Buzzing crash with random solid color on monitor when playing games/bumped computer. Screen then goes black and unresponsive, needing a hard shutdown.

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Troubleshooting a Frustrating Monitor Crash: My Gaming Dilemma

I’ve been grappling with a persistent and troubling issue on my PC while gaming for the last 10-13 months. Each time I attempt to dive into a moderately graphics-intensive game, I can usually enjoy a few moments of playtime before my screen goes haywire. To give you a glimpse of this problem, here’s a video reference.

The Problem at Hand

The crash is characterized by an alarming buzzing noise emanating from my external speakers or headphones, accompanied by a strange flash of random colors across my monitors. After enduring this chaos for roughly 3-10 seconds, the screen ultimately turns black. Despite the fans running at a diminished intensity, I find that my attempts to revive the system—either through the keyboard or a gentle press of the power button—are futile. Interestingly, the HDD panel light continues to blink at about one blink per second after the crash. This leaves me no option but to resort to a hard shutdown, which I loathe.

Oddly enough, there was a six-month period where my PC functioned flawlessly. I even left it powered on continuously to avoid rekindling issues. However, a power outage ultimately forced a shutdown, and when I powered it back up, the problems returned with a vengeance.

Steps Taken to Resolve the Issue

In my quest for a solution, I have extensively researched remedies and attempted numerous fixes, including but not limited to:

  1. Performing a complete wipe of the computer (DBAN) followed by a fresh Windows installation.
  2. Monitoring temperatures while gaming and maximizing fan speed.
  3. Executing MemTest.
  4. Running chkdsk.
  5. Conducting stress tests on the GPU, CPU, HDD, and RAM.
  6. Lowering my GPU performance settings.
  7. Upgrading the power supply unit (PSU) to a higher wattage.
  8. Booting into Ubuntu to check for issues.
  9. Using BlueScreenViewer (finding no relevant results).
  10. Reseating all cables securely.
  11. Leaving the system turned off for a week.
  12. Keeping the system on to observe for crashes.
  13. Conducting a virus scan.
  14. Uninstalling antivirus software.
  15. Updating GPU drivers to the latest versions.
  16. Testing with different monitors.
  17. Cleaning the

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One Comment

  1. It appears that your issue could be related to the graphics card or power supply, especially considering the buzzing noise and color glitches during gaming sessions. Here are some further troubleshooting steps you might consider:

    • Check for any physical damage or dust buildup on your GPU and PCIe slot. Cleaning the contacts carefully with compressed air may help.
    • Test your system with a different power outlet or power strip to rule out power fluctuations.
    • Try running the system with a different GPU if available, to determine whether the current card is causing the problem.
    • Monitor your system’s power supply voltages using hardware monitoring tools (like HWMonitor) during gaming to detect potential power issues.
    • Ensure your BIOS and motherboard chipset drivers are up to date, as outdated firmware can cause stability issues.
    • If your GPU or PSU is under warranty, consider contacting the manufacturer for a diagnosis or replacement.

    Since you’ve already done extensive testing, a hardware diagnostic utility from your GPU or motherboard manufacturer can help pinpoint faulty components. Also, keep an eye on your event logs after a crash for any critical errors related to hardware or drivers. If the issue persists, consulting a professional technician for hands-on troubleshooting may be necessary.

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