I've been dealing with a frustrating issue on my desktop. The problem started after I experienced a power outage while gaming, and now my graphics card (GPU) frequently crashes, causing my main monitor to go black. However, the monitor connected to my motherboard continues to work without a hitch. My PC runs fine during idle tasks and light activities like browsing YouTube, but whenever I try to play games, the GPU crashes after about 15 minutes.
Here are my specs:
- Motherboard: MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi
- CPU: Ryzen 7 7700x
- GPU: ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Twin Edge OC
- RAM: Kingston Fury Beast 2x8GB 5600MHz DDR5 CL36
- PSU: Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W V2
- Storage: 1TB M.2 SSD Kingston
- OS: Windows 11
This issue started about two weeks ago, right after the power outage. Although I was able to game without problems for a few days after, the first crash occurred mid-game. After I turned the PC off for a few minutes and updated my drivers, it seemed fine—until it crashed again last night. The GPU crashes while I'm checking the temperatures and loads during gaming using HWMonitor.
I'm not very tech-savvy, and I'm worried about RMAing parts again after previously needing to replace the motherboard. I want to pinpoint whether the GPU or PSU is the culprit before I tackle customer service. I'm still under warranty, and insurance could cover it, but I want to avoid a lengthy process. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
It sounds like your GPU might be the root of the problem, especially since the crash only affects your main monitor while your onboard graphics keep running. I’d recommend stress-testing your system using Furmark or a similar tool while monitoring temperatures and loads with HWInfo or MSI Afterburner. If you can capture what's happening right before the crash, it could give clues about whether it’s a thermal issue or something else. Make sure your drivers are fully up to date too before you dive in deeper.
Given your description, I’m inclined to think it’s more of a GPU issue, especially since the fans and RGB lights on the card are still working after a crash. I had a similar problem once, and it turned out I needed to replace my dedicated GPU. It’s frustrating, but if your PSU seems fine, that might be the part to focus on.
You might want to try disabling your GeForce RTX 4070 in the BIOS and see if your onboard graphics can handle both monitors. This could provide some insight into what's working and what's not. Also, double-check any error logs in your Windows Event Viewer—those can sometimes give you specific details about the crash.
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