ONN 24" or 32" Roku TV
- Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit (currently up to date)
- Display resolution: 1920x1080 (recommended)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 2.90GHz, LGA1151
- RAM: 48 GB (two 16 GB sticks and two 8 GB sticks)
- Graphics: Gigabyte MB B365M DS3H
- Storage: 4095MB NVMe SSD
- Connectivity: No optical drives; no floppy drives
- Power supply: 600W
- Peripherals: Wireless keyboard, wired gaming mouse, wired gaming headset
I’ve performed several clean installs of Windows 10 with different RAM, GPU, and storage options. Even changing the HDMI port or using another monitor didn’t resolve the issue. The problem only appears briefly for a short period before resuming normally.
Additionally, when I enter BIOS during startup, the screen doesn’t display fully.
I haven’t tried:
- A different processor (no spare available)
- A completely different RAM setup
- Another power supply
- Changing CPU models even with identical specifications
- Accessing BIOS on different motherboards (same model)
Since the CPU is one of the most costly components to replace, I’m trying to gather information before making a purchase or upgrade. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you.
(I know this machine is quite complex, but it’s built by me, and it works well for my needs.)
This seems like a plug issue, my brother's laptop behaves this way when connected to a TV via HDMI. It was dropped onto its HDMI port with a wire plugged in, so I think the HDMI port might be partially damaged—possibly with dry joints or other issues.
Shame, I thought I’d bring it up since your issue felt so similar, honestly I don’t have any more ideas. You mentioned you haven’t tried adjusting the CPU, RAM, and power supply—it doesn’t seem like a CPU or RAM problem. Maybe the power supply voltages for the graphics card are changing or dropping out? Or maybe they’re causing interference.
I'll attempt the PSU but need to wait until I can reach my storage shed, which is over an hour away. I have a spare in a case I was trying to set up as a server, but until then... I'm kind of lost too. Thanks for the suggestion, even if it's just a thought.