Hardware Issue on custom Playtech Machine?

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uppynz

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# 253118 26-Jul-2019 16:27

For those that may be a bit more technically minded when it comes to PC hardware.... I've got a playtech custom machine which is a few years old now running windows 10 64 bit, Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHZ with AMD Radeon HD 6570 card running driver version 15.201.1151.1008

Occasionally both screens will go black and sometimes display pixelated like the image below. The only way to recover from it is by restarting which works most of the time, some times it will take several restarts to boot up normal again.

My question is, is this likely hardware related with the graphics card on its way out, or potentially something else?

Thanks in advance.

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# 2284311 26-Jul-2019 16:30

I suspect hardware.

Have you reinstalled your PC since seeing this?

uppynz

11 posts

Geek

# 2284317 26-Jul-2019 16:36

Not yet, that was my plan this weekend to see if it made any difference. Process of elimination I guess! In the event it needs replacing whats the best value equivalent card on the market now I should be looking at?

heavenlywild

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# 2284318 26-Jul-2019 16:39

Are you doing anything in particular when this happens? Such as playing a game or watching a video?

What are you comfortable spending on a new card if you do need to replace it?

uppynz

11 posts

Geek

# 2284320 26-Jul-2019 16:43

Usually just web browsing (chrome w multiple tabs open) although it has happened before while watching youtube videos accompanied by a buzzing sound out of the speakers. It's really only a home PC not being used for anything intensive like gaming, so I supposed a card suited for that, is a budget up to $500 enough? Gahh I sound like an old man 😅

Dynamic

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# 2284322 26-Jul-2019 16:45

Any chance there is a cooling fan on the graphics card which has seized and the card is overheating? I've seen that a few times before.

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heavenlywild

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# 2284323 26-Jul-2019 16:48

Just doing a bit of research on your current card. It's about 8 years old I suspect which is fairly long in the tooth from a tech perspective.

$500 is more than enough, in fact too much. Any card around the $150 mark will perform better than your current video card.

surfisup1000

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# 2284324 26-Jul-2019 16:54

In my experience, graphics cards and mechanical hard drives tend to be the most common point of failure.

This doesn't look like a harddrive, so i'd check gfx first. If your mobo has an hdmi port, see if that is more stable.

Possibly the power supply, but, i've never had a good quality PSU fail.

uppynz

11 posts

Geek

# 2284329 26-Jul-2019 16:57

Thanks for the feedback.... Will have a look this weekend to see if A) the fans if fitted have seized or B) the reinstall fixes it. Failing that will go shopping! Will report back.... I supposed 7 years is a pretty good run, just looked up purchase date 23/8/12

heavenlywild

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# 2284333 26-Jul-2019 17:02

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Just make sure you don't spend any money trying to repair it because it wouldn't be worth it as a better card is only $150 :)

hio77

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Spark

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# 2284334 26-Jul-2019 17:11

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Certainly looks like a GPU failing.

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xpd

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# 2284378 26-Jul-2019 19:06

Pick up a 2nd hand 580 8GB for around $150 these days :)

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SpartanVXL

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Ultimate Geek

# 2284413 26-Jul-2019 20:56

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I was going to say define ‘a few years’ since 3770 is circa 2012 (I am myself on a 3770k) but you’ve found your receipt.

Artefacting like you’ve shown is usually symptomatic of GPU memory going off. Considering how old (and relatively valueless) the 6570 is now theres no point looking for repair on it.

Check if it’s clogged with dust or not and the fan is still spinning but it might be done for good. You can try a driver/windows re-install and monitor temperatures if you get it going.

Good news is the i7 3770 has a integrated GPU and you can use that if it suits your needs and just take out the 6570. Plug in your monitors to any ports in your motherboard, usually there is any two of HDMI, displayport or DVI on the back.

No need to buy a gpu if you’re no needing any grunt for what you want to do.

lNomNoml

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# 2284415 26-Jul-2019 21:00

GPU failing.

BadCo

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# 2284492 27-Jul-2019 10:31

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You can test if it is the GPU by removing it and plugging your monitor into the motherboards integrated HDMI/DVI.

EDIT: as Spartan has pointed out in his post above :)

VectorR

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Wannabe Geek

# 2284535 27-Jul-2019 12:38

Hi mate, according to CPU and graphic card model, your computer isn't just few years old. It's 7 year old machine! The issue you came across is a graphic card failure - quite common for this model. I'm surprised that it lasted for so long. I'm a computer tech so I know it for sure, saw this problem before several times.
Cheers

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