Screen Flashing And Freeze,unsure If Gpu Failure

Hello, for the past few weeks or so I've been having this problem where my screen would flash(turn on an off once) and then everything would freeze this would usually be followed by either the whole screen just freezing and I have to restart for it to work(it continues to flash for a few times till the screen becomes completely dark and nothing responds) or the computer restarts by itself instantly,this occured before booting into windows too and in safe mode so it's not a driver problem. I have so far reinstalled windows numerous times to no avail, but sometimes the pc would've worked just fine for days on end until I turned it off and then it would start again on next boot.

The gpu is not ancient but it is 2 years old while all the other components are less than 1 year old, I'm not sure if it's the cpu or could possibly be the cable or something (i use a dvi-d to vga converter) but I don't think a cable would cause the pc to restart, I'm a student so I don't have a ton of money and I just want to make sure that if I'm buying something It's going to be fixing it.

Specs:
Core i3 9100F
GT 1030
8GB crucial 2666mhz
512 gb ssd,350gb hdd(hdd isn't faulty)
Thanks for the help.

 

Well, making sure all your data and power cables are securely attached is the first step. Make sure the case interior is clean of heat trapping dust while in there. If possible try a different video cable. It would be better if you can go DVI to DVI for digital the whole way, instead of converting to analog (VGA). If converting to VGA because that is all your monitor supports, then borrow a monitor (or check your TV) and see if you can go digital to digital - either via DVI or HDMI or DisplayPort.

Then, because everything inside the case depends on good, clean stable power, you need to borrow a known good power supply to swap in and see what happens before spending money on anything else.

It is not likely to be the CPU, but I would not rule out the motherboard, yet. However, I would try a different graphics card before motherboard too.

 

Hey thanks a lot for your reply I tried connecting to my tv and it still didn't work it booted up and froze after like 30 seconds I used an HDMI cable,it flashes and kinda lost signal you know like in the top right corner it says like Input 1: Hdmi 50 hz when you know like when you connect something in, as for the PSU to get another one would require me to go a computer shop, thanks a lot for your reply!

 

I don't think the PSU is overheating as the air that is being blown out at the back is cold, it's a good PSU that has been used for only 8 months, it's a cooler master MWE 500W

 

I was not suggesting the PSU was overheating. That would be unlikely - especially if the fan is spinning. And most 1/2 way decent PSUs will shutdown completely before they over heat.

But that does not mean something else is not wrong with that PSU. Until Man can create perfection 100% of the time, even the best models from the best PSU makers can have a unit that fails prematurely or fails to meet required specs. Their parts supplier are not 100% perfect either, there could be a problem on the assembly line. Or the shipping pallet could have fallen off the truck.

It sounds like your graphics solution is failing but as I noted above, everything inside the case depends on good, clean stable power. And that includes the graphics solution. I would try to borrow a PSU from a trusting friend or relative. You would not be happy if you bought a new graphics card only to learn it does the same thing.

Some computer shops will test a PSU for you for nominal fee. But I cannot guarantee it would be a thorough and conclusive test.

To properly and conclusively test a power supply unit, it must be tested under a variety of realistic "loads" then analyzed for excessive ripple and other anomalies that affect computer stability. This is done by a qualified technician using an oscilloscope or a dedicated power supply “analyzer” - sophisticated (and expensive!) electronic test equipment requiring special training to operate, and a basic knowledge of electronics theory to understand the results. Therefore, conclusively testing a power supply is done in properly equipped electronics repair facilities. Many smaller shops often don't have the resources to buy the necessary test equipment.

This is why swapping in a known good power supply, a tried-and-true troubleshooting method used by amateurs and professionals alike, is typically the best and easiest alternative.

While not ideal, I keep a PSU Tester in my tool bag in my truck for house calls. The advantage of this type model is that it has a LCD readout of the voltages. With an actual voltage readout, you have a better chance of detecting a "failing" PSU, or one barely within the required ±5% tolerances (at least with the tester’s internal load).

Lesser models use a single LED to indicate the voltage is present, and "hopefully" within the allowed tolerances. While less informative and considerably cheaper, they are still useful for detecting PSUs that have already "failed".

However, none of these testers test for ripple and they only provide a small "dummy load", not a variety of "realistic" loads. So while better than nothing, using one of these testers is not a conclusive test either.

Many will suggest using a multimeter. Like a good PSU tester, a multimeter can tell you if a PSU is bad (if missing or has an out-of-tolerance voltage). But typical multimeters cannot tell you conclusively that a PSU is good. Note to task the computer to where it places a variety of loads on the PSU while, at the same time, measuring all the required voltages with a simple multimeter is a real challenge, even for pros. And typical multimeters cannot test for ripple on the DC voltages either.

So we are back once again to swapping in a known good PSU. If you get the same problems with the spare PSU, your original PSU is probably good. If the spare PSU clears your problems, your original PSU was probably bad.

 

Thanks so much for your reply I'll be swapping the PSU at a computer shop then, you were of much help thanks a lot, not many people that I know have desktop computers so unfortunately I have to go to a shop.thanks again.

 

By graphics solutions you mean failure of GPU due to power loss? It was a mistake to buy a core i3 9100f it just made troubleshooting infinitely harder

 

Hey so this is getting really problematic it stopped doing the freezing by itself and is working well for now but it has done this behaviour before too, im worried that it might do that when im switching psus too im pretty sure it may start flashing again my apologies if im being annoying.

 

"Graphics solution" is just a general or non-specific term I use to describe the hardware used in a computer to display graphics on the monitor(s).

I use it when I don't know, or when it does not matter if the user is using integrated graphic built into the motherboard, or if they are using a separate graphics card.

If it suddenly is working now, that could suggest you have a loose cable connection somewhere. I would look inside and make sure all cable connections (power and data) are firmly connected. Check also the cables on the back of the computer as well as the back of the monitor.

I would also inspect to make sure all fans spin freely and the interior is clean of heat trapping dust.

Swapping out PSUs is not hard. In fact, it is one of the easier tasks, technically speaking. It just seems challenging if you have never done it before because there are so many cables. But typically if you do one at a time, it is pretty simple - especially since the connectors are keyed so they only go in one way.

And to remove the PSU itself, it is just 4 screws on the back of the case holding the PSU in.

At any rate, lets just hope it holds now that it seems to be working.

And in the meantime, I recommend you make sure you have a backup of your important data.

 

It's not a loose cable unfortunately since it had stopped flashing for a while and was working perfectly fine for 2 or 3 days then i think it shut down at 2 am or something today(possibly a power cut) and when I booted it up again in the morning it started the flashing thing again I'm not sure it worked for a few days with 0 problem but it started again I guess I will check that PSU then do you have any second guesses otherwise?I have found out that the flashes even occur in the bios.

 

But when it's not booted into windows it just looses connection instead of restarting

 

That does NOT mean it is not a loose cable. It is common for loose cables to intermittently connect and disconnect due to vibrations coming up through the floor or table, a fan, banging on the keyboard, or from expansion/contraction as matter heats and cools. The only way to check for loose cables is to firmly press on each connector - or even disconnect completely, then reconnect firmly.

I've given you 3 suggestions. Try a different monitor, check for loose connections, and try a different power supply.

 

I tried on my tv, reconnected every single cable on the mobo and outside also reseated the cpu now all I have to do is check the PSU guess I'll do that then

 

Again, since everything inside the computer case depends on good, clean stable power, that needs to be verified before spending money on anything else.

Keep us posted.

 

Hey so it worked for about 6 days just fine then all of a sudden it started again, I forgot that I had one old spare mobo with everything and an igpu so I tested the psu on that but unfortunately I couldn't get it to boot into windows as I kept getting a disk boot failure I tried to fix that too but to no avail but the good news was that while It was on that disk boot failure screen it didn't do that screen flashy thing ( I was using the PSU and the IGPU) I didn't connect my dedicated gpu(gt1030) maybe that's of some help? I really do apologise if I'm being annoying..

 

Not sure that tells us anything. Since it didn't boot, there never was any significant load on the PSU.