[SOLVED] Faulty PC - which component to change first?

[Canyonero]

Hi,

my gaming PC suffers from random crashes. Usually screen freezes with the occasional BSOD mixed in. Can be on games, but it also (rarely) happens in desktop mode. I have sent the PC in for repair twice, but support couldn't not reproduce the error so I am on my own, and all the diagnostics show no error. So here's my question: Which part would you change first?

Additional info:
ASUS H170I+ D3
i7-6700
EVGA GTX 1080
16GB RAM
Corsair CS650M

RAM is fine according to memtest
temperatures are not an issue before the crash, according to logging software
often after crash and reboot, screen stays black while PC seems to boot normally; it may work again after a few tries or I may have to switch to onboard GPU; graphics card shows no error even while not working and will always work again after a couple of hours

Thanks for your input!

 

[Spec13]

Hi mate,

Based on what you've just said about the system tending to fail whilst under load and the associated botting issues, it sounds like the issue lies with the GPU. Have you ran the system without the discrete graphics and used integrated only? If you can do that, test the system under load and if there is no crash, you've found the issue.

Cheers,

Trav

 

[Canyonero]

Thanks for your input! Problem is, I cannot create much load with the onboard GPU.

Any other opinions guys?

 

[kwikgta]

Have you tried reloading windows? Install latest bios and motherboard drivers? Latest graphics drivers?

 

[Canyonero]

the whole system has been completely reset and reinstalled 4 times between myself and the vendor support, problem keeps coming back; drivers and firmwares are up to date

 

[kwikgta]

My gut tells me the power supply or graphics card. Unfortunately you need to swap them out to verify this. Perhaps a friend has some parts for loan so you can troubleshoot?

 

[Canyonero]

My gut tells me the power supply or graphics card. Unfortunately you need to swap them out to verify this. Perhaps a friend has some parts for loan so you can troubleshoot?

If the power supply is the problem, should voltages go down right before the crash (they don't)? But my basic knowledge of electricty tells me the current might the problem while the voltage stays constant.

Unfortunately, no spare parts available...

 

[Karadjgne]

Most often caused by overheated vram/VRM's. I'd physically verify that the gpu fans are functioning properly and the heatsink under the shroud is clean and you might need to replace the thermal pads/paste if they've deteriorated.

 

[Canyonero]

Just some feedback and info in case somebody faces similar problems:
All things considered, I decided to replace the GPU and haven't had any crashes in almost a month now.
Thanks for your input everybody.