Purchased a new GPU, but it caused my PC to crash after just 30 minutes of gaming—several components failed.
Purchased a new GPU, but it caused my PC to crash after just 30 minutes of gaming—several components failed.
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The specifications listed are as follows: Monk features an Asus X99-E processor with an i7 5960X, equipped with 64GB RAM (four 16GB modules in QuadChannel) and a Corsair Dominator 2666MHz DDR4 memory. The GPU is a Palit JetStream GTX1080Ti, paired with an AsRock Phantom Gaming RX6900XT. The power supply is a 1500W Corsair AX1500i unit. I decided to upgrade during Black Friday when a nearby store offered the RX6900XT for £649 instead of my 1080Ti. It arrived yesterday, and I connected it right away. I was able to launch Hunt: Showdown without much trouble.
However, about half an hour later, the PC crashed, shutting down abruptly with a loud noise through the headphones. After several tries and receiving various error codes, it finally restarted normally into Windows. Unbeknownst to me, this would be my last successful boot. Once it stopped working, I couldn’t get it back online.
After around six hours of troubleshooting, I realized the issue likely lies with the PCI-E rails—99.99% confident in that diagnosis. The real question now is whether the CPU or the motherboard is failing, or both. Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone on the X99 platform to help me sort through the parts.
TL;DR: The motherboard seems to be handling the connections well, but it’s struggling with the PCI-E slots. Swapping the GPU into different slots caused it to fail A3 and not recognize the NVMe drive (which worked fine on my laptop). It showed SATA drives but wouldn’t boot into BIOS. I updated the BIOS, cleared CMOS, removed the battery, and even tried without the 8-pin connector—but nothing changed.
Testing with both the original 1080Ti and a new RX6900TX confirmed that the problem isn’t with the GPU itself.**
Remove the board without any attachments, take off the heatsinks, extract the CMOS battery, empty the CMOS memory, and press the power button for two minutes. After fully discharging the board, either soak it in a bucket of water or use an ultrasonic cleaner, or place it in a dishwasher with plain water only. This should ensure the board is thoroughly cleaned, even if the worst-case scenario is resolved.
Is it possible to start up using the integrated graphics? If not, the system must rely on the main processor instead. If yes, the Mobo component appears to be inactive.
Uses more than just soaking the board in water to sanitize it. Cleaning with a dishwasher pod can remove a lot of debris, but drying is essential before power is applied. Using an electronics cleaner spray is recommended—choose one labeled safe for plastic. Spray thoroughly, let it dry completely, and thaw if needed. Most sprays will clear any cold or icing, usually within 20 to 30 minutes. Once dry, you can reassemble and test again.
Attempt to start using the igpu if it isn't loading due to RAM or motherboard problems.
I'm drying usually needs around a day, though tropical weather might slow things down in colder areas. Do you know any products for electronics cleaner sprays? If water drenching doesn't work, there might be another method to try. Regarding ultrasonic cleaners, they can be quite expensive and effective, but some boards require multiple cycles; one is still lingering in the bath after a long time. It's frustrating when the board stops working after the first soak and then fails again later. I also have a G41MX that arrived yesterday—mostly because it was a cheap E8600 and might be fixable. I just sprayed the socket with IPA instead of dunking it, since the filth is so bad it could damage something. Would you like some alternatives to manual cleaning or water baths?
This device lacks an integrated GPU; it's a Haswell-E chip, not a Ryzen-based one.
This aims to improve the cleaning process by focusing on the washing stage.
It ideally eliminates any short circuits from a dirty board. It functions, though I favor distilled water or alcohol since they won’t harm the board. His advice isn’t incorrect, but relying on tap water poses a danger.
Board should stay clean, I maintain it with strong air pressure from a compressor. The last time I physically handled it was about twenty years ago. I haven’t set up an ultrasonic bath anywhere near me. I’m trying to figure out if the CPU or motherboard is the issue now that I can’t find matching replacement parts. I’ve heard PCI rails are still pita, and because sourcing compatible replacements is tough—second-hand X99 stuff is pricey—I might order a new AM5 for better value.