Solved PC Crashes to solid green screen while gaming

[Rhiot]

I've had this problem with different PC's for the last ten years or so, maybe longer. It's been so long that I don't remember a time when I had a computer that didn't crash every day. I'll be playing a game, or sometimes I might just be watching a video on Youtube, and my computer will suddenly crash to a solid green screen on both monitors. For an example of what it looks like, if you google 'green', it's the first image that pops up. Just solid green. No text. It'll stay like that for maybe 3-6 seconds, then both monitors go black, and I have to hold the power button to turn my PC off, then back on. Sound is killed as well. It's been barely tolerable because it would usually only happen once a day, but with a new game I've been playing, it seems to pop up once ever 4-18 minutes, rough estimate. So much so that it makes it unplayable, and I've exhausted all my ideas. I've cleaned out the dust in my PC, reseated my RAM, run malewarebytes, I've even performed a clean install/factory reset of my PC (though not since this new game) but the crash ALWAYS comes back, and I have no idea what could be causing it. I'd be willing to pay for a PC tune up/repair program if it fixes the problem, but I have no idea if that's even something that could even tell me what the problem is. I don't know what to do, and I'm sick and tired of not being able to play something without the anxiety of wondering when it's going to crash today.

Just tell me what you need me to do in order to provide information and I'll provide it. I'm not very smart, so the most detailed instructions would make it easier for me to provide what's needed.

 

[phillpower2]

You have post on a tech assistance forum asking for help but have provided zero information about your computer or it`s hardware, this makes it impossible for anyone to even hazard a guess as to what is going on.

Please provide information about your computer, is it a custom build or brand name such as Dell or HP, if a brand name, provide the model name or series number (not serial) if a custom build post the brand and model name or number for the CPU, MB, the RAM (including the amount) add on video card if one is used and the PSU (power supply unit) providing these details will enable folk to better assist you.

 

[Rhiot]

I did say I wasn't that smart...I don't know what people need to know. It's a custom built, I'll see if I can list everything you asked for

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 CPU @3.60GHz
MB: I think is ROG STRIX B4500-F GAMING (version Rev 1.xx)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 X 16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C18 1.35V
Video Card: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
PSU: Corsair CX 750M

I'll also add here that my drivers are up to date, as far as I can tell, as the AMD Adrenalin software tells me everything's been downloaded and up-to-date, I checked windows updates before posting this, and there is nothing more to download

 

[phillpower2]

Two problems that we can see in your specs;

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 CPU @3.60GHz
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 X 16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C18 1.35V

That is the wrong RAM for your CPU, Intel state here up to 1600MHz and if you have XMP enabled the RAM will get auto OCd past what the CPU can handle and the PC fall over.

You should also make sure that the Windows Power Plan is set to Balanced and not High Performance.

Video Card: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
PSU: Corsair CX 750M

The PSU is not appropriate for the GPU, Corsair make good PSUs but they must be used for what Corsair advise, for your PSU it is the below;

CX Series Modular power supply units are an excellent choice for basic system builds and desktop PC computer upgrades, offering high reliability, low noise, and the flexibility of modular cabling.

Your GPU is far from basic and needs to have a good quality Gold efficiency rated PSU to support it, see Which power supply do you need?

 

[Rhiot]

I'm not sure what XMP means, nor was I aware that the MHz was going to be an issue. My power plan has been on balanced for as long as I can remember.

as for the PSU....this is more information I didn't have before now. If Corsair is best for...well...Corsair, I'm not sure what brands to look for, or which type would be most reccommended for my system. Just anything that isn't Corsair?

Am I to understand these mismatches would be responsible for the crashes I have been experiencing? Or could there be something else causing this problem?

 

[phillpower2]

I'm not sure what XMP means,

But you have heard of Google have you not I'm not sure what XMP means,

as for the PSU....this is more information I didn't have before now. If Corsair is best for...well...Corsair, I'm not sure what brands to look for, or which type would be most reccommended for my system. Just anything that isn't Corsair?

Not what was advised, the below was;

Corsair make good PSUs but they must be used for what Corsair advise

Your PSU is not intended for a gaming type rig only an office or school type that only has graphics provided by either the CPU or on much older MBs basic video chips soldered onto the MB.

Using a weak PSU may have damaged one or more components but the GPU being the most power hungry item tends to suffer first and the most.

Try restoring the MBs default factory settings in the BIOS, they are sometimes listed as one of the following " factory defaults" "most stable" or on newer boards "optimized" please note that if you have both the "most stable" and the "optimized" options in the BIOS you should choose the most stable" option as in this instance the "optimized" settings are a form of overclocking that can cause instability.

Save the new settings, exit the BIOS, restart the computer, test by using the computer as you normally would, post back with an update once you have done this.

 

[Rhiot]

Googling it simply didn't occur to me until a bit after I posted that...but I did look it up, and found out that my RAM had been running at 2333.4 MHz at the time, I switched the frequency to 1600, but no change.

After restoring the BIOS to default, which simply said "Optimized", no other options available, and then ensuring the RAM frequency was at 1600, I was able to run the problematic game in question for about an hour or more without a crash, though, with some flickering on my second monitor, including a brief split-second green screen on the second monitor, but no accompanying crash. Screen flickers black briefly when tabbing in and out of the game. However, after that hour or so of play, the same crash occurred once more, green screen, silence, and monitors lost signal from my PC after a few seconds.

As to the PSU, you're right, I should have been more specific in my question, any non-Corsair brand 750W+ High Gold Rated PSU? According to the link provided it lists a few suggestions at the bottom of the table listing the GPU and wattage reccommendations, though with the knowledge that Corsair dosn't work too well with components of differing brands, the same concern comes up for any of these other PSUs.

 

[phillpower2]

Disconnect the second monitor, that is just increasing the load on the GPU and PSU as well as increasing internal heat.

though with the knowledge that Corsair dosn't work too well with components of differing brands,

Say what, Corsair Gold efficiency rated PSUs are amongst the best, they are designed for gaming rigs, Bronze efficiency rated PSUs from any brand should not be used for gaming rigs.

 

[Rhiot]

I see! I must have misunderstood what you initially said! As to the memory...if I set the frequency of it to 1600, is that as good as getting memory sticks that have a limit of 1600 themselves? I'm just trying to figure out exactly what I should be having, what's the most optimal to stop this crash from occuring.

 

[phillpower2]

For now, disconnect the second screen, restore the BIOS settings again, leave the RAM speed well alone, test by using the PC as you normally would, post back with an update once all of the above has been done.

To reiterate, leave the RAM settings alone.

 

[phillpower2]

Being that the OP has revisited the forum but chose not to reply this thread will be closed.

 

[phillpower2]

Thread reopened.

 

[Rhiot]

My sincerest apologies for taking so long to reply. I didn't intend to abandon the thread, I only wished to conduct more testing, and the results are as follows, for anyone else who may have this problem:

After restting BIOS back to default, and unplugging my second monitor, the problematic game ran for 3 hours without crashing, at which point I decided to stop playing. It ran for another two consecutive hours the next day without crashing as well. After this, I had used my PC normally with both monitorsp lugged in for most of the day on other games/programs, before unplugging my second monitor to play the problematic game, which crashed within three minutes. After rebooting, and having the second monitor unplugged from boot, the game then played for another several hours without crashing, and in the time between asking to reopen the thread, and it being opened, I tested again, by restarting my computer, having the second monitor disconnected from boot, and the game didn't crash. This being the case, I suspect that the PSU is what is likely at fault, perhaps not providing enough power to the GPU to support the second monitor when it comes to some resource-hungry games. I'm not sure how to highlight the best answer on these forums, but here it all is! I was helped and it seems my issue has been identified! Thank you so much for your patience and your knowledge!

 

[phillpower2]

While not ideal you have at least identified the cause of the problem and thank you for getting back in touch to let us know.

We don`t have a best answer so people will just have to read through your thtread.