Brand new GPU with multiple strange issues

[AGDeveloper]

How many monitors did you have connected.

Two. As mentioned in my previous post on Sunday:
… However, I did manage to leave it idling all night thursday, to no issues causing me to plug my second monitor in for further testing, …

I felt it was stable enough to try at least and see if it made a difference, which it did not and continued to run fine. Since the first crash I’ve returned to using the second monitor only, and haven’t yet tried to properly test it as I’ve needed the PC to be semi-functional to write emails and access documents.

As for the storage space issue, I will try and do as you suggest and get up to 15% free as it says to do for SSDs, which is what the current install of Windows is on. After which I’ll try again with the same games I played to see if it invokes the same response as it did with 2 monitors.

However, this all leads me to believe it’s a software issue, and not a hardware issue? At this point I think that’s the most important, as if it’s just software (i.e Windows) then I’m not too concerned, but if it’s hardware then it’s a different story. I’ve cheekily used this issue persisting for so long to have my other half sanction a full on upgrade, with the only missing pieces being RAM arriving this time next week, and the case which is due in on Tuesday. Mobo, CPU and AIO are already here and have been waiting. With the upgrade I plan to nuke the drives anyway for a fresh start so that should resolve it if it’s just windows being windows, and this rig will return to using the original PSU and GPU for my partner to have which ran without issues for 5 years before the new GPU caused enough grief to warrant me seeking help from yourself.

[AGDeveloper]

Only a few short minutes after making the previous post, it occurred again. I did not have a chance to do anything whatsoever - I booted the PC up for the first time today, made the reply here, and was occupied with a phone call when it suddenly happened. MTB log is attached as always. 1 monitor and the only thing running was chrome with only 1 tab, being here.

What’s strange about this one is we have the reoccurrence of a different issue this time, which also has not happened since the original post to here, and that is the no vga error beep and debug led. I shut the PC down like I always do when this issue happens, and upon starting it again, it gave me the 1 long 2 short beeps and the debug led stuck at VGA. I tried again and the same thing happened. Third time try and here I am back in to windows, making a second reply. I honestly can’t tell if they’re related or not.

I have checked Event and Reliability Monitor as always and it’s the same story - DWM is present inside a hearse.

Edit: Forgot to mention in the previous post, but I think I did mention the fact that I have checked windows for corruption already back at the start (using instructions provided by Microsoft themselves) to which it reported as not having any and everything checking out.

[phillpower2]

Two. As mentioned in my previous post on Sunday:

I was asking about the previous episode and because you were specifically asked to only have the one monitor connected.

While troubleshooting stick with just the one screen connected to the GPU.

As for the storage space issue, I will try and do as you suggest and get up to 15% free as it says to do for SSDs,

That is a canned speech that I wrote and as I asked post back when you have between 20 and 25% free storage space on the C: drive/partition and we can go from there, the 15% minimum is for a fully up to date computer that is not having issues, your computer does not presently come under either category.

Edit: Forgot to mention in the previous post, but I think I did mention the fact that I have checked windows for corruption already back at the start (using instructions provided by Microsoft themselves) to which it reported as not having any and everything checking out.

Your seven consecutive Windows Desktop Manager related crashes suggest otherwise, Windows is broken,

[AGDeveloper]

Ah. I ran 1 monitor from when you told me to do so up until I said I went back to 2 in that post, and returned back to 1 after the second crash on Wednesday to make the post, which has continued to be the case to now.

And the 15% free space now makes sense. I was in a bit of a rush so got a bit confused, but it’s clear now that I need 25% or more. Unfortunately, that won’t be possible. The issue has progressively gotten worse and worse, as in, its happening sooner and sooner to the point where I don’t even have time to log in to windows before it dies in the exact same way as has been happening. Most I managed to get up to was 40GB free.

Yeah I do realise something with it is very broken, just wanted to let you know that I’ve at least tried using it’s own tools.

Im not sure how to proceed at this point. I can’t just call it done and wipe the PC as I still have files and programs which I’ve not yet backed up, but at the same time it won’t stay on long enough to log in let alone continue backing up and freeing space.

[xrobwx71]

Im not sure how to proceed at this point. I can’t just call it done and wipe the PC as I still have files and programs which I’ve not yet backed up, but at the same time it won’t stay on long enough to log in let alone continue backing up and freeing space.

Why not upgrade to a larger capacity drive?

[AGDeveloper]

Why not upgrade to a larger capacity drive?

Unfortunately I’ve just spent all I could on buying new components after almost a year of saving up for it, and the NVMe was only bought about 8 months ago. I’m not in a position financially just now to just go out and get a drive because windows can’t keep itself together, as much as I’d wish to. So I need to make do with what I’ve got for now.

[phillpower2]

Im not sure how to proceed at this point.

Only thing that I can suggest is a Windows reset choosing the keep my files option, this does come with some risk of data loss though.

Just be sure to only have the one monitor hooked up.

[AGDeveloper]

Only thing that I can suggest is a Windows reset choosing the keep my files option, this does come with some risk of data loss though.

Just be sure to only have the one monitor hooked up.

I kind of did just that. I managed to get the PC a bit more stable by having it laying flat downstairs hooked into the TV, however it was still very temperamental. Most I could get is 20 minute sessions before the same crash.

About a few dozen crashes later I managed to backup my data, take a note of all the programs, and went ahead with reverting changes. Moved the old PSU (Novatech Power Station Black Edition 750w) and GPU (MSI GTX 980) back in, took the NVMe and a few drives, and wiped it clean with a new install of windows, where it now happily continues to run completely error-free as my partners PC.

I’ve hooked the PSU and GPU up to my new components in the new case, and just waiting on the arrival of my RAM on Friday before I can power it on. At this point, any issue like the one I’ve had for the past while will signal that the GPU itself is faulty.

It’s safe to say this topic can now be closed. Thank you very much for the help. I wished the outcome would have been less drastic than “don’t use a PC for a week” but I guess only so much can be done when the OS is a pig with lipstick on ???

[phillpower2]

You are welcome and thanks for the follow up (y)