Strange multi colored lines on start up?

[buddymanson]

Image of my problem taken from my phone - http://i.imgur.com/mAyfYee.jpg

Sometimes when I start my computer up after it's been off for 5 or more hours, it will post but I get all these strange artifacts on my screen(see image) and then it loses signal before getting to Windows. Now if I reset or force it off/on it will boot to Windows like normal.

Again, It only does this if it's been shut down for 5 or more hours. If I were to shut down my PC right now and turn it back on, it would boot like normal. My computer runs flawlessly, I can play the latest games no problem. System temps are really good. If I kept my PC on all the time, I wouldn't even be aware of this problem.

All the components in my computer are new EXCEPT my RAM, GPU, & drives. I've replaced my motherboard and PSU with different ones this week to rule those components out & the problem came back. So this leaves me to think it's either my GPU or RAM. I have used Furmark to stress test my GPU and I play games all the time. My GPU temp never goes above 71 degrees Celsius and I have NEVER seen an artifact when gaming. So could it be my RAM or do I have very back luck with buying power supplies?

Even though this is most likely a hardware issue, I've still gone through all the basics - CHKDSK, mem test, check drivers, etc. I even wiped my SSD and put 8.1 back on it. I'm using default bios settings and I've had this problem with two different mobos so I doubt flashing is going to help.

Windows 8.1
i5 4690k no overclock
780 GTX no overclock
ASUS Z97-A
Corsair 750M

[_I_]

dead/dieing gpu
try reseating it, or try the onboard video

[buddymanson]

Originally posted by _I_:

dead/dieing gpu
try reseating it, or try the onboard video

Any time I encountered a dieing GPU in the past it would have artifacts on the screen when using it with the computer actually on. In my case, I see it happen during post only.

[buddymanson]

& In case you don't want to read all that. The problem only happens when my PC is shut down for 5 or more hours. My computer doesn't like being turned off for a long time apparently.

[Azza ☠]

Take out the graphics card and then reseat it - double checking the PCI-e 12V cables coming from the PSU (Power Supply Unit) to the top of it. It might be juice related if occuring at boot.

If it's not that, perhaps it's graphic card memory faulty/damaged at a certain point. It's just a random occuring event in that case, as it will depend when the system / game / app attempts to use that damaged spot of DDR5 memory from the graphics card (not system RAM).

[buddymanson]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Take out the graphics card and then reseat it - double checking the PCI-e 12V cables coming from the PSU (Power Supply Unit) to the top of it. It might be juice related if occuring at boot.

If it's not that, perhaps it's graphic card memory faulty/damaged at a certain point. It's just a random occuring event in that case, as it will depend when the system / game / app attempts to use that damaged spot of DDR5 memory from the graphics card (not system RAM).

Yeah I've made sure it's properly seated and the PCI E connectors are connected.
It just sucks because I have to wait 5 hours to see if I've fixed it or not. Well I really hope I don't have to replace my good 'ol 780. I've only had it for about 2 years at the most. I'm going to use onboard video when I wake up tomorrow & see if it still does it.

Any chance another component could be the cause? Thanks!

[Azza ☠]

Originally posted by buddymanson:

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Take out the graphics card and then reseat it - double checking the PCI-e 12V cables coming from the PSU (Power Supply Unit) to the top of it. It might be juice related if occuring at boot.

If it's not that, perhaps it's graphic card memory faulty/damaged at a certain point. It's just a random occuring event in that case, as it will depend when the system / game / app attempts to use that damaged spot of DDR5 memory from the graphics card (not system RAM).

Yeah I've made sure it's properly seated and the PCI E connectors are connected.
It just sucks because I have to wait 5 hours to see if I've fixed it or not. Well I really hope I don't have to replace my good 'ol 780. I've only had it for about 2 years at the most. I'm going to use onboard video when I wake up tomorrow & see if it still does it.

Any chance another component could be the cause? Thanks!

Check under your offical Motherboard website > Support > BIOS updates. Flash the BIOS with the latest stable version. Rare chance it's minor corruption of the BIOS (do you know if your motherboard runs a duel bios? as the 2nd reboot would trigger it to load via the other one).

It's however more likely Graphic card, Graphic card memory, or PSU (Power Supply) related.

It's not drivers related: Because BIOS won't use the Windows drivers. It's not overheating issues either.

Does your motherboard have builtin graphic? If so, you can always test via that (removing the graphics card in question from the equalization and maybe help narrow down root cause). Just note most high-end games won't run on integrated graphics.

[buddymanson]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Originally posted by buddymanson:

Yeah I've made sure it's properly seated and the PCI E connectors are connected.
It just sucks because I have to wait 5 hours to see if I've fixed it or not. Well I really hope I don't have to replace my good 'ol 780. I've only had it for about 2 years at the most. I'm going to use onboard video when I wake up tomorrow & see if it still does it.

Any chance another component could be the cause? Thanks!

Check under your offical Motherboard website > Support > BIOS updates. Flash the BIOS with the latest stable version. Rare chance it's minor corruption of the BIOS (do you know if your motherboard runs a duel bios? as the 2nd reboot would trigger it to load via the other one).

It's however more likely Graphic card, Graphic card memory, or PSU (Power Supply) related.

It's not drivers related: Because BIOS won't use the Windows drivers. It's not overheating issues either.

Does your motherboard have builtin graphic? If so, you can always test via that (removing the graphics card in question from the equalization and maybe help narrow down root cause). Just note most high-end games won't run on integrated graphics.

No my bios isn't resetting on the second reboot if that's what you mean. Well I had this problem on two new boards one was a MSI Z97 PC Mate(flashed BIOS) and then I replaced it with an ASUS Z97-A. Had the same problem with both boards. Brand new motherboards. So I highly doubt flashing my mobo will help.

Yeah my mobo has built in graphics. I'm going to remove the card the next time my PC is off for a while. Yeah, I would never attempt to run my games without a discrete card.

[Samadhi]

If its only happening during boot, before the OS is loaded, then it can really only be a PSU, GPU or BIOS issue.

If you can swap the card out for a known good GPU and test, i think you will be able to say for certain your GPU is bad.

[buddymanson]

Yeah, I took my 780 out and it hasn't booted funny yet. Anyone ever send a card to Nvidia to get fixed and if so, how much?

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

[_I_]

if its under a year old, contact the mfg for rma/warranty

only need to go to nvidia if its an nvidia branded gpu
msi/evga/pny/gigabyte go to them

[Azza ☠]

Originally posted by buddymanson:

Yeah, I took my 780 out and it hasn't booted funny yet. Anyone ever send a card to Nvidia to get fixed and if so, how much?

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

Only under warranty within the last month - they gave me a freebee upgrade from GTX 780 to GTX 970, in which I paid the difference to get GTX 980 instead. ASUS and EVGA seems to be pretty good with most of their warranty cover.

I'm assuming yours isn't under warranty though?

---

If all is lost, perhaps consider "Oven baking D.I.Y Graphic card repair", however I've never actually attempted that myself. Suggest only if not covered and you are about to throw it out. The idea behind it is remelt the solider and connections. Redo the thermal paste and remount the cooler.

[buddymanson]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Originally posted by buddymanson:

Yeah, I took my 780 out and it hasn't booted funny yet. Anyone ever send a card to Nvidia to get fixed and if so, how much?

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

Only under warranty within the last month - they gave me a freebee upgrade from GTX 780 to GTX 970, in which I paid the difference to get GTX 980 instead. ASUS and EVGA seems to be pretty good with most of their warranty cover.

I'm assuming yours isn't under warranty though?

---

If all is lost, perhaps consider "Oven baking D.I.Y Graphic card repair", however I've never actually attempted that myself. Suggest only if not covered and you are about to throw it out. The idea behind it is remelt the solider and connections. Redo the thermal paste and remount the cooler.

That's nice that they let you upgrade like that. Yeah, it's under warrranty. I got it January '14. I'll be able to send it back to Nvidia since it's the reference card. According to their policy, they will either fix it or send me a replacement. Going to find out more tomorrow.

[buddymanson]

& I wouldn't even attempt to fix it myself. I'd probably only make it worse lol. I appreciate the info!

[Azza ☠]

Don't even attempt to do minor fixes, if under warranty, as that would break it.

Great it's covered - Just request the RMA (return merchandise authorization) process.

Nvidia has a cover over upgrade policy for their warranty. If they don't fix the GTX 780, it's replacement model is the GTX 970 (which is of similar performance). It's also why they have the XX5 models, to match off performance from previous generations to cover as warranty claims.

Living without the card for a while is the hard part - I personally just played a lot of Dota 2 on Intel CPU Graphics.

[buddymanson]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Don't even attempt to do minor fixes, if under warranty, as that would break it.

Great it's covered - Just request the RMA (return merchandise authorization) process.

Nvidia has a cover over upgrade policy for their warranty. If they don't fix the GTX 780, it's replacement model is the GTX 970 (which is of similar performance). It's also why they have the XX5 models, to match off performance from previous generations to cover as warranty claims.

Living without the card for a while is the hard part - I personally just played a lot of Dota 2 on Intel CPU Graphics.

Yeah, I'm already suffering from no GPU lol. I was playing Mad Max before I took the card out. Not even going to attempt to run it with Intel 4600. I think I might just start a new game of KOTOR.