Which hardware component could lead to a crash screen if it fails?

A crash screen, often referred to as a blue screen of death (BSOD) in Windows, can occur due to various hardware failures. Both the CPU and the graphics card play critical roles in a computer's operation, and if either of these components fails, it can lead to significant system instability that typically results in a crash screen.

The CPU, being the central processing unit, manages all instructions from both hardware and software. If the CPU is faulty or overheated, it can produce errors that manifest as system crashes. When the CPU cannot execute its tasks properly, the operating system might encounter critical errors leading to a crash screen.

Similarly, the graphics card is responsible for rendering images and processing visual data. If the graphics card malfunctions, it may produce graphical artifacts, fail to render the display at all, or cause the system to freeze. These issues can trigger the operating system to encounter errors, ultimately resulting in a crash screen.

Therefore, since both the CPU and graphics card are essential for the stability and functionality of the computer system, a failure in either can indeed lead to a crash screen, which justifies the answer.