The GPU crash led to a loss of display, yet the PC remains powered on, with all fans operating and lights still active.
The GPU crash led to a loss of display, yet the PC remains powered on, with all fans operating and lights still active.
GPU failure led to loss of display, yet the PC remained powered on, fans were running, and lights stayed on. All troubleshooting attempts have been exhausted.
PC Specifications:
Motherboard: MSI B450 Tomahawk (MS-7C02)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600x (6 cores) with WraithSpire Cooler
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 - 6GB
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200 2x8GB
Power Supply: Cooler Master MWE 750 Gold V2
Operating System: Windows 11 (with latest updates)
Previously, the system operated smoothly during extended gaming and coding sessions. However, on September 25th, while playing Dota2, it crashed without a full shutdown—only losing display. I restarted and resumed play, but after ten minutes it failed again. After another restart, the PC remained unresponsive, yet fans, lights, and peripherals stayed active. A red LED on the motherboard indicated VGA activity. After researching online, I removed the CMOS battery, cleared static by holding the power button, and the system eventually booted. Still, it would crash every hour afterward.
Subsequently, I attempted various fixes: disabling MS xbox overlay/gamebar, adjusting Xbox Spotify service, increasing registry TDR values, underclocking the GPU with MSI Afterburner, monitoring temperatures, disabling hardware virtualization, reseating the GPU, switching PSU to a dedicated GPU cable, applying thermal paste, running Memtest RAM, plugging the power cable directly into the wall socket, reinstalling Windows (twice for Win11 and once for Win10), updating BIOS, updating GPU drivers after DDU, using multiple previous GPU drivers. None resolved the issue.
Currently, the PC behaves as follows:
1. Operates normally for 4-5 days without problems, then abruptly crashes.
2. After a crash, it fails to boot for 60-80 minutes, regardless of CMOS reset attempts.
3. Displays a persistent solid red error LED on the motherboard.
4. Functions briefly for 1-2 days before repeating the failure cycle.
It crashes during gaming, when using Firefox/Chrome (audio plays in background), and occasionally at the Windows login screen. During shutdowns (e.g., pressing alt+F4 repeatedly), it powers down.
I’ve tried numerous solutions online, but none succeeded. My PC appears to have intermittent instability—either shutting down unexpectedly or failing to boot after crashes. The performance remains inconsistent: fast during coding and building, but with lower FPS in games.
I’m uncertain which component is responsible. Below are the error logs captured via Event Viewer:
- Error 1: Fault bucket, type 0
- Error 2: APPCRASH, type 4
- Error 3: The Desktop Window Manager process exited (code 0x000000ff)
- Error 4: Unable to locate description for Event ID 14; possible installation issues or corrupted setup.
Please let me know if you need further details.
test the GPU on another system or use a different GPU in your setup
the issue might lie with the motherboard as well
examine the hardware if possible, searching for damaged parts such as Elko capacitors or similar
it appears to be a hardware problem, you'll need to replace components one by one to identify the faulty one
I looked for any signs of smoke or a smoky odor, but nothing was detected. Even when the PC is running, no smoke is noticeable. I’m curious whether a hardware issue could be causing it to function normally for several days without problems. Should I have my Mobo and GPU serviced at a service center? Since all my components are now out of warranty, it might be worth considering.
I sent my GPU back to the repair center again, and they told me its BGA chip is broken and needs replacement, costing about $269.66.
I asked them to return it unused. Now I'm searching for a new GPU.
Thanks everyone for your time and help.
Mods/Admins, you can mark this thread as resolved.