Monitor Issues/"buzz"

College Confidential Community
1

<p>My monitor is messed up, and I think it may be an internal problem.
It makes this annoying faint "buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" sound, every now and then
Sometimes when I bring up a new window, it sorta stops, and then starts again
I took out the whole monitor, let it cool outside (it was pretty hot)
And then I checked the pins. One was bent, so I took a nail clipper, unbent it to the best of my ability, and replugged the monitor. I blew off the dust while the monitor was cooling and took a damp paper towel and lightly dusted off dust here and there.
And then I replugged it, and for a full 15 mins, there was no buzz sound!
But now it's back and it's driving me craaaazzzy .. the monitor is hotter now too, even though it's only been on for 25 minutes.
The way the desk is set up, the monitor bulk is under the top of the desk. so it really doesn't have much space to "breathe" .. but I can't do anything about that. But I don't think that's the problem .. anyone have a clue what's going on?</p>

2

<p>The buzzing could be caused by a couple of things: the heat generated by the monitor was trapped by its position on your desk (under a shelf) which means the power supply is suspect. Power supply capacitors are usually pretty robust but lots of heat will kill them which will then cause problems with the power supply transformer. This creates a buzzing sound not unlike florescent light fixtures with faulty ballast resistors.</p>

<p>You mentioned a bent pin. That may have caused a problem with your video circuitry, but unless you noticed something strange with your display, it may be just a coincidence that the pin was bent. Note: not all pins are actually used by the video circuitry.</p>

<p>As an experiment, place your monitor on the floor where it can get some air circulation. If the buzz goes away, the problem is likely heat-related and you'll need to find a way to get more air circulating around your monitor. If the buzz comes back, it may be time for a new monitor. Or you could play some music in the background. Remember, even a new monitor will eventually have the same problem given the lack of air circulating around it...</p>

<p>If you're handy with a screwdriver, you could try to remove the monitor case and use some compressed air to blow out the dust that may have settled inside. Unplug the monitor before attempting this and don't touch any of the internal parts since your CRT will still have a high electrical charge. </p>

<p>Good luck...</p>

3

<p>Wow michuncle, you were right on target!!
I unplugged the monitor into another computer on a different desk that receives a lot of air circulation, and there was no buzz, ever!
So this must be a heat-related problem .. I suppose I'll have to find a way to re-position it. The desk is a computer desk, but it is made in such a way that the wires go through a certain "hole" and the cpu is located in a certain compartment .. kinda complicated. But I'll look into a new desk for sure so I can avoid further damage. Thanks man, this was driving me absoutely nuts.</p>

4

<p>Re computer desk: It sounds like your desk has a "backboard" that has holes drilled in it for wires. If this is the case, simply pry off that board. Move your desk out a little bit from the wall and push your monitor back a bit so that the rising heat has a place to go. Failing that, you could buy a small fan that has a clip or clamp that allows you to mount it on the edge of a shelf. Aim it over the top of the monitor to blow away the heat. Remember though that the fan has an electric motor that emits a magnetic field. You have to position the fan a little distance from the monitor to avoid distorting your screen.</p>

<p>Glad to be able to help...</p>

5

<p>hmm ya i had that problem with my old nec 19inch crt.. but it all went away when i switched to a nice nec 1970GX lcd.</p>

6

<p>my monitor is now dead. :(
I dont know what went wrong. The zzz went away for a day or so and then it came back, i got the fan and everything. and then i turned it on and wouldn't turn on. I guess it was it's time to go, it was a Philips CRT that was in use for several years.
so now i'm forced to get a new monitor.
do you have any suggestions for me? i have a windows PC. i don't need anything really large, but I'm through with CRTs. so i'm looking for LCD. 17 inch is standard i think, so that is a good size. Also it'd be great if the stand the LCD sits on was adjustable.
I've been researching at the library and I've come up with this so far as the best choice:
Samsung SyncMaster 710N-2 17" LCD Flat Panel Monitor (Black)
$255</p>

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7

<p>Sorry to hear about your monitor. Heat is a silent enemy. </p>

<p>Check out CNET's shopping service for lcd monitor reviews and comparisons. A lcd monitor will generate a lot less heat and should be pretty stable for your situation (desk). Be aware that most lcd monitors are not adjustable up or down. Measure the distance between the desktop and the shelf above it to see how much clearance you have. Check the product details to see if they list a height for the monitor.</p>

<p>Check out Newegg: they're reputable and are selling that monitor for less...</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

8

<p>One more test: Plug your dead monitor into your roommate's computer to verify that it's truly dead. It's a long shot, but it could be your video card. Not too likely, but it's good to cover all your bases.</p>