PC crashes with visual artifacts

[JUP56]

For about 3 weeks, I've been dealing with PC crashes that I can't seem to fully figure out. It started out as system lockups where the screen would freeze, peripherals stop responding, audio stops, and I have to do a hard reboot. I had 2 blue screens and 2 black screen restarts where the system wouldn't fully reboot and I had to hard reboot again. I took the whole build apart, cleaned all the components and put it back together to see if that would help and while doing so, I noticed that the GPU (MSI 970 4GB) had what looked like a blown voltage regulator. (Pic attached). Since removing the gpu, I haven't TOO many problems, but twice, randomly while watching youtube videos, over 3 or 4 days I've gotten a crash with visual artifacts (pic also attached)  even with no gpu. I've done every kind of stress, mem, disk test, software/driver update imaginable and I can't figure it out. Temps have never exceeded 50 Celsius. Had some people say faulty PSU, bad MOBO, bad RAM, bad CPU, etc. I'm really not trying to buy and build a whole brand new pc because I don't have the money to do that at the moment. I'm currently planning on a new gpu and motherboard but I want really try to narrow down the culprit so I'm not running around in circles. Plus, I'm an artist and I have some, albeit soft, deadlines I'm trying to make and I'm afraid of this affecting that. Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated. Specs listed below, more information available upon request if I don't include anything.

Windows 10 Pro 1909
MOBO: Gigabyte z170x - Gaming 3 (Rev 1.0) - BIOS version - F5 (not the most current version)

CPU - Intel i7 6700k (not overclocked)

RAM - 16 GB (2x8) Corsair LPX DDR4 3000MHz
Drives: C - Samsung 850 evo 250gb ssd (Boot Drive)
            D - Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD (Storage)
PSU: Corsair CX 850m (Bronze Standard)
GPU (not currently installed) MSI GTX 970 4 GB
 

[191x7]

The GPU is toast, that's for sure. But it might be that the motherboard or the PSU caused it, or that it caused other failures.

[JUP56]

2 minutes ago, 191x7 said:

The GPU is toast, that's for sure. But it might be that the motherboard or the PSU caused it, or that it caused other failures.

Forgive me if this is a nooby question, but is there any way to test those components to determine which one is the culprit in this scenario? I imagine it probably isn't that easy since it's not consistent and it only happens once every couple days or so currently

 

[191x7]

2 minutes ago, JUP56 said:

Forgive me if this is a nooby question, but is there any way to test those components to determine which one is the culprit in this scenario? I imagine it probably isn't that easy since it's not consistent and it only happens once every couple days or so currently

 

Only by replacing the parts and testing. It's probably not something you cand etect by using your eyes, a magnifying glass and a lamp.

[JUP56]

4 minutes ago, 191x7 said:

Only by replacing the parts and testing. It's probably not something you cand etect by using your eyes, a magnifying glass and a lamp.

I'll probably just go ahead and replace all three, gpu, psu, and mobo and hopefully i wont have anymore issues.

[ckinfos]

it would be wise to try and find some spare parts that a friend may have and test 1 by 1. then go buy. you may end up paying more money than you should.

[191x7]

10 minutes ago, JUP56 said:

I'll probably just go ahead and replace all three, gpu, psu, and mobo and hopefully i wont have anymore issues.

It might be also a good oportunity to upgrade the platform for something newer. Sell the CPU and buy a new board and CPU.

It might not be the PSU if it works fine.

 

Maybe take it to a repair shop/service and have it tested?

[JUP56]

13 hours ago, ckinfos said:

it would be wise to try and find some spare parts that a friend may have and test 1 by 1. then go buy. you may end up paying more money than you should.

I debated doing that, the only thing I have going against me there is that most of pc enthusiast friends that do have spare parts dont live near me and I have a project deadline in less than two weeks. Probably will look at nearby shops and see if any of them can do some testing for me