GPU Diag and PC Review Please

[hopperpot]

Hello PC experts, I’m in need of expertise.

I have a custom build:

MSI Z87-G45 gaming Mobo
Intel i3-4160 @ 3.60 GHz CPU
8 GB PNY RAM
Radeon R9 270x GPU
Corsair CX650M 650W PSU
250 GB SSD
1TB HDD


First of all I should mention that this PC has flatlined multiple times and this very site has resurrected it countless times over its life of over 4 years.

The only part remaining from the original build is the mobo, about to be 5 years old.

A couple days ago during regular usage, my monitor cut video and went to no signal. This went from happening once to every time the pc ran over a minute, to sometimes not even displaying video at all while the pc clearly started. I didn’t have a spare monitor to test and could only obtain a VGA monitor while my GPU outputs HDMI. So I left it alone until I realized the motherboard had onboard graphics. I just took out the GPU and started the PC, and so far it’s been running fine on the VGA monitor. It hasn’t shut off, though I haven’t tried to use it. I’ll try to run light performance to see if strain causes the problem again.

If I’m not wrong this implies my GPU is bad? However, aside from the PSU, the GPU was its newest part, though that is going on 3 years old in February.

I was hoping to receive second opinions and better analyzations here.. maybe in hopes to save the GPU because I like it. However, I want honest professional opinions to fix this, continue troubleshooting the GPU, and if you’ve got a moment spec upgrade suggestions. With Black Friday coming up, what are some GPUs, CPUs, and mobos I should consider?

 

[Jwpanz]

Was it just the monitor losing connection or did the entire PC shut down?

 

[hopperpot]

@Jwpanz just the monitor losing connection, the pc kept running, sorry was at work all day

 

[hopperpot]

I am streaming Hulu now with the onboard graphics. All I’ve done is remove the GPU and it seems the PC is running seemingly normal. Time to toss GPU ? 🙁

Also is it harmful to push the onboard graphics too far while I replace the graphics card?

 

[hopperpot]

So I’ve replaced the graphics card and the problem persists..

I installed an R9 380, the computer booted to windows, and then the monitor cut video while the pc kept running like the original problem.

When I use the PC with all components, minus the GPU, it runs fine. Past few nights I was able to watch Hulu with no interruption. Switching the GPU slot didn’t solve the problem with the R9 270, but I’m going to try it again.

Gonna reset mobo bios too

 

[hopperpot]

I bet a 650w Power Supply is probably too weak for a gaming pc........ especially now that I upgraded the GPU

 

[hopperpot]

It seems unlikely 650 Watts is not enough.. it is a Corsair PSU so I thought it to be quality.

Is there any way I can bump this thread for some second opinions before I buy another part I don’t need T_T

Though, I found the new GPU at a steal and am very glad I upgraded.

 

[nerro120]

Your psu should be plenty, if you have another video cable to use I would try that first or maybe another monitor/tv

 

[hopperpot]

@nerro120 came home and replaced HDMI cable. Old cable did look bent probably from how it was seated on old card. New cable well seated on new graphics card.

PC booted into windows in low resolution, ran for 6 minutes or so, and video cut from monitor. Keyboard and mouse lights went off and non responsive, while the fans and components continued running inside the case (case LEDs stay on too).

Reboot PC into safe mode successfully.

This time, PC runs for about 15 minutes give or take before monitor lost video.

Reboot into safe mode again successfully.
PC runs for about 5 mins again before monitor lost video. Keyboard and mouse off, case and components still running.

Monitor is pretty old, recently moved it’s location but it’s as ventilated as it always was and not shutting off/behaving irregularly.


Mm.... so I guess the GPU definitely wasn’t the problem. And the Power Supply is pretty young, less than a year old. Monitor is over 5 years old..

Should I replace the monitor before considering the rest of the PC’s hardware?

 

[hopperpot]

If the monitor is next for replacement, I’ll have to wait for Black Friday if I’m gonna get one

 

[Jwpanz]

At this point it sounds like it’s the monitor. Try plugging your PC into your TV and see if you have the same problem. It beats buying a new monitor just to test it.

 

[hopperpot]

@Jwpanz
I went back to the VGA monitor to use the PC and the problem began to occur again. It happened on the VGA monitor so now I am going to see if I have something I can plug into the original monitor to test it.

I noticed that when I did not log into Windows, the PC stayed on significantly longer. When I would log in, it would run 5 mins max before cutting. This problem occurred consistently.

Could this be a problem within Windows? Courrupt installation?

 

[hopperpot]

Unfortunately I don’t have another TV or HDMI monitor to use, but I will see if I can take it somewhere

 

[Jwpanz]

It could be a Windows driver issue. Double check in device manager that your display drivers are up to date.

 

[hopperpot]

Went to check display drivers and the PC wouldn’t even boot.

I went into the case and started unplugging each component one by one. I isolated a stick of ram and the problem suddenly stopped.
I booted the PC with nothing but the PSU CPU MOBO and RAM. It booted normal so I added the Hard drives. The computer booted and ran like normal for a while with these components on the VGA monitor.

It seemed like removing the stick of ram was the solution, so I added the graphics card and ran the PC minus the one stick of ram.

The PC ran for a good 20 minutes, that I started updating the graphics drivers and beginning my response on here when the Video cut again.

So I have tried removing each component one by one and it didn’t solve my problem. It does not seem to be my monitor, GPU, RAM or Hard Drives because the problem persisted with each of these isolated.

It being a Windows seems a bit unlikely, only because of how frequently the problem occurs out of windows. However, I am unsure.

Should I start considering my CPU and Motherboard?

Faulty PSU?

At this point I’m not sure where to begin to resolve the problem..

It seems that reseating the hardware often restarts the issue. As in, when the computer won’t boot, I noticed it does after I move something, even if the problem ends up happening again.

The CPU is not overheating or anything, according to motherboard BIOS, and is less than 1 year and a half old.

If the motherboard was the issue, wouldn’t the problem be more severe? Or is this something a bad mobo could cause.

I’d revisit the PSU, but I changed the PSU this year. It was a similar problem, however the entire computer was shutting down, not just the monitor. Power doesn’t seem to be the issue, as components keep running and fans blow at full speed.

My SSD is where Windows is on. Though, the problem did occur a few times COMPLETELY outside windows. The Video did cut from the monitor while I was in the motherboard BIOS without the Hard Drives plugged in.

Part of me is ready to scrap the best parts and build over again, as my baby is a bit of a Frankenstein.

 

[hopperpot]

@jwpanz I will admit that in my excitement thinking I had resolve the issue I forgot to check the display drivers while the computer was on if I can get through to windows again I will check