Troubleshooting Computer Crashes: Is It the Video Card or the Motherboard?

If you’re a computer user, you know how frustrating it can be when your system starts acting up. Recently, my wife’s computer has been experiencing frequent crashes that have disrupted her workflow. After weeks of intermittent issues, including the screen displaying strange graphics followed by automatic reboots, the situation escalated today. Now, the computer continuously crashes right after rebooting, making it nearly impossible to use.

As I dive into troubleshooting, I’m leaning towards believing the video card is the culprit behind these persistent problems. However, I recognize that the motherboard could also be a factor in such issues. Given this uncertainty, I’m reaching out to the community for insights and opinions.

Have you encountered similar instances? What are your thoughts? Is it more likely that the video card is failing, or should I be considering motherboard issues? Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated as I work to resolve this dilemma.

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  1. Troubleshooting Tips for Video Card vs. Motherboard Issues

    Given the symptoms described—frequent crashes, strange graphics, and reboots—it’s important to systematically diagnose whether the culprit is the video card or the motherboard. Here are some steps you can take:

    • Check for Overheating: Ensure the GPU and system are properly cooled. Overheating can cause artifacts and crashes.
    • Test with a Different Video Card: If possible, swap in a known-good video card to see if the issue persists. If the crashes stop, the video card may be failing.
    • Inspect the Motherboard: Look for visible damage such as bulging or leaking capacitors, or burnt areas. Also, verify that all motherboard connections are secure.
    • Update Drivers & BIOS: Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause display issues and crashes. Ensure you have the latest drivers for your GPU, and update your motherboard BIOS if necessary.
    • Run Hardware Diagnostics: Utilize tools like MemTest86 for RAM, or manufacturer-specific diagnostics for the motherboard and GPU.
    • Check Event Logs: Windows Event Viewer can provide clues about the crashes, such

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