# Is My Monitor (or PC) Going to Die?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 17, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235 "2002-12-17T03:15:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235/1 "2002-12-17T03:15:52Z")

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My screen periodically “jumps” or “blinks”. It’s hard to describe. But, is this a sign that the monitor or the PC is going to die very soon? [What else can go wrong?] - Jinx :rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235/2 "2002-12-17T03:28:36Z")

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It’s most likely the monitor. My last one did that after outliving three PC’s-- eventually the “jumps” turned into long periods of losing sync with the signal.

If it’s not the monitor, there’s a (much smaller) chance that it’s your video card. (A cheap, cheap item, for most people.)

Scout’s honour: you will not have to replace your entire PC any time soon because of that.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235/3 "2002-12-17T03:31:02Z")

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Um, make sure all plugs, cords, etc. are firmly connected before you throw the monitor away. Sometimes you kick the cords loose.

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**Author:** ![sigSEGV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@sigSEGV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sigSEGV)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235/4 "2002-12-17T03:42:48Z")

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I have a Samsung monitor that does this. I think it is because input signal from the video card is too high. If I have an all white screen on with the brightness turned up, it will periodically jump and click. Try turning your brightness or contrast down.

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**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235/5 "2002-12-17T07:46:33Z")

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Our family monitor does this. I’m confident in the monitor’s quality and stability, however… but not the video card’s (an old GF-2 MX that sat around the house for a while before being used). I’d check the video card before checking the monitor.

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**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-monitor-or-pc-going-to-die/143235/6 "2002-12-17T12:47:39Z")

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I would say it is more likely to be the monitor.