Computer weird crash

[hectordaraen314]

Hi,

So I have a problem that came up when I was playing a game, the screen turned black and I had to restart my computer but when the computer restarted Window won't boot, the screen stay black and the keyboard&mouse RGB light doesn't light up.

I tried to apply thermal paste as I had this computer for long time(5 years) change the hard drive and reinstall window, every time I reinstall window the computer seem to work for about ten minutes then the screen goes black but the sound stay for about 10 seconds before it turn off too. If I don't force shut down my computer immediately the same issue as before comes back (have to reinstall window otherwise my computer won't boot window + screen mouse and keyboard don't work)

(When I restart the computer I can access the BIOS)

Here are my specs:
Motherboard: msi z77a-g43
Processor : Intel I5 3470
GPU : SAPPHIRE - RADEON HD 7870 GHZ EDITION - 2 GO
PSU : Antec 520w
Ram : 2x4 gb

 

[jr9]

- How are your CPU and GPU temps under load? They probably aren't causing this issue but it's good to be sure.

- Uninstall your graphics card drivers in safe mode with DDU, disable automatic driver updates in device manager, and then boot into Windows and install the latest graphic drivers using the Radeon autodetect. If that doesn't work sometimes an older helps if the newest one doesn't.

If no luck with OK temps and good drivers, the card may be failing. You could remove it and install another or use integrated graphics to single out the graphics card as the issue.

I'd also consider trying another power supply.

 

[hectordaraen314]

The display on my computer say 19°C

I tried to run my computer with the graphic card removed and it seems to be working so far, do you know by any chance what could have caused my GPU to crash my computer ?

 

[jr9]

If it doesn't crash with the GPU removed:

- Graphics card drivers are corrupt or malfunctioning and need to be cleaned out (safe mode DDU) and reinstalled. Clean out the drivers and then shutdown, then reinstall the card and install the drivers.

- Graphics card itself is physically beginning to fail

- Power supply is failing and is not able to provide the graphics card with the power it needs. 500W is the bare minimum for that card and power supplies lose wattage as they age. That unit may not be a high quality one as well.

- No idea where that 19C comes from but there's no way it's your CPU or GPU. Download HWinfo to get CPU temps (and GPU once it's reinstalled if driver replacement don't work)

 

[hectordaraen314]

But I'm running a freshly reinstalled window so the driver are not even installed (or does the driver stay when you reinstall window ?) + this is the spec I'm using since I have built this computer, can the PSU provide less power than when it was brand new ?

 

[jr9]

But I'm running a freshly reinstalled window so the driver are not even installed (or does the driver stay when you reinstall window ?) + this is the spec I'm using since I have built this computer, can the PSU provide less power than when it was brand new ?

Yes PSU can lose wattage over time. Windows 8 and above can also automatically download and install GPU drivers without you even knowing. I would assume this happened unless you are running at 640x480 resolution (everything looks big on screen).

 

[hectordaraen314]

So if I change my PSU everything should work fine again ? Btw the crash happened when I was on desktop with no background apps

 

[jr9]

(assuming you are saying that you crashed when the GPU was installed) It doesn't matter if you were doing nothing the GPU driver is still doing work and active if you are connected to your graphics card. A game doesn't have to be running for your GPU driver to crash your system. Your GPU driver can crash your system before you even load into your desktop or even if you open a web browser.

PSU change MAY fix the issue. It's a possible cause but you won't know until you try another one. If you don't have another one available, you can borrow one or have a PC shop perform the diagnostic for you.

GPU or GPU driver is more likely to causes of this issue. Try those solutions first before moving on to PSU. My 3 I suggested are in order of most to least likely to be the culprit.

 

[hectordaraen314]

So I'm currently running with a different GPU (Sapphire radeon 7870 HD OC) and I noticed a difference when you go in peripheral manager, when I were using my old Sapphire 7870 HD ghz edition it was showing something as "Microsoft base graphic card" and with the other GPU installed it identify as it should (it show AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series)



+ It seems to be working it passed 14 minutes whereas my other GPU won't pass 10 minutes running

 

[jr9]

That happens when the display driver failed to load properly and Windows installed one. If you are switching cards like that you really need to wipe the drivers clean first even if they are similar. It sounds like the drivers are a bit of a mess.

I would run DDU in safe mode to clear the slate first. Leave the GPU that is working in the machine for now. Install the drivers for the card that seems to be working with Radeon autodetect and see if it works in game without crashing. If it doesn't crash then that narrows it down to the current GPU or the drivers that it uses. If it does crash with a different card and different drivers it's more likely to be the PSU.

If it doesn't crash, boot into safe mode and DDU the drivers again and select the shutdown option. Give the card some time to cool and remove it and replace it with the card you are having issues with. Install it, boot into Windows, and then install the drivers with Radeon autodetect. If it goes back to crashing the card is probably failing as that eliminates both the PSU and drivers.