I bought an RTX 4060 Ti about 8 months ago and suddenly strange pixels and colored lines started showing up on the screen when I'm gaming. I restarted my PC, updated the drivers, but it keeps happening. Is it a factory defect or could it be an overheating issue? The temperature's hitting 78°C during games.
I've been through this at home, and usually when you get visual artifacts with a hot GPU, the problem really is overheating or a bad connection. 78°C isn't scary by itself, but if it's close to your 4060 Ti's max limit, it's worth cleaning the cooler with compressed air or repositioning cables to improve airflow. If it keeps happening even after you check that, file a complaint with the store or manufacturer because it could be an actual defect - eight months in and it's still under warranty.
Artifacts on a hot GPU is the classic sign of either a thermal problem or poor contact, and 78°C is in the danger zone depending on the model - an RTX 4060 Ti can handle up to about 83°C, but the closer you get to the limit, the more unstable it becomes! Try cleaning the cooler and the card's ventilation slots really well, because dust buildup absolutely tanks heat dissipation. If it keeps happening even after a good cleaning, it could be dried-out thermal paste or even weak contact with the PCIe slot - in that case it's worth removing the card, wiping the contacts with isopropyl alcohol, and reinstalling it firmly.
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