"Display driver has stopped working and has recovered" crashes

[nmackattack]

Specs:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H rev 2.001
CPU: Intel i5 4460
RAM: ADATA XPC (4GB * 2)
GPU:: XFX R9 290 4GB
PSU: Corsair CX 750

I've had this computer for about a year now, and I've always had issues with the audio and video. The audio will occasionally change to static for a half second, "display driver has stopped working and has recovered" errors appear all the time, and the entire computer will sometimes crash. The crashes vary from immediate restart, freezes, static on the monitor. Only once has it blue screened, and it gave a video scheduler error. After looking for solutions everywhere, I decided to swap the GPU for a while. But it kept crashing. So I decided to RMA the PSU, but the crashes keep happening. I've tried everything from uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers to rewiring the computer. I even wiped my HDD and started over.

I'm at a complete loss here. If anyone has an idea, I'd be grateful.

 

[MrNoodles]

I had this issue before. What fixed it was when I upgraded from my normal HDD to an SSD. No more freezes or driver crashes.

 

[nmackattack]

I had this issue before. What fixed it was when I upgraded from my normal HDD to an SSD. No more freezes or driver crashes.

So was the HDD defective? Did it have something to do with the power draw from the HDD?

 

[nmackattack]

So after over a year of this, I think I've finally, FINALLY found a solution. It's been working for over a week without any problems whatsoever.
Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Power Options -> Change Plan Settings ->Change Advanced Plan Settings -> PCI Express -> Off

 

[veronicangetan]

Still crashing? Gonna try ur fix dude