Screen Image Vibrates

[Pivco]

I would like to know why the image on my screen vibrates. Here's the details:

I have a new monitor and a new computer with XP Pro. When I play games,
sometimes the image on the screen will vibrate. This only happens with games,
but it happens with lots of games. Some examples: The windows games Freecell,
Hearts, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire and also a backgammon game that I
bought separately.

Some history: The same thing happened with my previous computer - which is
why I bought a new one. The previous computer had XP Home. When installing
the new computer, I backed up all of my data and scanned it for viruses
before putting it on the new computer. The main progams I use on my new (and
also my old) computer are AOL 9.1, Daytimer (a Windows 95 program),
Quickbooks and Word Perfect (version 10?).

Any ideas?

Pivco

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I would like to know why the image on my screen vibrates. Here's the
details:

I have a new monitor and a new computer with XP Pro. When I play games,
sometimes the image on the screen will vibrate. This only happens with
games,
but it happens with lots of games. Some examples: The windows games
Freecell,
Hearts, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire and also a backgammon game that I
bought separately.

Some history: The same thing happened with my previous computer - which is
why I bought a new one. The previous computer had XP Home. When installing
the new computer, I backed up all of my data and scanned it for viruses
before putting it on the new computer. The main progams I use on my new
(and
also my old) computer are AOL 9.1, Daytimer (a Windows 95 program),
Quickbooks and Word Perfect (version 10?).

Any ideas?

Pivco

This can happen if your room is close to overhead power lines, e.g. if you
have a tram running through your street. Find out if the phenomenon is
dependent on the location/orientation of your PC.

 

[Pivco]

Thanks for the quick response.

Is there any way to shield the PC from this interference?

Pivco

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Before you start thinking about shielding, you need to confirm that
the problem is caused by electrical interference, as I suggested in
my initial reply. If it is then you should ask a hardware newsgroup
about the availability of a suitable compensating device, which sets
up an electromagnetic field of opposite polarity.

 

[HeyBub]

Before you start thinking about shielding, you need to confirm that
the problem is caused by electrical interference, as I suggested in
my initial reply. If it is then you should ask a hardware newsgroup
about the availability of a suitable compensating device, which sets
up an electromagnetic field of opposite polarity.

Second that. Perhaps a mere re-orientation of the monitor will suffice.
Since monitors vary in their susceptibility to interference, swapping
monitors might be a solution. I would think LCD monitors would be less
vulnerable to interference than CRTs.

There are such devices as Faraday cages and mu-metal shields. Also the FCC
takes a really dim view of things that CAUSE interference.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Before you start thinking about shielding, you need to confirm that
the problem is caused by electrical interference, as I suggested in
my initial reply. If it is then you should ask a hardware newsgroup
about the availability of a suitable compensating device, which sets
up an electromagnetic field of opposite polarity.

It's odd, though, that he says this only happens with games. I can't
think of any reason why it should happen with Solitaire but not with
WordPerfect, unless he moves the computer to play games.

But following your thought of electrical interference, Pivco should
also check to see if he has a UPS located near the monitor.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

It's odd, though, that he says this only happens with games. I can't
think of any reason why it should happen with Solitaire but not with
WordPerfect, unless he moves the computer to play games.

Agreed, but this could be due to the OP having collected insufficient
data. If he always plays a few games at 8pm, which is when some
tram might run past his house, then he might think that the game is
causing the screen vibration. He should really perform a rigorous
process of elimination.

 

[Twayne]

I would like to know why the image on my screen vibrates. Here's the

details:

I have a new monitor and a new computer with XP Pro. When I play
games, sometimes the image on the screen will vibrate. This only
happens with games, but it happens with lots of games. Some examples:
The windows games Freecell, Hearts, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire
and also a backgammon game that I bought separately.

Some history: The same thing happened with my previous computer -
which is why I bought a new one. The previous computer had XP Home.
When installing the new computer, I backed up all of my data and
scanned it for viruses before putting it on the new computer. The
main progams I use on my new (and also my old) computer are AOL 9.1,
Daytimer (a Windows 95 program), Quickbooks and Word Perfect (version
10?).

Any ideas?

Pivco

Do you have any power supplies, bricks, etc., near or behind your
monitor? If your monitor is the tube type and not LCD etc, those can do
that to you as I learned from personal experience. Try moving the
monitor or the closest bricks, whichever is easiest, and see if the
effect changes. If so, that's the source; then just relocate things
accordingly. Anything close by with a motor in it can do the same thing
such as a box fan, etc.. I'm not referriing to the DC motors inside the
computer.
If you can't easily move them permanently, then try turning them 90°;
often that will suffice but it depends on how strong the magnetic field
is.
Power bricks are usually OK under a monitor, but not beside, above or
in back, especially if mounted on the wall.

Someone mentioned tram lines causing problems which I suppose is a
possibilty, but that would either by constant, or it would only occur
when the vehicles passed by. IME those are DC and so wouldn't cause
that anyway, but "famous last words" I suppose<g>.

HTH

Twayne

 

[M.I.5¾]

Do you have any power supplies, bricks, etc., near or behind your monitor?
If your monitor is the tube type and not LCD etc, those can do that to you
as I learned from personal experience. Try moving the monitor or the
closest bricks, whichever is easiest, and see if the effect changes. If
so, that's the source; then just relocate things accordingly. Anything
close by with a motor in it can do the same thing such as a box fan, etc..
I'm not referriing to the DC motors inside the computer.
If you can't easily move them permanently, then try turning them 90°;
often that will suffice but it depends on how strong the magnetic field
is.
Power bricks are usually OK under a monitor, but not beside, above or in
back, especially if mounted on the wall.

Someone mentioned tram lines causing problems which I suppose is a
possibilty, but that would either by constant, or it would only occur when
the vehicles passed by. IME those are DC and so wouldn't cause that
anyway, but "famous last words" I suppose<g>.

The tram supply may be DC, but it is inverted on the tram to AC. However,
since it is 3 phase AC there should be no net magnetic field produced from
the inverters. 3 phase AC motors never have external magnetic fields.