Monster Hunter Wilds crashed with a "Fatal error, device disconnected (the GPU)" message, and afterward I noticed visual artifacts while watching YouTube videos. I have been using an RTX 3060 Ti for about a year with games like Wilds, Helldivers 2, Elden Ring, and Street Fighter 6. It usually runs around 78–80°C, and I lower the settings if it reaches 80°C.
Wilds has crashed before and has occasionally blamed the GPU, but this was the first time I noticed artifacting outside the game. I reinstalled the graphics driver and restarted the computer, after which my games and browser videos appeared normal again. I was able to play Helldivers 2 and complete several more hunts in Wilds without issues.
Does this sound like a failing graphics card, a driver problem, or another stability issue with the PC version of Wilds?
1 Answer
Before assuming the card is dying, shut the PC down completely, unplug it, and hold the power button for a few seconds to discharge it. Then open the case, disconnect the GPU power cable, remove the graphics card, and reseat it firmly before reconnecting everything. A poor connection can cause a temporary device-disconnected error.
That sounds straightforward, so I’ll try it. I was able to play for several hours afterward without any more artifacts, and the issue seemed limited to the browser, but I’ll reseat the card as a precaution.