Question for PC gurus - monitor problems

[..]

A coincidence?

Since the hot weather kicked in my LCD monitor is haveing spasmodic hissy fits.

The screen goes fuzzy and then breaks up into horizontal bars.

Is this due to a poor power supply?

Video card going bad?

Monitor going bad?

The PC - monitor cable is hard wired into the monitor so I can't switch that out to eliminate that

Yes, I have checked the cable connection at the PC end.

[Fritz The Cat]

Most likely the monitor but it could be the video adapter / onboard video adapter. Easy way to tell is hook a known good monitor to it and see.

[Raverez]

Could be overheating, especially if you never cleaned the insides. It gets dusty, fan gets clogged.
but try different monitor first, or plug monitor to another computer and see if has the same problem.

[Jess Tolbirt]

if it works when you first turn it on then goes berserk,, you need to clean out your pc, it cant cool right,,

[Robert]

Leave your monitor on and reboot the pc if the image corrects itself more than likely its the pc. In the pc could be few choices. I agree to clean it out with a good strong jet of air first. I do mine every couple of months other than that video card or on board processor or last outdated video card drivers. Make sure you keep up to date on the video card drivers that can have a big affect too.

[..]

I did clean the PC out.  

But my 17" monitor died yesterday.  

So I went to the local charity store and bought a used one for $14. Flat screen NEC.

Rooting around in my boxes o' stuff. I keep all boxes things come in until the thing breaks or is out of warranty. I was looking for a PC to monitor lead.

In the box that contained my last PC which I bought over 3 years ago WAS A BRAND NEW COMPAQ MONITOR.

I then remembered thinking I would continue to use my old monitor and keep the new one as back up. SCORE !!!

So now I have a really clear 19" image and the charity store monitor as backup