Problems with my PC

[rogue_strider]

Hope some bros here can help.

My PC is 4 year plus.

While I am playing my games, the pc will just freeze and grey lines will appear but the pc will still be running. I have to shut it down and restart to solve the problem. It happen quite in frequently since the beginning of this year ( around once a month or so). But since yesterday, everytime I try to play a game, after 10 mins or so, the game will just freeze and grey lines appear. Furthermore, it takes a couple of restart for the display to be switched on.

Should I change the video card? Or should I use the opportunity to upgrade my desktop?

Here is my pc specs.

CPU & Mobo: i5-3470 & Asrock B75 Pro 3M
Ram: G.Skill 1600mhz value ram 2x4GB
GPU: Powercolor 7950 PCS
PSU: FSP Platinum 550W

 

[Rashkae]

1. Open your PC
2. Clean out any dust in the GPU and CPU fans.
3. Test with a new PSU

 

[ketforme]

1. Open your PC
2. Clean out any dust in the GPU and CPU fans.
3. Test with a new PSU

I agree also

 

[spiky0180]

Your video card is dying. Try with onboard graphic if u can to confirm.

 

[Koenig168]

1. Open your PC
2. Clean out any dust in the GPU and CPU fans.

^ and lower the clock speed of the GPU to test if it is overheating problem

 

[jtjt00]

If no regular cleaning, 4 years is choked full of dust. Either GPU or PSU is dying.

 

[rogue_strider]

Thanks for the advice.

I clean and get rid of the dust every 6 months as my room isn't so dusty.

I did open the casing yesterday and whatever dust that was found was cleaned. But it still did the same thing that's why I posted the question on hwz.

What psu and graphics card should I change into? I am not really up to date with the latest hardware stuff.

 

[peterchan75]

Thanks for the advice.

I clean and get rid of the dust every 6 months as my room isn't so dusty.

I did open the casing yesterday and whatever dust that was found was cleaned. But it still did the same thing that's why I posted the question on hwz.

What psu and graphics card should I change into? I am not really up to date with the latest hardware stuff.

Before you pull out your wallet, why not try taking out the graphic card and use the onboard video. The chance of both psu and graphic card going bad at the same time is low.

 

[joshuaho]

Common problem with old system is just dust build up (assuming other parts still working) so just need to reseat components like GPU and rams and just use eraser to clean out the Gold portions and it should be back in working order

PM me if you need help with building PC HardwareZone Forums app

 

[rogue_strider]

I'll try to take out the gpu later tonight and try.

 

[jtjt00]

Thanks for the advice.

I clean and get rid of the dust every 6 months as my room isn't so dusty.

I did open the casing yesterday and whatever dust that was found was cleaned. But it still did the same thing that's why I posted the question on hwz.

What psu and graphics card should I change into? I am not really up to date with the latest hardware stuff.

Your motherboard has onboard GPU, pull out the GPU and connect video cable to motherboard vga connector.

 

[rogue_strider]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I did pull out the gpu and only used the onboard graphics and all the games plus the benchmark test ran as per normal but obviously lower in quality.

I plug the gpu back in again and and played a test game and the pc froze and showed the lines on the monitor again.

I also cleaned thoroughly inside the cpu again.

So its most prob is the GPU problem.

Now for the next part is which current GPU can fit my motherboard and psu and provide a nice bump in performance? I hope you guys can help me.

 

[undead102]

You might be able to stop the line crashing problem when gaming if you down clock your gpu memory clock and core clock using amd overdrive. Can slowly reduce by 50mhz until the line crashing problem stops. Works for me. My gpu crash at default clock but after downclocking the vertical line crashing problem is gone. Downclocking will reduce gaming performance but better then crashing.

 

[rogue_strider]

You might be able to stop the line crashing problem when gaming if you down clock your gpu memory clock and core clock using amd overdrive. Can slowly reduce by 50mhz until the line crashing problem stops. Works for me. My gpu crash at default clock but after downclocking the vertical line crashing problem is gone. Downclocking will reduce gaming performance but better then crashing.

Thanks. I'll try doing that and see if it works.

But I do want to upgrade the gpu and any good suggestions would be nice. Thanks.

 

[singupingu]

Upgrade gpu. Depending on budget, $200+ range for gtx 1050 ti, $300-400 range gtx 1060, $500++ gtx 1070.

AMD side price higher in sg market for God knows why reason but rx470/570 and rx480/580 are pretty good cards too.

Sent from PM me if you wanna build a DIY PC or wanna learn how to make one yourself using GAGT

 

[rogue_strider]

You might be able to stop the line crashing problem when gaming if you down clock your gpu memory clock and core clock using amd overdrive. Can slowly reduce by 50mhz until the line crashing problem stops. Works for me. My gpu crash at default clock but after downclocking the vertical line crashing problem is gone. Downclocking will reduce gaming performance but better then crashing.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried doing that and lower it down by a few times and it still showing the crashing problem so I think I'll just but a new gpu. Not gaming is driving me crazy.

Upgrade gpu. Depending on budget, $200+ range for gtx 1050 ti, $300-400 range gtx 1060, $500++ gtx 1070.

AMD side price higher in sg market for God knows why reason but rx470/570 and rx480/580 are pretty good cards too.

Sent from PM me if you wanna build a DIY PC or wanna learn how to make one yourself using GAGT

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll go for the mid tier gtx 1060. But looking at the pc themes pric list, there's a mind boggling variations of the gtx 1060. I would like the gpu to run cool but the price tag is quite high for some of the variations. Is it better to choose from the 3 main ones that was from the hwz review section (ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1060 OC / Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 G1 / Gaming MSI GeForce GTX 1060 Gaming X 6G)?

 

[singupingu]

Nah. Zotac or Palit also okay de. Not necessarily from the 3 big brand. Check out pricing from Lazada. They are better there than of SLS Pricelist. Of coz you can stack credit card rebate/cashback, live up membership, discount codes to make the price even cheaper. Check out Palit Dual ($325) or Zotac Amp ($349) or Asus Dual ($359) for the 3GB variant of the GTX 1060. All these are dual fans, and is enough to sufficiently cool the gtx 1060. Even single fan is enough but noiser as the fan need to run harder than the dual fans setup to cool the card.

Sent from PM me if you wanna build a DIY PC or wanna learn how to make one yourself using GAGT

 

[rogue_strider]

Thanks for the advice. I want the gpu to last quite a bit. I may change my cpu next year and will most likely keep the gpu the same.

I was looking at the gtx 1060 6gb card particularly the msi gaming x, it seems like its out of stock in lazada. Same goes with asus without the high markup.

I found 1 stall selling the MSI gtx 1060 gaming x 6 gb for $490, is that an ok deal cause the 3gb version is going for $380-390?

If possible, can recommend a monitor for me as well. Monitor is mostly for gaming. is the asus gaming monitor good?