Monitor slowly goes to sleep while I'm using computer?

I've come in to my computer room to find my CPU(G4/733) fans running but the monitor (a generic 17" CRT) dark, and I could not wake it up.
Slipface wrote on :

Gang, A couple times now I've come in to my computer room to find my CPU (G4/733) fans running but the monitor (a generic 17" CRT) dark, and I could not wake it up.

Tonight, while I was working on the computer, the screen started going dim. It took about 10-15 seconds, but it eventually went black. I could still move the mouse and click on items as it was going dim, so the system was still running--no freezing or lockups. Also, the dimming process was not completely smooth, but went in small steps, very slowly. As happened before, when I just found the monitor asleep, I could do nothing to wake it up. Even hot-booting (using the reset button) the computer did no good.

After leaving it alone maybe a half hour, I came in and found the entire system sleeping, woke it up, and the monitor came back to life (at the login screen, since the last thing I had done was reset the CPU).

Does this sound like:

a) a monitor problem

b) an OS/energy saver problem

c) a video card problem

d) something else?

Any advice appreciated--I don't have a spare monitor to swap out to rule out (a) so any tricks or tests to help figure out what's going on would be great.

thanks! _d

Slipface replied on :

I forgot to mention, if it makes a difference, I'm running OS 10.3.9.

thanks, _d

Niels Jørgen Kruse replied on :

Slipface ask@redacted.invalid wrote:

After leaving it alone maybe a half hour, I came in and found the entire system sleeping, woke it up, and the monitor came back to life (at the login screen, since the last thing I had done was reset the CPU).

Most likely a monitor problem. After cooling down it works again.

Slipface replied on :

In article 1h5njxk.h3axhs1tc8ttqN%nospam@redacted.invalid, Niels J¯rgen Kruse nospam@redacted.invalid wrote:

Slipface ask@redacted.invalid wrote:

After leaving it alone maybe a half hour, I came in and found the entire system sleeping, woke it up, and the monitor came back to life (at the login screen, since the last thing I had done was reset the CPU).

Most likely a monitor problem. After cooling down it works again.

Sometimes it comes back quickly. In fact, last night it started to fade a bit while I was using the computer, but then brightened back up. ???

_d

TheDarkTrumpet replied on :

Can you just borrow a monitor from a friend or something and try it to see if it's the problem?

I think testing the monitor is the obvious first step, and a very basic and easy one at that.

Slipface replied on :

In article 1131455812.186586.266900@redacted.invalid, TheDarkTrumpet dthole@redacted.invalid wrote:

Can you just borrow a monitor from a friend or something and try it to see if it's the problem?

I think testing the monitor is the obvious first step, and a very basic and easy one at that.

I agree. The problem with that is that this issue is pretty intermittent. Maybe once every few hours to few days of use, and I don't know anyone willing to give up their monitor for a few days. I may be able to borrow an unused one from work, though... ;)

_d