Question Graphics Card resurected and died again.

[pleyland]

So my graphics card seemingly died the other day. After disembling it and cleaning under the heat sink, reapplying thermal paste, uninstalling my graphics drivers, as well as resetting my RAM, it still didn't work immediately, but after leaving the GPU unplugged for a view hours and returning it suddenly worked.

Now I have no idea what fixed it the first time, and I was convinced that it was dead and was ready to replace it.

Today I shut down my PC and it immediately restarted with no picture. I restarted it and still, no picture. It's clearly my GPU that is causing the issue, but I find it strange that it stopped working after I shut it down rather than breaking when I was running a graphically intensive program.

I have tried everything to get it working again except waiting, which I intend to do again. If it doesn't start I'll get a new one.

My question is does this sound like a typical dying GPU? are GPU's known for dying and coming back to life for no apparent reason?

My apologies for starting another thread on a common issue, it's just that I searched everywhere and cannot find a situation quite the same as mine.

Another thought: When I applied thermal paste to the GPU the first time I spread it over some pins that were very near to the core. I didn't think it was an issue as there was already old thermal paste there. Now I realised I may have shorted the pins (assuming thermal paste is electrically conductive). It worked in the condition for a while so I'm not convinced this was a problem, but I cleaned the paste off the exposed pins just in case. Hope I didn't destroy it by doing that.

Update: I waited again and sure enough it's working now. I also managed to get my hands on a dusty GEFORCE GTX 1060 which seems to be an upgrade, but I'm going to hold off installing it for now. I'm wondering if it will be compatible with the rest of my build

Mobo: ASUStek m5A78L -M LX V2
GPU: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7770
RAM: Vengeance 32gig
HD: X2 samsung EVO 250gig
PSU: Corsair CX500
OS: Windows 10 professional

 

[Ralston18]

Make and model GPU?

Do update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS. Include PSU.

Intermittent problems are difficult to diagnose. It may take a bit of "trial and error" to narrow down or otherwise identify what has been happening.

Suggestions:

Try the wait approach. If the GPU comes back that is a good sign.

However, either way, do a through cleaning of all old thermal paste, reapply new paste per instructions, and try again.

Also be sure that the GPU is fully and firmly seated and not able to move.

 

[helpstar]

Can be typical for any electronics device. Some can revive after time, if all charge in the components is gone.
Or if pressure is forced on some components (like while you reapplied thermal paste and remounted the heat sink). Most likely on the GPU chip itself or the VRAM,...

Sometimes it´s a coincidence, that you think it´s time dependent but in reality it´s a problem of solder joints, which aren´t well soldered anymore or broken. Sometimes can be conductive and sometimes not. Heat can repair these temporarily too.
A loose connection of any component on the GPU could be the culprit as well.

Did you try a different monitor cable and monitor/TV?

Your power supply could be defective as well.

 

[pleyland]

Make and model GPU?

Do update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS. Include PSU.

Intermittent problems are difficult to diagnose. It may take a bit of "trial and error" to narrow down or otherwise identify what has been happening.

Suggestions:

Try the wait approach. If the GPU comes back that is a good sign.

However, either way, do a through cleaning of all old thermal paste, reapply new paste per instructions, and try again.

Also be sure that the GPU is fully and firmly seated and not able to move.

Thanks, I listed my specs

 

[pleyland]

Can be typical for any electronics device. Some can revive after time, if all charge in the components is gone.
Or if pressure is forced on some components (like while you reapplied thermal paste and remounted the heat sink). Most likely on the GPU chip itself or the VRAM,...

Sometimes it´s a coincidence, that you think it´s time dependent but in reality it´s a problem of solder joints, which aren´t well soldered anymore or broken. Sometimes can be conductive and sometimes not. Heat can repair these temporarily too.
A loose connection of any component on the GPU could be the culprit as well.

Did you try a different monitor cable and monitor/TV?

Your power supply could be defective as well.

I don't think it's the Power supply as the fan still powers up and the computer runs, I just don't get picture. Plus I know it's going to windows because I hit shift 5 times and can hear the sticky keys sound play through my speakers.

Haven't tried a new monitor or cables. Will do if I get the chance. I use a HDMi to VGA converter for my old screen.

You mentioned that pressure and heat can repair loose connections. Is there any way for me to methodically apply pressure/heat to fix it? How can I identify broken solder points? I have a soldering iron somewhere...

 

[DSzymborski]

I don't think it's the Power supply as the fan still powers up and the computer runs, I just don't get picture. Plus I know it's going to windows because I hit shift 5 times and can hear the sticky keys sound play through my speakers.

Haven't tried a new monitor or cables. Will do if I get the chance. I use a HDMi to VGA converter for my old screen.

You mentioned that pressure and heat can repair loose connections. Is there any way for me to methodically apply pressure/heat to fix it? How can I identify broken solder points? I have a soldering iron somewhere...

The best way to identify broken solder points is really just a multimeter's continuity mode and your eyes.

More likely than not, this is not repairable. That it sometimes works doesn't isn't really a clue on how to fix it.

 

[pleyland]

Update: I waited again and sure enough it's working now. I also managed to get my hands on a dusty GEFORCE GTX 1060 which seems to be an upgrade, but I'm going to hold off installing it for now. I'm wondering if it will be compatible with the rest of my build