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Okay so a few weeks ago I started using my HDTV as one of my monitors on my GTX 285 graphics card. Then one morining I put the system to sleep woke up to turn it on. All of a sudden a fan (which I am almost 100% sure is the GPU's) is loud. I think it's spinning at 100%, the thing is it won't die down. The other problem is I have no monitor images. I mean I tried using just my 20" monitors, my tv, using both pots, only 1 screen, and I get nothing on them (I mean they are not recieving signal). Well this has happened a few more times sometimes out of sleep and then a few times on boot up. I have noticed that if I turn the computer off and unplug the power stip it's hooked to (for lightning storms) and try turning it back on it seems to do this (happened once for sure and twice if i recall right). I have learned that one way I could fix this was shut down the computer (force shut down). Then turn off the PSU, and unplug it. thenplug it back in and turn on the PSU and I am in business (i tested this one time when I did 3 restarts after force shut downs cause of no image)(also I am getting green lights on the videocard and all the other components seems to sart up fine)

BUt now their is anotehr problem. It did it again today from sleep so I forced shut it down did the whole PSU thing, and when I went to turn it on I had to hold the power button for a few seconds or else my computer would just abort the start up, all the case lights would go dead, ext. I have a 1000W PSU (Ultra) and have swapped it out with another model, after swapping it out i still did the power issue until I held the button, this is the only time it has done this.) All I can think is since the monitor didn't work I tried putting it back into sleep, then gave up and force shut it down, but the thing was when I finlly got it worksing it gave me a "resuming windows" instead of "starting windows" splash screen. I am confused I have no clue what to do.

Thanks in advance

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A black screen with the GPU fan pegged at 100% is almost always a hardware-initialization or power fault, not a monitor/HDMI handshake issue. In ’s case the culprit was a short: a case light wire touching both the board and chassis. Worth clarifying a common myth here: motherboard standoffs are typically metal and meant to contact the plated rings around mounting holes for grounding; any extra standoff (or stray metal/wire) that touches the PCB outside those holes can short traces. The ATX spec even reserves a tiny keepout square around each hole, implying components can exist nearby, so misplaced metal is risky. If you suspect a short, remove the board and inspect the exact spots that could bridge to the case. ATX Specification 2.2, standoff keepouts. Also see PCWorld’s guidance to check standoffs and test the board outside the case. PCWorld: How to check if your motherboard is dead.

Quick isolation plan you can apply immediately:

  • Power down, unplug, hold the power button 15–30s; then clear CMOS. Hook up a tiny case speaker or use your board’s debug LEDs to read POST hints. ASUS: No Power/No Boot/No Display.
  • Reseat the GPU and its PCIe power leads; for a GTX 285, make sure both 6‑pin PCIe connectors click in fully. GTX 285 power connectors.
  • Breadboard outside the case on cardboard with only CPU + cooler, one DIMM, GPU, and PSU. If it posts here, you likely had a case short; fix cable routing and verify standoff placement. PCWorld guide.
  • If power aborts or requires holding the button, suspect PSU protection tripping on a short. Retest with a known‑good PSU or perform a safe jumper test per vendor instructions. Seasonic: protection behavior, Corsair: PSU paperclip test.

Lastly, ’s note about seeing “Resuming Windows” after a forced shutdown aligns with hybrid sleep/hibernation behavior, not a GPU fault. Windows resumes from the hibernation file when it detects one at boot. Microsoft: System power states (S4/hibernate).

Member Avatar for JOSheaIV

If anyone sees this post and is curious, it was caused becuase I was shorting my motherboard. I had a wire that was touching my case and motherboard that was not designed to connect to my board (it was a cable for my case lights)

Member Avatar for TeresaC

If anyone sees this post and is curious, it was caused becuase I was shorting my motherboard. I had a wire that was touching my case and motherboard that was not designed to connect to my board (it was a cable for my case lights)

How did that happen? the wire and all? very curious T.,

Member Avatar for JOSheaIV

How did that happen? the wire and all? very curious T.,

I took my rig to a LAN party and was talking to some people, the one guy heard this and instantly knew the problem.

The cables I talk about that were shorting were used for some lights in the case. Well one of the spots I ran them were touching a piece of the motherboard as well as the case.

The guy told me that if a cable is touching the motherboard and part of the case that is not actully connected (like has a spot to plug in) to the motherboard, it will start causing a short.

That's why companies tell you to attach all the mounting screws on your case for a motherboard. That way the board doesn't risk touching the case itself. I was informed that those little mounts are actually insulated.

This all seemed to be the case cause the second I removed those wires ... all was good (however the damage had already been done and my motherboard was already worn down ... one surge protector flip later at another LAN party and my board was done ... granted I did catch the issue for along time so)

Edited by JOSheaIV because: n/a
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