Gtx 1060 artifacts

jamos316 · 22 Oct 2019

Hello

I'm a newbee to pc gaming and bought a 2nd hand pc a few months ago with a 4th gen i5 k processor oc to 4.3ghz, a gtx 1060 6gb and 12gb ddr3 ram.
When i first got the pc i was gaming on ultra at 1080p playing far cry 5. In the past week or so I can't seem to game at 1080p resolution with any quality without seeing artifacts then crashing to desktop. I can still play at 720p without problems on ultra.
What I have tried is a fresh install of Windows 10, installing latest nvidia drivers also have tried a few older drivers, have removed the oc.
I am starting to think I could try downgrading to windows 7 as im thinking it's a driver issue with windows 10.

Any suggestions?

James

Quexos · 22 Oct 2019

Describe "artifacts". Long, weird stretchy triangles of corrupted graphics? Usually, but not always at a point in the center of screen and growing outward. Colored specs/snow all over? Examples here: Diagnose video card problems by comparing with example corrupted screens

Either way, it sounds like a failing video card so far. Probably bad RAM on it (higher res = more video ram needed and triggers the artifacts). Have you made sure it is not getting too hot? Fans still working well on the cpu and graphics card?

jamos316 · 22 Oct 2019

It's more like the 2nd image showing the half life game.

I'll experiment with the fan speeds. Is it best to use msi afterburner to control the fan speed?

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Could it be the thermal paste needs replacing on cpu? Would this affect the graphics card?

Quexos · 22 Oct 2019

The third image (Counterstrike?) is what bad video memory/GPU usually looks like. I would not fool with fan speeds or thermal paste unless you confirm it is running too hot...like +80c. I think 83 is the high limit...but I would not want to get near that for long or often. Also, is it just one game or all?

Personal opinion: I don't fool with overclocking utilities and hate Afterburner especially (that horrible 'gamery' GUI)...though it may have a decent temperature monitor? Personally, I like Nvidia Inspecter for checking temps and fan speeds if I need to, but I'm sure Afterburner is fine if that's what you are used to.

I'd just try to find the problem without any extra stuff. First just confirm the fan is turning freely and not making any noises, and that it is relatively dust free. If it is, odds are you're fine as far as temperatures. My GTX 1060 3GB runs at about 38 desktop - 68 gaming. Try re-seating the graphics card and the display cables to make sure the connections are good. Confirm it is not the monitor messing up. I've seen vertical lines like the image mentioned on a failing monitor. If it is propely seated/connected, running at a decent temperature, and the monitor is good, I'd guess there is failing video RAM on the 1060.

Example of Nvidia Inspector on desktop vs while gaming (Plains of Eidolon in Warframe) with my GTX 1060 3GB.