Check your GPU status to see if it's failing or just under strain.
Check your GPU status to see if it's failing or just under strain.
Exactly what occurred was that after playing Witcher 3 for a short time, I watched YouTube, then powered down the PC and went to sleep. The next morning I turned it back on, but it took longer than usual to load and displayed flickering white lines across the screen. Windows also showed the same problem—graphics driver couldn’t detect the GPU, resolution stuck at 1024x768, and the NVidia control panel disappeared. The white lines persisted. I reinstalled the drivers and tried updating the GPU in a different PCIe slot, but the issue continued. I used my old GT210 chipset, which worked perfectly without any flickering. I also attempted to reinstall the GPU in another PCIe lane, but it still showed the same problem. On GPUZ, the card was recognized correctly, yet VRAM displayed 0MB. I checked some videos from NorthwestRepair on YouTube and thought the VRAM might be faulty. Screenshots are attached. Any solution?
That clearly indicates severe VRAM issues. If both the BIOS and Windows report this problem, the graphics card is likely damaged and may need professional repair.
Consider selling and swapping the repair cost for that old GTX 960. It's a good chance to find used Polaris RX 570/580 models in great condition at a fraction of the price—similar performance to a newer model once upgraded. You can get 4GB or 8GB units for very low prices, around $40 and $50 respectively, depending on where you shop. If you're looking for a bigger jump, check out other options like 5700XT, 6600XT, 1070TI, 1080TI, 2060S, or 2070S. Just explore local used markets to find the best balance of price and performance.