Dead GPU (?) and static electricity...

[chrismin1302]

Hello! My GPU is half dead! Here's what happened, any feedback is appreciated.

So recently I've changed my PC case and I'm still working out the fan placement. So last night my PC was REALLY SLOW (2 MB/s) to transfer an ISO (a Vista one too LOL) from one internal hard drive to another. So I took a look at CrystalMark and temps were a bit high. So I opened up the case, removed the fan plug and looked up to get a screwdriver when OH OH BSOD. Can't recall the error message but after shutting the computer down (Cold Shutdown cause it was stuck at 0%) I booted up the PC aaaaaand it wouldn't Post. So that made me REALLY HAPPY as you can imagine and instantly started removing everything until I was left with just the CPU, 1gb of RAM and the GPU. Few more tries passed that showed no signs of life for my lovely PC and then came the AMAZING idea to check my HDMI Cable. Upon replugging it I was shocked. Literally. Not kidding. STATIC ELECTRICITY from the rear I/O hit me while I started panicking. So after I was sure my heart was still beating I came to the awesome conclusion that my 5 y/o GPU, the Radeon HD 5670 gave up the ghost. Or so I thought. TODAY, plenty of hours later, I reinserted my GPU and OMG MUM GET THE CAMERA my PC was working, - for another hour, as upon returning from my extremely tasty meal I was BSODed once again with the error IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. And then nothing, no POST. So after removing my GPU for an hour, reapplying thermal goop and plugging it back in, still nothing. BTW Fan spins up normally. So I let it sit for an hour and the plug it back in. I try plugging in the cable again and I'm shocked by static electricity AGAIN. And now I'm here. I hate my GPU but I don't know if it's dead or not. What should I do? BTW I can't bake it, I don't have a spare oven. Is it truly dead? What else can I try? No dead capacitors that I can see. Is it even safe anymore?

Thanks for reading my huge wall of text. Any feedback is appreciated.

[DioOmicida]

Just because you see no physical change does not mean the card wasn't shorted out.
Since you were using a 5670, this might be a good excuse to upgrade anyways.

[Moonzy]

5 minutes ago, chrismin1302 said:

BTW I can't bake it,

if its killed by static, baking it wont help

 

6 minutes ago, chrismin1302 said:

So I took a look at CrystalMark and temps were a bit high. So I opened up the case, removed the fan plug and looked up to get a screwdriver when OH OH BSOD.

you did this while the computer was turned on? -clap clap-

 

6 minutes ago, chrismin1302 said:

Upon replugging it I was shocked. Literally. Not kidding. STATIC ELECTRICITY from the rear I/O hit me while I started panicking

your power supply is probably not grounded, which is bad

[stealth80]

do you have onboard graphics that you can use to prove the rest of the system?

 

HDMI carries a small 5v voltage so if you shorted it out on the back of the I/o shield then that could cause the shock/short

[LawrenceBarnes2013]

Dude, first things first, you really should work on your method of handling your PC. Your PSU has to be grounded and you DON'T open up the case and remove stuff from the computer while it's powered on, with that said, i'm afraid statics didn't just fuck up your graphics card but maybe other components as well. Do some diagnosis never the less. 

[Godlygamer23]

Fan connectors aren't hot-swappable. If your I/O is shocking you, that means something isn't grounded, which is probably the power supply. 

 

And a quick FYI for static electricity and for any electrical current: the amperage is what really does the damage to your body. The voltage in typical static electricity is very high(low humidity, it's about 20,000V) but the amperage is very low. 

Edited March 29, 2016 by Godlygamer23

[chrismin1302]

HEY! Thanks for the quick replies everyone. Yes I am a beast that tries to do repairs while the PC is running @Moonzy (I guess I learnt my lesson the hard way ). Also, my PSU is a 460w Cooler Master. I am almost sure that I have shorted it out, but how did it work again today if it is indeed shorted? I'll try it out through DVI to VGA to Monitor just so that we eliminate the 5V that HDMI uses. And no, I do not have an onboard graphics chip.

 

Next time around: I shut down the PC and I get an antistatic wristband

 

Posted from a Windows Vista laptop with 512mbs of RAM. It's Painful.

 

EDIT: Yes, I am going to use it as an excuse to get a better GPU (probably a GTX 760 for 125€) and a bunch of other stuff like an SSD and an X5470.

Edited March 29, 2016 by chrismin1302

[stealth80]

8 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Fan connectors aren't hot-swappable. If your I/O is shocking you, that means something isn't grounded, which is probably the power supply. 

 

And a quick FYI for static electricity and for any electrical current: the amperage is what really does the damage to your body. The voltage in typical static electricity is very high(low humidity, it's about 20,000V) but the amperage is very low. 

I'm not convinced it's static, I think its voltage jump from the HDMI cable as it hit the I/O shield whilst lining it up

[chrismin1302]

7 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Fan connectors aren't hot-swappable. If your I/O is shocking you, that means something isn't grounded, which is probably the power supply. 

 

And a quick FYI for static electricity and for any electrical current: the amperage is what really does the damage to your body. The voltage in typical static electricity is very high(low humidity, it's about 20,000V) but the amperage is very low. 

Agreed. Probably what shot me was around 5mA. I didn't hotswap the fan I just took off and inserted the fan at the same place on my motherboard.

[chrismin1302]

@stealth80Just tested it, seems like HDMI is not the issue as DVI (to VGA) doesn't work either. Absolutely no indication that a cable is connected according to my Monitor.

It's fried. Was it my fault? If yes, how do I avoid it next time around?

[stealth80]

@chrismin1302 can you test the monitor and cable on your XBOX please

[chrismin1302]

3 minutes ago, stealth80 said:

@chrismin1302 can you test the monitor and cable on your XBOX please

Good Idea, I'll try it out. I've got a rusty PS3 right next to my PC. Time to leave PC Master Race land for a bit folks. Wish me good luck.

 

Last time I launched that thing was I think last year. I hope I'll have no YLODs LOL.

[chrismin1302]

@stealth80 Dammit. Console Peasants have won for the first time in history. PS3 works fine... And FIY it's a TV/Monitor thingy so even TV works. So, no issues with the monitor.

[chrismin1302]

I'VE GOT PROGRESS! And this is where my mind really starts to get f***ed up with all this.I removed all RAM slots except for 1 gb and my main Hard Drive with all my data (WITH NO BACKUP - IM DUMB - Following Linus' Footsteps ) and the thing boots to the BIOS. Can't see it though. Here's why: My keyboard lights up and the power button can shut it down. I'll keep on testing. WHAT COULD THE PROBLEM BE?!

 

P.S. Can I use my PC with Teamviewer even if there is no GPU? Doubt it. I feel like I just said something dumb...

[chrismin1302]

Sorry for so many posts but IT WORKS! IT'S ON! IT POSTS! The GPU isn't the issue. I'm freaking out. I really hope it's not my hard drive that causes this. It couldn't be. CrystalMark said it was fine... I'll try different RAM combos, a few GPU and CPU stresstests and Memtest.