If your GPU keeps crashing, the underlying issue could be afailing power supplyora graphics card.

First, rule out every issue withconnectivity,power insufficiency, anddamaged cables/slots. Also, ensure theGPU isn’t overheating, and theBIOS / VBIOS /driversare up-to-date.

Although graphics cards can live for more than five years (on average), they start failing early due toheavy usage and extreme temperatures.

The same is the case with low-tier PSUs andmotherboards(if the PCIe slots are damaged).

I’ll discuss every possible solution to make the GPU work again. But if it keeps crashing, the final option is to call the vendor forRMA (Return Merchandise Authorization).

Rule Out Beginner’s Mistakes

So, let’s begin the troubleshooting with some basic connection and compatibility checks.

Firstly, ensure eachcable is securely connected. I’m referring to thedisplay,PCIe, and even thePSU cord.

ensure the PC’s power cable isdirectly plugged into the wall outlet. Try a different one if you think it’s faulty or isn’t providing sufficient power.

Another reason for the GPU to turn off suddenly is that the relatively heavy weight of the graphics card may have ripped it out of themotherboard slot.

Reconnect thegraphics card to the motherboard. This time, ensure youtighten itusing an appropriate screwso that the GPU rests properly and doesn’t sag.

Is your graphics card and the other PC parts receiving sufficient power? Check thewattage ratingof each component.

I often utilizePC Part Pickerto do this job. In case the PSU can’t supply enough power, you’ll need toreplace it.

Even though yourPC will POSTnormally, the graphics card or even the power supply can turn off when it’sunder high load(especially when playing games). That’s because the PSU is unable to supply sufficient power the GPU seeks.

Some graphics cards come with two or three power sockets. Always use aseparate PCIe cable for each port.

Daisy-chaining the PCIe cablesis fine for low-end graphics cards (that consume less than 150 W). However, it won’t be sufficient for those GPUs that operate on higher wattage.

Fix Overheating Problem

Like the CPU, the graphical processor unit is another component that generates the most heat. The more the usage, the higher the temperature and also higher the chance of failing.

When theGPU temperatureexceeds the threshold, you’ll experience thermal throttling. And if it overheats too much, the GPU will turn offto prevent itself from getting damaged.

In that case, here are some possible techniques to lower its temperature:

Examine Whether Graphics Card Is At Fault

As stated in the beginning, the symptom you’re seeing is likely leaning towarda failing GPU. But let’s not conclude that just yet – the faults could be with thePCIe cable(s)or the connected slot.

Here are some quick ways to verify whether the graphics card is faulty. Proceed with anyone that’s feasible for you:

For users whose GPU is faulty, the only solution is a replacement. That’s the reason thecrashes you’re experiencing are so random– they can happen when the GPU is under load and even when the PC is idle.

But if it’s not the graphics card, try wiggling the cable a little bit the next time your PC is running smoothly. Ifyou can recreate the same issue, know that there’s something wrong with theGPU-to-PSU connection.

In case any of thevoltage and sense wiresof the12VHPWR PSU cableget damaged, it may malfunction. That’s the reason only the GPU is shutting off suddenly rather than the entire PC. So, you’ll need to make use of another PCIe cable.

However, if the cable works fine, there’s probably anissue with themotherboard’s GPU slot. Most modern boards are equipped with additional ones. So, utilize a free one.

Before doing so, ensure it supports the number of lanes. Some motherboards will have anx16 slot but run on x8 mode. A quick configurationon BIOSshould fix this.

Inspect Power Supply For Faults

A couple of years back, myPCIe cable had meltedinside theRTX 3080’s socket. Even after intense troubleshooting and cleaning, nothing worked. The only solution was toreplace the PSUand GPU.

I’ve learned my lesson and I’mnever going to pair a low-tier PSUwith my high-end system again!

When that happened, my GPU turned off suddenly but I could still hear my game audio. If you’re also suffering from a similar symptom, a bad PSU can certainly be the culprit.

Do you have aspare old power supplyat your home? Use it for a few hours and this helps rule out whether the primary one is probably failing.you may go for Deependra’s guide to learn more ways oftesting a PSU.

Also, note that most low-tier PSUs aren’t optimized for handling quicktransitory power spikes in 30-series graphics cards. That could very well be the reason your graphics card shut off.

If that’s what has happened, the best bet is toupgrade to a new power supplyfrom areputed manufacturerand ensure it’s ofgood efficiency.

Resolve Driver Conflicts and BIOS Issues

Users who have recently installed a new GPU shoulddelete the previous drivers. Otherwise, there’s a maximum chance that the old ones will conflict with the new graphics drivers.

That said, there’s no need to panic as your graphics card isn’t damaged just because it’s turning off. you may useDisplay Driver Uninstaller (DDU)to do the needful and ensure toreinstall the appropriate drivers.

You’ll find the relevant drivers on the GPU (NVIDIA/AMD) as well as video card (ASUS/EVGA/MSI)manufacturers’ official websites. Then, you may follow our dedicated guide onupdating the graphics drivers.

Besides, I highly recommendupdating other motherboard driversas well. These mainly include thechipset and BIOS.

Before doing so, tryclearing CMOSandloading the optimized defaultsto see if this fixes the issue.

Upgrading yourmotherboard’s firmware to the latest versionfixes any sort of instabilitywith the graphics card. Our team has already prepared individual guides on the most popular brands that should make the process a breeze:

Caution:Afailed BIOS/VBIOS updatecan render the component useless. Always place the PCunder a backup powerbefore initiating the process.

If updating motherboard BIOS didn’t help, you may evenupdate your GPU’s VBIOS. Here are the summarized steps:

Additional Tip:If the issue was instead caused after a driver/BIOS update, I highly advise reverting it.Roll back the GPU driversorreflash the BIOS/VBIOS and your GPU shouldn’t turn off randomly.

Final Troubleshooting Before RMA

For users whosePC doesn’t boot to BIOSafter the GPU crashes, you should be accompanied by some form ofbeep codeandLED indication.

Take a peek at your graphics card’s LED to identify if there’s a light blinking. Ared or flashing white lightusually indicates that theGPU isn’t receiving power.

The exact color can vary but the gist here is that there’s a power connection issue. So, just like the earlier solution,reconnecting the PCIe cableor using another one should help solve this.

You could even meet with ared light on the VGA indicatoron your motherboard. This usually indicates a connectivity problem.Reinstalling your graphics cardshould usually make it work.

While software issue is a rare scenario, you might want to take a final inspection on some of thepower-related settings. In particular, AMD users can restore theWattman settingsto default or increase the power limit.

Also, you cancheck the event logs on Windowsto identify and sort out any malfunctions with your OS.

Sometimes, issues can also lie with other parts (specifically CPU and RAM).  So,clear out every possible factorbefore sending your graphics card, PSU, or motherboard for exchange or repair.