Steam Games crashing my GPU [SOLVED]

[Hash3737]

I don't hecking know why it started happening but it seems that any Steam games I play will randomly cause my monitor to lose signal, regain it aftert a few seconds and then show a random solid colour forcing me to restart the PC. It can happen after 10 minutes to 1 hour.
It ONLY happens with Steam games it seems as I was playing games from itch.io and stress testing using FURMARK for 4 hours and no crashes. I have no idea why is it happening it just kind of sudden.
It is not a driver issue
I reinstalled Windows 2 times
GPU is in a good condition
PC/GPU/CPU doesn't overheat
Cleaned the PC twice with no results
I have no malware and I am sure of that
Underclocking doesn't help

I doubt that my GPU is dying, it works fine in everything else. I would rather not to buy a new GPU if something is wrong, as I cannot buy one (not because of money).
I suspect the Steam itself to be the reason but I don't know.

Edit: It happens on Origin games too. So on all games basically.

FINAL EDIT: This issue is solved now. Replaced the graphics card and it’s all good. If you a similar problem on all video games, here’s a possible solution for your problem.

[Bee🐝]

Usually, I'd vote it's hardware related, but it could be something else...

First things first:

Full Specs -> Client -> Help -> System information -> Paste the results.

Do you own any other non-Steam AAA titles that you can test this on?

Also, because we're doing the very basics, you can always run both /sfc scannow and a DISM Check Health scans just to be sure everything is clean. I doubt this will show anything, but it's Windows troubleshooting 101.

[Hash3737]

Computer Information:
    Manufacturer:  To Be Filled By O.E.M.
    Model:  To Be Filled By O.E.M.
    Form Factor: Desktop
    No Touch Input Detected

Processor Information:
    CPU Vendor:  GenuineIntel
    CPU Brand:  Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz
    CPU Family:  0x6
    CPU Model:  0x3c
    CPU Stepping:  0x3
    CPU Type:  0x0
    Speed:  3599 Mhz
    8 logical processors
    4 physical processors
    HyperThreading:  Supported
    FCMOV:  Supported
    SSE2:  Supported
    SSE3:  Supported
    SSSE3:  Supported
    SSE4a:  Unsupported
    SSE41:  Supported
    SSE42:  Supported
    AES:  Supported
    AVX:  Supported
    AVX2:  Supported
    AVX512F:  Unsupported
    AVX512PF:  Unsupported
    AVX512ER:  Unsupported
    AVX512CD:  Unsupported
    AVX512VNNI:  Unsupported
    SHA:  Unsupported
    CMPXCHG16B:  Supported
    LAHF/SAHF:  Supported
    PrefetchW:  Unsupported

Operating System Version:
    Windows 10 (64 bit)
    NTFS:  Supported
    Crypto Provider Codes:  Supported 311 0x0 0x0 0x0

Video Card:
    Driver:  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
    DirectX Driver Name:  nvldumd.dll
    Driver Version:  30.0.15.1215
    DirectX Driver Version:  30.0.15.1215
    Driver Date: 3 17 2022
    OpenGL Version: 4.6
    Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel
    Monitor Refresh Rate: 59 Hz
    DirectX Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
    VendorID:  0x10de
    DeviceID:  0x13c2
    Revision:  0xa1
    Number of Monitors:  1
    Number of Logical Video Cards:  1
    No SLI or Crossfire Detected
    Primary Display Resolution:  1920 x 1080
    Desktop Resolution: 1920 x 1080
    Primary Display Size: 23.54" x 13.23" (26.97" diag)
                                            59.8cm x 33.6cm (68.5cm diag)
    Primary Bus: PCI Express 16x
    Primary VRAM: 4095 MB
    Supported MSAA Modes:  2x 4x 8x 

Sound card:
    Audio device: Динамики (Realtek High Definiti

Memory:
    RAM:  16323 MB

VR Hardware:
    VR Headset: None detected

Miscellaneous:
    UI Language:  English
    Media Type:  DVD
    Total Hard Disk Space Available:  2136131 MB
    Largest Free Hard Disk Block:  765476 MB
    OS Install Date: ??? 03 2022
    Game Controller: None detected
    MAC Address hash: c90d9c95fa7c8be238af0ea853f5505b91b8536e

Storage:
    Disk serial number hash: c3c8c1b3
    Number of SSDs: 1
    SSD sizes: 240G
    Number of HDDs: 1
    HDD sizes: 2000G 

I have Titanfall 2 on Origin and... same thing. Strangely enough, the first session today ran smootly for 2+ hours but on the second session the same thing happened after 30 minutes. Forgot to mention that the computer stays ON. The sounds also continues to plays normally without any loops almost as if the game continues (buzzing sound played only one time).

[Hash3737]

Also both SFC and DISM command didn't yield any results, says that everything is fine.

[Joke]

If drivers and windows is ok, then it points to a hardware problem.

Have you checked temperatures? Mainly GPU, but CPU is also of interest.
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

You can test the RAM with: https://www.memtest86.com/

HDMI cable might be the problem. Try a new one.

Try moving the GPU to another PCIE slot if there is another

[Hash3737]

Originally posted by Joke:

If drivers and windows is ok, then it points to a hardware problem.

Have you checked temperatures? Mainly GPU, but CPU is also of interest.
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

You can test the RAM with: https://www.memtest86.com/

HDMI cable might be the problem. Try a new one.

Try moving the GPU to another PCIE slot if there is another

The temps are fine, nothing overheats. The max temp I got was 54C in Garry's mod which afaik is a normal temp for games.

I use DP cable, I tried switching it with the hdmi cable and the cable of my older monitor (That I don't have in my possession right now) and it's the same.

There is no other PCIE slot, unfortunately.

The RAM test said that nothing is wrong.

Maybe I need to buy ANOTHER cable but I doubt it will solve anything seeing how other two didn't do a thing...

[Crazy Tiger]

Try reseating the GPU. Could indeed be a dodgy slot, for example.

Might also be a power issue. How is the PSU?

[Hash3737]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Try reseating the GPU. Could indeed be a dodgy slot, for example.

Might also be a power issue. How is the PSU?

Already tried reseating the GPU and nothing changed.

I'm pretty sure PSU is fine but is there a way to check if it's not? I thought that the entire PC shutdowns/restarts when there is a problem with PSU, no? And my PC stays on...

[Bee🐝]

The screen stays on? Ok, there’s a really old Windows bug that caused something similar. I have to find the thread, but the fastest way to check this is by using a very simple shortcut when the screen goes black press: Win + Ctrl + Shift + B. It "resets/restarts" the graphic driver.

Unplugging the HDMI cable and plugging it back in will have the same effect.

If it is this, the screen should turn back on and be totally fine without you having to restart.

This is a workaround but at least you’ll know where the problem lies.

[Hash3737]

Yeah... didn't work at all. the keyboard shortcut literally does nothing. Unplugging and plugging back in doesn't help either. The last freeze that happened moments ago had looped audio, so the audio can sometimes loop, work fine or just cut out entirely.
I did find out something though, don't know if it helps. The "random" solid colour that my monitor shows on the whole screen depends on the colours that the game I play has.

For example, I played one of the maps in Gmod and my screen turned orange, the last thing I saw before it is fire and orange lightning. Another example is that the last thing I was looking at before the other "freeze" was a tan wall and the solid colour on the screen was tan too. I played Titanfall and my screen turned grey and the last thing I was looking at is a grey floor.

Seems too much of a coincidence.

[Bee🐝]

Originally posted by Hash2xKin:

Yeah... didn't work at all. the keyboard shortcut literally does nothing. Unplugging and plugging back in doesn't help either. The last freeze that happened moments ago had looped audio, so the audio can sometimes loop, work fine or just cut out entirely.
I did find out something though, don't know if it helps. The "random" solid colour that my monitor shows on the whole screen depends on the colours that the game I play has.

For example, I played one of the maps in Gmod and my screen turned orange, the last thing I saw before it is fire and orange lightning. Another example is that the last thing I was looking at before the other "freeze" was a tan wall and the solid colour on the screen was tan too. I played Titanfall and my screen turned grey and the last thing I was looking at is a grey floor.

Seems too much of a coincidence.

We’ll mark that off the list.

The colour thing though is super weird. Monitor, GPU or a odd driver issue?

Edit: Maybe roll back the drivers to a previous version?

[Cikan]

thx it worked

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by Hash2xKin:

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Try reseating the GPU. Could indeed be a dodgy slot, for example.

Might also be a power issue. How is the PSU?

Already tried reseating the GPU and nothing changed.

I'm pretty sure PSU is fine but is there a way to check if it's not? I thought that the entire PC shutdowns/restarts when there is a problem with PSU, no? And my PC stays on...

Usually one can check it with a multimeter. Or with a different PSU.

And no, problems with PSU's can also mean that they don't deliver enough power anymore or with too much fluctuations, for example. Which means the GPU can get a moment where it can't draw enough power, which can show up as freezing or moments of no visuals. And the solid screen is a form of freezing.

I still think it's either the GPU or the PSU that is failing.

Do you happen to know someone whose PSU you can use for a moment to see what happens? Or a PC repair shop that can measure it for you?

[Hash3737]

Originally posted by Bee:

Originally posted by Hash2xKin:

Yeah... didn't work at all. the keyboard shortcut literally does nothing. Unplugging and plugging back in doesn't help either. The last freeze that happened moments ago had looped audio, so the audio can sometimes loop, work fine or just cut out entirely.
I did find out something though, don't know if it helps. The "random" solid colour that my monitor shows on the whole screen depends on the colours that the game I play has.

For example, I played one of the maps in Gmod and my screen turned orange, the last thing I saw before it is fire and orange lightning. Another example is that the last thing I was looking at before the other "freeze" was a tan wall and the solid colour on the screen was tan too. I played Titanfall and my screen turned grey and the last thing I was looking at is a grey floor.

Seems too much of a coincidence.

We’ll mark that off the list.

The colour thing though is super weird. Monitor, GPU or a odd driver issue?

Edit: Maybe roll back the drivers to a previous version?

Already tried that... I will send it to a repair check soon, so I hope they will find something.

[Hash3737]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Originally posted by Hash2xKin:

Already tried reseating the GPU and nothing changed.

I'm pretty sure PSU is fine but is there a way to check if it's not? I thought that the entire PC shutdowns/restarts when there is a problem with PSU, no? And my PC stays on...

Usually one can check it with a multimeter. Or with a different PSU.

And no, problems with PSU's can also mean that they don't deliver enough power anymore or with too much fluctuations, for example. Which means the GPU can get a moment where it can't draw enough power, which can show up as freezing or moments of no visuals. And the solid screen is a form of freezing.

I still think it's either the GPU or the PSU that is failing.

Do you happen to know someone whose PSU you can use for a moment to see what happens? Or a PC repair shop that can measure it for you?

Don't have anyone else I can borrow it from. But I am planning to send it to a repair shop soon so I hope they will find something. Really hope it won't be like 2 years ago where they said it was "fine" and then it immediately crashed after I launched it.

[Hash3737]

The repair was closed unfortunately for at least a month now.
But, I decided to replicate the problem again. And today it was a lot different...
I decided to allocate more memory (8192 MB) to disk C: which in turn did the following:

So the monitor looses signal as before, however, the random solid colour thing doesn't appear anymore. The monitor doesn't regain the signal anymore, and after at least 10 seconds multiple BEEP sounds are heard. These sounds also appear if I do the Win + Ctrl + Shift + B shortcut.