Installing GPU drivers can cause crashes or freezing after some time.
Installing GPU drivers can cause crashes or freezing after some time.
I have a setup with the parts listed above. CPU: Ryzen 5 3600, Motherboard: Asrock B450M Pro4-F R2.0, RAM: PNY XLR8 8GBx2, HDD: WD Blue 1TB SSD, SSD: Lexar 256 GB, Power Supply: Corsair CV 450W or Thermaltake Litepower 450W, GPU: AMD Radeon RX 550 4GB or Nvidia GTX 960 2GB. I purchased this system in February 2021 and it functioned perfectly without any problems. Recently, I began experiencing random pixelation, freezes, crashes, and reboots in both Windows 10 and ArchLinux (Arch Labs). At that time, I was using an AMD Radeon RX 550 4GB. I assumed the issue was related to the GPU. I reinstalled the GPU driver using DDU but the problem continued. I switched to a Nvidia GTX 960 2GB, yet the issue remained. I changed my PSU from the Corsair model to the Thermaltake version, but the problem persisted. I was booting from my HDD at that stage. I replaced the SSD and installed Windows 10, Windows 11, and Linux. The issue still occurred regardless of the hardware configuration. After uninstalling all drivers via DDU in Windows or Linux, I didn’t install Nvidia or AMD graphics drivers and there were no problems. Since then, I’ve avoided installing vendor graphics drivers and have used my PC without any issues, though I can’t play games anymore. Could you help identify which component might be causing this? It seems possible it could be connected to the PCIE slot. I have a warranty on all parts, so if I can’t resolve it, I can claim it. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
The 450W power supply might not be sufficient for even that GPU. Have you checked the temperatures when under load compared to idle? Another concern could be counterfeit GPUs being sold online—scammers are stealing ID chips from defective units and attaching them to others to mimic authenticity. This might cause the driver to malfunction, leading to crashes.
Thanks for your response. I've been operating the system since February 2021 without any problems with the same PSU until recently when issues began suddenly. I've monitored temperatures, and they've always stayed within normal ranges for both GPUs. Just recently, after installing Nvidia or AMD drivers, the system started freezing and crashing. It's worth noting they functioned without any issues even with graphics drivers installed, allowing me to play games. The GPUs I purchased were second-hand from a friend and another from a cousin, so their legitimacy isn't in doubt.
One reference states 960 requires 300W while RX550 needs 250W. This places you within acceptable limits, but it’s wise to upgrade your power supply before proceeding further. Although your friend and cousin seem reliable, it doesn’t confirm they weren’t involved in a scam. For example, I once used a taxi and encountered counterfeit fare that went unnoticed until it affected my phone bill. It was awkward to report, but the officers handled it professionally despite the situation. Maybe the recent driver update has issues—early separation of thermal pads or a weak card could be causing problems, potentially shortening its lifespan. Edited June 6, 2022 by An0maly_76 Updated with additional details