Computer crashes/freezes, display has random 'pixelated' colors: PSU, motherboard, or GPU?

kcinlober

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Jun 16, 2012
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A few days ago when using my brother's computer and playing Skyrim, (1) the display froze (2) displayed pixelated or blocky random colors (mostly pinks/purples) (3) the audio started looping and finally (4) the display disconnected from the graphics card. This is a nvidia geforce gtx 465.

Subsequent attempts to reboot the computer did not work with this graphics card so we put in an older one, a nvidia geforce gts 250. We also reinstalled the drivers. This worked fine until it randomly did the same thing as before except instead of (4), it just remained frozen and with all the weird colors. This did not happen when playing a graphics intensive game (or when running furmark). It happened with nothing running except maybe Chrome.

I downloaded CPUID HWMonitor to check the voltages and temps and this is what I got with skyrim running:


I have read that the 3.3/5V and 12V need to be within 5% and 10% respectively and I can see that the 3.3V (3.118V) is slightly below the threshold (3.13V).

My question is if that is the main problem (or if there is anything else that looks wrong)? Could that explain the problems or could the video card(s) also just be done?


Computer (as far as I know):

Motherboard: ASUS M5 A99x EVO r2.0

First GPU: EVGA nvidia geforce gtx 465

Second GPU: MSI nvidia geforce gts 250

PSU: Rosewell capstone-750 (750W)

Processor: AMD FX-6100 6 core 3.30GHz

RAM: (don't know the type but it is ddr3) 16 GB

Windows 8.1




 
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your temps are good and the fact that your pc lasts longer before it crushes with 250, i start to believe it might be a psu...

kcinlober

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The gtx 465 just won't startup, apparently (I wasn't there when it was tried), that is why we switched to the other one. I don't think it is the temperature because the crashes with the 250 didn't come while doing anything intensive (just afterwards). I will monitor it tonight while I play Skyrim to double check
 

kcinlober

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After playing Skyrim for ~1hr last night I quit and was surfing the internet for a few minutes. Some time after (definitely more than 5 min) the screen froze again with the random block-y colors. I was monitoring again with CPUID Monitor and it looked identical to the one i previously posted when i checked after quitting skyrim. I also ran the 'gpu z' program you mentioned this morning while playing and everything seemed in line with the values from CPUID Monitor. No crash happened this morning, however.

I also ran the windows memory test and it came up with no errors. Any other suggestions on what to test for? I also noticed some staticy noise when my headphones are plugged in-I am not sure if that is helpful to know.
 


your temps are good and the fact that your pc lasts longer before it crushes with 250, i start to believe it might be a psu issue afterall! 465 draws more power with 2x6pin pcie power cables!also to double check, run a http://www.memtest.org/
 
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