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Depado

Member

Registered: 2013-02-28

Posts: 49

[Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

Hello,

I got this problem for a long time now and I didn't really thought about fixing it because I don't play a lot. Now I'm playing some indie games and that just bothers me.
When I launch a game, my screen turns off after 5 to 30 minutes of gaming and the only way I found to fix this is to shut down my computer.

Does anyone have the same issue ? Can it be an hardware compatibility problem ? (My screen is a very old 4:3 Philips)

Thanks a lot

SOLVED : Disassembling the GPU and cleaning each piece solved the problem ^^

Last edited by Depado (2013-05-29 14:51:06)

opt1mus

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2011-12-31

Posts: 212

Website

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

Before you launch the game, do you use;

$ xset s off
$ xset -dpms

If not, try it - also man xset

Depado

Member

Registered: 2013-02-28

Posts: 49

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

I'm going to try that. (No I never used that before ^^ Thanks for the discovery)

Depado

Member

Registered: 2013-02-28

Posts: 49

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

It doesn't seem to work since I tried these two before launching the game and my screen still enters sleeping mode

opt1mus

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2011-12-31

Posts: 212

Website

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

What's the exact make and model # of the monitor, it may have its own settings that are overriding all others. I've encountered the same/similar problem with an old LCD, it required dabbling with the monitors settings through its hardware buttons to kill energy-saving.

-- edit below --

On second thought, I'm most likely barking up the wrong tree with that. Just to confirm: this only happens when playing games?

A brief trawl across the internet reveals that this behaviour can also indicate a type of fail-safe/power-saving mode built into the Nvidia card, sometimes a sign that it's overheating, or issues with the PSU not delivering enough juice. I don't know enough about those cards to say for sure, but an avenue worth checking out.

Last edited by opt1mus (2013-05-29 10:46:02)

Depado

Member

Registered: 2013-02-28

Posts: 49

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

Thanks.
Actually it happens only with some games, mostly 3D (Like Portal, Dear Esther, Amnesia) so I guess that may be an overheating problem. Though I don't know how to solve this.

alphaniner

Member

From: Ancapistan

Registered: 2010-07-12

Posts: 2,810

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

Per opt1mus's research, there's a few simple things you can do:

1) Checy your GPU fan functioning properly.
2) Temporarily configure another fan [aimed at your GPU] for extra ventilation.
3) Check the wattage req. for your GPU and make sure your PSU is up to snuff.

---

But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain - that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case, it is unfit to exist.
-Lysander Spooner

Depado

Member

Registered: 2013-02-28

Posts: 49

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

I didn't build that computer by myself it was already built. So I guess Acer is not stupid enough to connect a GPU that requires too much power than the PSU can supply. I'll check for the ventilation of my GPU to see if that's where the problem is.

Depado

Member

Registered: 2013-02-28

Posts: 49

Re: [Solved] Screen enters sleep mode when Nvidia card is used

I think you are both right : My GPU overheat a lot when I launch 3D Games. Which means in only a few minutes of 3D rendering my GPU goes to 93°C and the fan is going to 90% of speed. And basicaly my GPU is always at 75°C. I think there is a problem. Though I cleaned both my fans (CPU and GPU) not so long ago.

EDIT : I cleaned again my GPU by dissasembling it. It seems to be effective. Now the temperature stays at 60°C and reaches peaks at 75°C. I hope it won't happen again. Thanks anyway for your help I wouldn't think it would come from a overheating ^^

Last edited by Depado (2013-05-29 14:50:32)