Other parts might still work even if the GPU gets short-circuited several times.
Other parts might still work even if the GPU gets short-circuited several times.
I was organizing my PC while cleaning and accidentally dropped the GPU (RTX 2060) from about a meter high. The impact sounded strong, but no visible damage appeared. I placed it back onto the motherboard. Other parts: Motherboard: ASUS X570-CREATOR WIFI CPU: AMD 5950X PSU: SeaSonic PRIME 850 Platinum After putting everything together, I started Windows and immediately restarted the PC. It shut down completely and wouldn’t turn on until I touched the Clear CMOS jumper. To check for issues while it was running, I gently pressed on the GPU side to verify it was seated correctly. This caused a spark near the PCI-E power connector, which again caused a blackout. I repeated the test with a new cable and slightly moved the GPU’s power connector while the PC was on—sparks followed each time, then a shutdown. After resetting, the PC booted normally without needing the jumper touch. The short circuits didn’t destroy the GPU; it still managed to display video when drawing from PCI-E only. I suspect the PSU might have had short-circuit protection, which likely prevented other parts from failing. Given I’ve experienced multiple sparks and blackouts, it’s wise to verify the motherboard and power supply before deciding whether to keep them or replace everything.
The only sure way is to measure everything with a multimeter. Unless you have plenty of time and solid knowledge of electronics, it’s almost impossible. If possible, acquire an affordable used CPU and GPU, some budget storage and RAM, and assemble them onto your motherboard. Let the system run benchmarks for a short period; if it fails, the board should be okay. Keep in mind, results can differ, and my recommendation isn’t a promise. Ideally, you should have taken it apart at first and avoided the attempt altogether. Still, it’s pointless worrying over small things.
It appears to be a faulty trace or link, not a short circuit. If only a little connection exists, arcing might occur. Otherwise, most components seem operational, though this is purely speculative and could stem from various causes.