[SOLVED] Is my Graphics Card Dying?

[LegenGary]

Hello there,

I am posting more so to confirm that the issue is my GPU and not anything else. I have recently had many issues in regards to my PC crashing during gaming and even just idle browsing use. It has become more and more frequent and I'm almost certain that I will have to buy a new GPU.

List of Specs (Purchased and built in 2017):
MOBO - Asus Prime z270-A
CPU - Intel I7-7700k
GPU - Asus ROG STRIX GTX1070 08G Gaming
RAM - Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x8GB DDR4 3000Mhz
Storage - Kingston SSD 250gb(OS) - 1TB WD Blue HDD - M.2 WD_BLACK SN770 1TB (Installed November 2022)
PSU: EVGA 650GQ GOLD
OS: Windows 10

I've never had any major issues with PC crashes or hardware in the 5 years I've had the PC. It's been well taken care of, I clean it out often and keep it on top of my desk. The issue started happening within the last month. It's gotten more frequent in the past week and crashes often during games or multiple browser/monitor use. The screens will either get pixelated boxes all over them or do so with green and pink flashing as well, then freeze and eventually restart the PC (

https://imgur.com/d43yEGP

View: https://i.imgur.com/d43yEGP.jpg
). It has Blue Screened twice during those crashes, one with a DCP_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION and one with a MEMORY_MANAGEMENT code. I would like to add that the GPU and or CPU are not overheating, The GPU stays around 40c when crashing during browser use and never goes above 70c while gaming. I have run multiple memtests on my ram, and also CHKDSK on all of my drives, no errors anywhere. I don't have an extra GPU to know 100%, but I did turn on my integrated graphics and use one monitor on it, when it crashed while doing so only the screens connected to the GPU got the pixelated boxes, however everything froze as expected and then the PC reset. I'm not extremely knowledgeable about this stuff but I did troubleshoot a lot online and want to be sure there is no solution before dropping $500 or more on a new GPU.

Edit: Unplugged monitors from GPU and ran only iGPU all day, no crashes or issues. Rolled back GPU drivers, continued to crash when plugged in. Definitely not overheating, I even tried underclocking the GPU to no avail. Crashes seem to be happening much quicker now whenever I try running something on the GPU, normally within 10minutes of plugging it in, sometimes immediately. I've already started looking at new GPUs lol, but if anyone has any other ideas I'm open to hear them!
Thanks for any help!

 

[Rokinamerica]

I am not clear, so hear me out, when you plugged into the MB graphics, did you unplug the other monitors or leave them plugged in? If you did not unplug them, try just the iGPU and one monitor, everything unplugged from your GPU. If you already did, then ignore my query.

 

[LegenGary]

I am not clear, so hear me out, when you plugged into the MB graphics, did you unplug the other monitors or leave them plugged in? If you did not unplug them, try just the iGPU and one monitor, everything unplugged from your GPU. If you already did, then ignore my query.

I left the other monitors connected to the GPU. I will try unplugging all from GPU as you said and see if issue still persists.

 

[XxDarkMario20xX]

Check your GPU temps and see if its getting overclocked?

 

[DRagor]

I did turn on my integrated graphics and use one monitor on it, when it crashed while doing so only the screens connected to the GPU got the pixelated boxes

This, plus the look of the artifacts is very strong clue for dying GPU. However try to install some older NVIDIA drivers first just in case (or, if you are using older ones try installing newest one) to rule out some flunky Windows update messing things with graphics drivers.

 

[LegenGary]

This, plus the look of the artifacts is very strong clue for dying GPU. However try to install some older NVIDIA drivers first just in case (or, if you are using older ones try installing newest one) to rule out some flunky Windows update messing things with graphics drivers.

My graphics drivers are up to date (crashes were happening before the update I did last week, and still persist afterward). I ran the PC on only iGPU for a couple hours with no issues on normal loads. I plugged the GPU back in to my other monitors to see if anything would happen and it immediately crashed in the same way. I rolled back my GPU drivers and will see if the problem persists again.

 

[LegenGary]

Check your GPU temps and see if its getting overclocked?

I've monitored my temps and they don't seem abnormal, sometimes it'll crash just minutes after turning my PC on. The GPU is not Overclocked either.

 

[TheUnionPinter112114]

I've monitored my temps and they don't seem abnormal, sometimes it'll crash just minutes after turning my PC on. The GPU is not Overclocked either.

This will sound stupid but. In 2008-2014 there was trick to fix that. Belive me or not put your GPU inside oven for 6 minutes and 30 sec on 180C. Trust me it will be fixed 100%

 

[ttower2020]

This will sound stupid but. In 2008-2014 there was trick to fix that. Belive me or not put your GPU inside oven for 6 minutes and 30 sec on 180C. Trust me it will be fixed 100%

This is to reflow the solder if there is a bad joint. This is not as likely to be an issue on newer cards, and is a temporary hack fix if it works in the first place. No guarantees it will work now, or stay working in the future. You also have to strip the shroud and fans off so it doesnt melt, an important step you left out.

While it is quite possibly the GPU, I would not skip looking at the PSU either. The GPU being installed draws more wattage from the PSU, so removing the GPU to fix the problem removes the GPU, and reduces the load on the PSU. The best diagnostic would be to install another GPU in the system. If the new GPU has the same issue, its probably the PSU, if the issue goes away, it was the GPU, though it sounds like you already considered this, and dont have a test GPU available.

 

[LegenGary]

This is to reflow the solder if there is a bad joint. This is not as likely to be an issue on newer cards, and is a temporary hack fix if it works in the first place. No guarantees it will work now, or stay working in the future. You also have to strip the shroud and fans off so it doesnt melt, an important step you left out.

While it is quite possibly the GPU, I would not skip looking at the PSU either. The GPU being installed draws more wattage from the PSU, so removing the GPU to fix the problem removes the GPU, and reduces the load on the PSU. The best diagnostic would be to install another GPU in the system. If the new GPU has the same issue, its probably the PSU, if the issue goes away, it was the GPU, though it sounds like you already considered this, and dont have a test GPU available.

As you said, I don't have an extra gpu on hand to test it unfortunately. I have considered the PSU might be the problem but haven't had a way to effectively test such a theory, and throwing my GPU in the oven isn't something I'm fond of trying. I've already ordered a new GPU, thinking it's about time to upgrade from my PC anyway. Once it arrives if the same issues are occurring I'll know for certain where the problem lies. My brother has been looking to build his own PC so if it's the PSU I guess he'll be getting a free 1070 from me lol.

Thanks for the help guys!