Graphics card dying?

Hey!
After a ca. a week having new PC parts my computer froze, with vertical coloured lines on both monitors, with a repeating buzzing sound. After hitting the reset button the computer booted normally, and it looked like it was fine. I figured it just froze because of the game I was playing as I couldn't see what would have been wrong. This happened two more times however, and the third freeze happened while I was browsing the web. Each freeze happened with maybe a 5-10 minute interval. After the second freeze the computer wouldn't go past Windows loading, as it would end up in a black screen where the log-in screen normally would appear. Up until the black screen there would be coloured lines, or artifacts as shown in the linked picture. I tried booting several times where the same artifacts and black screen would appear. As I tried to troubleshoot I changed the thermal paste in fear of it overheating without me having noticed. I rebooted my computer again without any improvement. As I hit the reset button again this time the computer for some reason decided to cooperate, however it only took the same 5-10 min for the computer to freeze, where the monitors showed a different colour each, as shown in the linked picture.

I've tried taking the RAM out and put it back one stick at a time to see if that could be the issue. I also checked if any cables going from the PSU could be loose. I have been looking around for a solution online, but most of the answers end up with telling whoever is relevant that the GPU is dead. At this point I just want to confirm whether it's dead or not, as I haven't experienced this before. I'd have a hard time identifying it anyway.

Appreciate all the answers, sorry for the wall of text (:

Try the graphics card on another computer. If it shows the same problem then it's the GPU.

Hauksort said:

Hey!
After a ca. a week having new PC parts my computer froze, with vertical coloured lines on both monitors, with a repeating buzzing sound. After hitting the reset button the computer booted normally, and it looked like it was fine. I figured it just froze because of the game I was playing as I couldn't see what would have been wrong. This happened two more times however, and the third freeze happened while I was browsing the web. Each freeze happened with maybe a 5-10 minute interval. After the second freeze the computer wouldn't go past Windows loading, as it would end up in a black screen where the log-in screen normally would appear. Up until the black screen there would be coloured lines, or artifacts as shown in the linked picture. I tried booting several times where the same artifacts and black screen would appear. As I tried to troubleshoot I changed the thermal paste in fear of it overheating without me having noticed. I rebooted my computer again without any improvement. As I hit the reset button again this time the computer for some reason decided to cooperate, however it only took the same 5-10 min for the computer to freeze, where the monitors showed a different colour each, as shown in the linked picture.

I've tried taking the RAM out and put it back one stick at a time to see if that could be the issue. I also checked if any cables going from the PSU could be loose. I have been looking around for a solution online, but most of the answers end up with telling whoever is relevant that the GPU is dead. At this point I just want to confirm whether it's dead or not, as I haven't experienced this before. I'd have a hard time identifying it anyway.

Appreciate all the answers, sorry for the wall of text (:

Defective GPU on the picture, get a replacement.

Time for you to save up for one :)

If you only had an NVIDIA card from EVGA then you could still get a replacement card for free.

Hauksort said:

The graphics card is probably over 4 years old, so I doubt I'd get a replacement. I guess I'll have to buy a new one once I get the money.

Edit; I got loads of new PC parts, but the GPU wasn't one of them.

Try the iGPU , your Processor has one I think ? (Intel 2000/3000?) not much good for gaming but at least you can use the Computer if the other Card is really dead.


KB.

Intel HD 3000 isn't all that bad considering it's tad better than HD 4350

A friend of mine told me I could borrow his old 5870 until I'd get a new GPU, which solved the issue completely.

Considering my 7950 card was basically dead, and I vaguely remembered something about baking the GPU to re-flow the solder I did some research to figure out if this was viable. I found this video and followed the steps - 'baking' the GPU on 385 degrees fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes. I was obviously a bit sceptical, but I didn't exactly have anything to lose.

And it worked! After booting there were no artifacts etc. and everything works seemingly fine. Now I'm just hoping the GPU will last until the 1080ti drops, as I've been drooling over it for a while haha :)

Never heard of iGPU but I'll definitely use it next time I run into some GPU-related issues.

Thanks for all the help :)

The Intergrated Graphics (iGPU) is part of many Intel CPU's so that Computers don't need a dedicated GFX Card if used in an Office , or Grandma wants to check her Email ...that short of thing , not for modern level gaming.... though they are getting better these days.

Your Comp. Specs tell me you have this ...with an intel 3000 , so there must be a Port on the IO Plane for your Monitor I think.


Intel Coreâ„¢ i5-2500K Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.70 GHz) Specifications

I have upgraded to a i7 2800K recently, I guess I have to update my specs, my bad (:

Edit; and I apparently don't have a monitor port on my mobo either, so I'm guessing iGPU wouldn't work.