Weird hardware issue

SwedishChef · 29 Jul 2017 at 09:10

Hi all,

I hope you can help me diagnose my slightly borked pc. The screen display dies after booting Windows 10 - just after the spinning circles load screen and just before the lock screen initialises. It's almost as if basic VGA graphics work fine but high res graphic kill the display output. Initially I thought it was a corrupt profile or Windows system file issue but it turns out that if I boot the PC with on-board graphics only, it works fine. I've also tried re-installing Windows.

But, it isn't the GTX 970 graphics card either I don't think. Why? Because I've tried the graphics card in both PCIE slots, and also tried my old GTX 570 which did the same thing. So, is it motherboard, or PSU or something else?

Things I could try next - put the GTX 970 in my wife's PC and see if it works (I think it will). Put an old Seasonic 500w PSU into my PC and see if it loads Windows with the graphics card installed (a bit fiddly but do-able).

Am I going along the right lines here or should be I pointing the finger of suspicion at something else?
Thanks for any advice!

Spec:
Intel 3570k overclocked
P8Z77-V PRO
16Gb RAM Corsair Vengence DDR3 (2 sticks)
MSI GTX 970
Antec TruPower 650w PSU
Crucial SSD

postmanfw · 29 Jul 2017 at 09:21

you are on the right path

process of elimination and you have all the right parts to isolate what the fault is

solarp · 29 Jul 2017 at 09:51

Have you tried taking it back to stock speeds?

I think you're right, I'd be looking at the mobo and psu at possible cause of the fault.

SwedishChef · 29 Jul 2017 at 10:40

Thanks guys, I appreciate your replies.

solarp - no, I hadn't. Good idea I shall try that.

After that, PSU swap time.

solarp · 29 Jul 2017 at 10:51

Don't forget RAM too, annoyingly you have to try everything in these circumstances, I have had friends with odd faults like these and it turns into something ridiculous like a faulty HDD or something.

SwedishChef · 29 Jul 2017 at 13:53

After combing my loft and various boxes of old bits it turns out that the Seasonic PSU doesn't have the right connectors for a PCIE graphics card - haven't got convertors either. So I can't swap the PSU in. Hmmm, but I could take the PSU from the wife's machine. She's got an Intel 920 and I'm sure the CPU is newer than the Seasonic.... she won't be happy though as she's 'busy' browsing Facebook!

SwedishChef · 29 Jul 2017 at 19:34

It seems to be the mobo. Shopping time...

EsaT · 30 Jul 2017 at 20:07

SwedishChef said:
The screen display dies after booting Windows 10 - just after the spinning circles load screen and just before the lock screen initialises.

Some time around that Windows loads graphics card's driver so could be also corrupted or buggy driver.

VKleita · 31 Jul 2017 at 09:50

Tried booting in safe mode ?

maybe a good clear out of graphic drivers might resolve ?

jbh110tdi · 31 Jul 2017 at 10:56

I wouldnt think it would be the motherboard as it has been said above its working until it loads the driver.
when you re-installed windows did it work ok until you installed the driver?
also have you checked the monitor on your wife's machine?
when you had it on the onboard graphics did you set up the resolution to what you would normally run at?

solarp · 31 Jul 2017 at 19:39

Download a program called DDU, should detect and allow you to completely uninstall any graphics drivers, allowing you to start from scratch.