Artifacts and crashing
Artifacts and crashing
Not long ago, I began experiencing random artifacts, accompanied by crashes in games and unexpected sparkles appearing on the desktop. These also showed up in Chrome but never in the games. There were frequent internet interruptions, with downloads pausing every few seconds and requiring unpausing to proceed. Some applications failed to open, OCCT worked once, and a GPU test on the graphics card passed cleanly. However, I couldn’t perform a power test because it would crash before I could reach it, and it would fail before I could even launch it.
I tried using DDU and reinstalling drivers, which slightly improved the situation but didn’t resolve the problems. A screenshot revealed artifacts in the image, indicating system instability. A RAM test came back clean, and I replaced the RAM. Running a /scannow command identified files needing repair, though nothing significant was fixed. I changed the monitor cables to check if the display port cable was the culprit; using HDMI reduced the sparkles but caused Chrome to fail and crash. My old GPU was a 3060 Ti, so I upgraded to a 7800XT, expecting it to be the issue, but it didn’t solve the problem. I verified the PSU power rails were normal, with no abnormal temperatures, and all GPU benchmarks passed without artifacts.
It’s worth noting that these issues started immediately after finishing a session of Elden Ring. After closing the game, I saw a long black screen followed by desktop artifacts. Additionally, certain icons on my desktop disappeared before any symptoms appeared, while Chrome, Steam, and other apps displayed default icons now.
My current hardware includes:
- Ryzen 7 5800X 7800XT speedster
- 1TB M.2 Samsung SSD
- Corsair Vengeance DDR4 RAM
- Corsair TX550M PSU (MSI)
- B550 Tomahawk Max
I’m aware that 550W power isn’t sufficient for the 7800XT, as it worked fine with my 3060 Ti without issues. I only used it to test the new card since it shouldn’t exceed 550W during idle.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
What is the BIOS version for your motherboard?
corsair tx550m psu msi
How much older is the PSU in your system? Even if it's brand new, it shouldn't have been used to run either of those GPUs.
I understand 550w isn’t enough for the 7800XT—it worked fine for my 3060ti and I never faced any problems. I only used it during booting with the 7800XT to check if the new card would behave similarly, since it shouldn’t exceed 550w at idle.
The RTX 3000 series is known for high transient load spikes, which is why people were recommended to overprovision their PSU’s capacity beyond just buying a solid unit. Not experiencing issues is how most people approach this when asked about higher wattage or better quality units. However, a PSU will gradually lose efficiency over time, and its power output will decrease accordingly. It’s impossible to measure exactly how much a PSU degrades. If you have a well-built PSU powering your system, failure won’t impact connected devices.
That said, consider borrowing or purchasing a 750W~850W reliable PSU and test if the problem continues.
I also noticed some desktop icons vanishing before any of these changes occurred—chrome, Steam, and other apps now show default icons. This could point to an OS corruption or failing drive, which might need further investigation.
The bios version is E7C02AMS.310, created on 10/14/2023. I believe I purchased the psu in 2019 for a 1660ti, it’s an 80+ gold 1660psu and corsair has proven dependable, so I conducted some research and wattage calculations before upgrading to my 3060ti. I’ve been using that gpu since 2021 without any problems so far.
I own a 750w psu at home for testing purposes, but I’m currently away in college and won’t be able to test it until around Thanksgiving. I intend to purchase an 850w unit to pair with the 7800XT once I resolve the artifacting issues.
Concerning the icons, should I attempt a fresh Windows 11 installation?
The PSU was launched in 2017 and you bought it in 2019, which means it has a 7-year warranty. The power supply you have at home is 750W, but testing it would be useful. The model is B450, not B550, as indicated in the BIOS. You're also checking if the motherboard matches that configuration.
You should be able to request a refund or replacement for the PSU via the Corsairs website if it's the part causing problems.
So I should be able to request a refund or replacement for the PSU via the Corsairs website if it’s the part causing the problems? If you have proof of purchase, then feel free to reach out to your seller (the one who sold the PSU) and Corsair, and initiate an RMA process. However, the main point is that you should have some buffer from your PSU rather than using them at bare minimums.
This unit was purchased about a year and a half ago for a family member’s PC, but it hasn’t been used much. I don’t know the exact make and model, but I’m certain it’s an 80 plus Gold model.
The 80 plus Gold designation doesn’t reveal anything about the internal components of the PSU. We’ll need the specific make and model to assess its condition. A faulty batch or design flaw in Lian-Li’s SP850 models has been known to lead to failures—there was one instance where it tripped my home’s main breaker, spitting sparks and nearly catching fire. Despite this, it carries an 80 plus Gold certification, which suggests it’s built poorly overall. A faulty sticker doesn’t ensure quality.
Yes, that’s the correct motherboard model.
The BIOS version is E7C02AMS.310, with a build date of October 14, 2023. Make sure you have the latest chipset drivers for your motherboard and update the BIOS to version 7C02v3L. After flashing, clear the CMOS once you confirm the BIOS update was successful.
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I’ll need to examine the make and model in person soon, which should happen in about a week and a half. I’ll let you know then before testing it.
I tested the bios version and cleared the CMOS successfully. I verified there were no changes but didn’t notice anything unusual. I’ll provide an update once I have access to the 750w psu around the same time.
The system ran before the crashing worsened and performed cleanly. I usually run it occasionally to ensure my PC is stable.
I’m considering that the corruption might have started from a bad update some time ago and has increased over time. It could be two separate problems—one related to the PSU. I’ll try the approach you suggested once my system is stable.
The 750w psu was a Corsair Rm750, I connected all components to it and still encountered the artifacts. At that stage, I replaced my Ryzen 7 5800x with a Ryzen 5 3600 I had on hand, which resolved the issue. It suggests the problem might be related to the motherboard or the CPU since I’ve checked everything else. Do you have any other recommendations or do you believe the CPU is responsible for the artifacts?