Why did the Bitminter application ruin my GPU? I was trying out Bitcoin mining with my home GPU, a Radeon R9 290x, with the Bitminter program, on Windows. (I know it's not profitable, it was just mere curiosity) It instantly recognized my GPU, and when I clicked on start, the whole system crashed, like if I unplugged the power source. Since then, the PC doesn't recognize the GPU at all, like as if it wasn't plugged in, nor does my monitor receive any input. What could have been the problem? Could it be fixed?
Mining itself don't ruin the GPU, but the long usage. A GPU's lifespan is at least 3-5 years. When working continuously on high freq. it is decreased as well. 
  Whoop in your case, your card just got 'burned'
It is not a the mining itself that caused the damage, but there is something else, or software, or the GPU was not quite on her place, or maybe some malicious software helped you for the achievement.