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PC keeps black screening, system is still up but display is gone?

RipGroove said:
It never happens when benchmarking or running FurMark or Heaven or anything like that.
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Then I'd definitely test the RAM extensively. Furmark utterly rapes a GPU, so it the problem was a faulty GPU or PSU then Furmark would kill it. Same with Heaven and the like. Remember that these stress tests have a very uniform way of operating to in order to be repeatable test. Gaming is a lot more random with what information is loaded and to where, so the data transfer in games could be tripping parts of memory that aren't used in other benches. Note this also applies to your GPU's RAM as well.

And I would REALLY REALLY not buy 10th Gen Intel. I know you said you can't wait, but you're going to shoot yourself in the foot with Zen 3 due imminently. If you do end up buying a new system, get a decent B550 or X570 board and a low-end Ryzen 300 like a 3600 or even 3300X for cheap, and run that for a few months until the 4000 series lands. You say you don't wnt to buy more outdated hardware, but you're doing just that with Comet Lake. It's rubbish, and so will Rocket Lake be too.
 
LePhuronn said:
Then I'd definitely test the RAM extensively. Furmark utterly rapes a GPU, so it the problem was a faulty GPU or PSU then Furmark would kill it. Same with Heaven and the like. Remember that these stress tests have a very uniform way of operating to in order to be repeatable test. Gaming is a lot more random with what information is loaded and to where, so the data transfer in games could be tripping parts of memory that aren't used in other benches. Note this also applies to your GPU's RAM as well.

And I would REALLY REALLY not buy 10th Gen Intel. I know you said you can't wait, but you're going to shoot yourself in the foot with Zen 3 due imminently. If you do end up buying a new system, get a decent B550 or X570 board and a low-end Ryzen 300 like a 3600 or even 3300X for cheap, and run that for a few months until the 4000 series lands. You say you don't wnt to buy more outdated hardware, but you're doing just that with Comet Lake. It's rubbish, and so will Rocket Lake be too.
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Well I've replaced the GPU and RAM so it can't be either of those as I still have the same problem. I know what you are saying about 10th gen but 11th gen isn't imminent enough, I only have the 1 PC and I need it running now. I can always sell the 10th gen setup when 11th gen comes out but I doubt I'll have to anyway, my end goal here is to just drive a 100Hz 3440x1440 monitor while running the latest games and that's it, I'm not rendering videos or anything.
 
11th gen could be released tomorrow but it's still not worth it compared to Zen 3. You can get a system up and running with X570 board and a cheap 3000 series Ryzen and then upgrade to a Ryzen 4000 series when they land in a coupe of months. No downtime, and money much better spent.
 
TBH I'm not an AMD man, never have been and I don't really have the time to learn how it works etc as I'm starting at a new job on Monday so if I end looking for a quick cheap fix rather than a platform upgrade I'll just replace my 7700k and mobo like for like with used items on eBay until 11th gen is released as I can do that with minimal hassle.

I guess we'll know tomorrow what my options are after I've chucked a new PSU in there.

So, the ongoing plan (past and present):

  1. DDU, install latest GPU driver (done, no change)
  2. DDU, install previous 3 GPU drivers (done, no change)
  3. Fully update Windows (done, no change)
  4. Update GPU firmware (done, no change)
  5. Swap GPU (done that, no change)
  6. Turned of XMP (done, no change)
  7. Swap RAM (done that, no change)
  8. Swap PSU (to be confirmed tomorrow)
  9. Swap CPU like for like
  10. Swap motherboard like for like (ish)

At some point down that list the problem should go away, we'll be at step #8 tomorrow so one way or the other this problem is getting solved soon.
 
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Someone needs to invent a piece of software that systematically stress tests all your hardware in your PC and just tells you what's failing.

As I write this, the system just black screened while running 3DMark so that at least rules out the games I've been running. Yet again after the black screen and a hard power off it would boot straight to black screen until I remove a stick of RAM, it'll then boot up fine, I can power down, stick the RAM back in and it'll boot up fine again, very odd behaviour.

I've given up for the day now because any more of this nonsense from it will just tempt me to launch it out the window. See what tomorrow brings with a PSU swap.
 
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RipGroove said:
Someone needs to invent a piece of software that systematically stress tests all your hardware in your PC and just tells you what's failing.

As I write this, the system just black screened while running 3DMark so that at least rules out the games I've been running. Yet again after the black screen and a hard power off it would boot straight to black screen until I remove a stick of RAM, it'll then boot up fine, I can power down, stick the RAM back in and it'll boot up fine again, very odd behaviour.

I've given up for the day now because any more of this nonsense from it will just tempt me to launch it out the window. See what tomorrow brings with a PSU swap.
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Aye take a break for now, you know it'll be the last thing you try. i.e. The PSU. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. :)
 
RipGroove said:
Someone needs to invent a piece of software that systematically stress tests all your hardware in your PC and just tells you what's failing.

As I write this, the system just black screened while running 3DMark so that at least rules out the games I've been running. Yet again after the black screen and a hard power off it would boot straight to black screen until I remove a stick of RAM, it'll then boot up fine, I can power down, stick the RAM back in and it'll boot up fine again, very odd behaviour.

I've given up for the day now because any more of this nonsense from it will just tempt me to launch it out the window. See what tomorrow brings with a PSU swap.
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Im following this thread, I am having the exact same issue as yourself.
Almost to the T!

Although im on Ryzen Platform with an RX580.

My PSU is arriving on Friday, GPU will be jumping at the 3080... After this if i continue to experience the same will smash the current ryzen set up...
 
R3aL1Ty said:
Im following this thread, I am having the exact same issue as yourself.
Almost to the T!

Although im on Ryzen Platform with an RX580.

My PSU is arriving on Friday, GPU will be jumping at the 3080... After this if i continue to experience the same will smash the current ryzen set up...
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Sorry to hear that mate! It's an extremely frustrating problem as there are no clues anywhere as to what the problem is. I'll definitely report back here today once the new PSU is in.
 
I'm curious - would random black screens and inability to boot into safe mode be down to the PSU or a faulty motherboard?

Does your motherboard feature error codes or error lights?

That is usually a good way to determine the cause of a hardware fault.
 
OZONE said:
I'm curious - would random black screens and inability to boot into safe mode be down to the PSU or a faulty motherboard?

Does your motherboard feature error codes or error lights?

That is usually a good way to determine the cause of a hardware fault.
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The not being able to boot into safe mode only seemed to happen once and that was before I figured out the system of having to pull a stick of RAM after a black screen in order to get it to boot afterwards. The whole RAM thing is a bit strange but the fact messing with RAM does seem to have some effect on the issue (doesn't stop it happening but does help me recover it when it does happen) and the GPU also seemingly had an effect (ie: swapping the GPU fixed the problem for 3 or 4 days) leads me to believe that something that connects the RAM and GPU must be at fault, so PSU, mobo, CPU, and out of those 3 the PSU is the quickest and easiest to deal with so I'll do that first. You could argue the CPU would be even easier but o wouldn't want to put a used one in because I wouldn't be 100% is was in good working order and I don't want to shell out for a brand new 7700k as that's just a complete waste of money so a brand new fully working PSU for £144.00 will either fix it or definitely rule it out, plus the new PSU will be suitable for my next complete new build.
 
RipGroove said:
Sorry to hear that mate! It's an extremely frustrating problem as there are no clues anywhere as to what the problem is. I'll definitely report back here today once the new PSU is in.
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Good luck mate!

Yea this is incredibly frustrating! My worst part is that even though i can replicate the issue, i cannot replicate the issue with a consistent problem.
It seems your symptoms are a good bit worse than mine, so good luck!
 
R3aL1Ty said:
Good luck mate!

Yea this is incredibly frustrating! My worst part is that even though i can replicate the issue, i cannot replicate the issue with a consistent problem.
It seems your symptoms are a good bit worse than mine, so good luck!
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Well mine is booting straight to black screen today, even if I pull a stick of RAM out so today it's even more inconsistent than it was yesterday!
 
RipGroove said:
The not being able to boot into safe mode only seemed to happen once and that was before I figured out the system of having to pull a stick of RAM after a black screen in order to get it to boot afterwards. The whole RAM thing is a bit strange but the fact messing with RAM does seem to have some effect on the issue (doesn't stop it happening but does help me recover it when it does happen) and the GPU also seemingly had an effect (ie: swapping the GPU fixed the problem for 3 or 4 days) leads me to believe that something that connects the RAM and GPU must be at fault, so PSU, mobo, CPU, and out of those 3 the PSU is the quickest and easiest to deal with so I'll do that first. You could argue the CPU would be even easier but o wouldn't want to put a used one in because I wouldn't be 100% is was in good working order and I don't want to shell out for a brand new 7700k as that's just a complete waste of money so a brand new fully working PSU for £144.00 will either fix it or definitely rule it out, plus the new PSU will be suitable for my next complete new build.
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Let's hope it is indeed the PSU causing these random errors, although if the PSU was faulty, I'd expect the system to shut down or restart occasionally.

Have you run PassMark MemTest86? I would recommend 8 passes as a minimum (this will take all night).

For what it's worth, I had random blue screen crashes, including my PC monitor disconnecting from me randomly and other hitches/freezes. I assumed my GPU was faulty, but my RAM was the true culprit. My motherboard would flash an orange 'RAM' light whenever my system would crash or monitor disconnect. I ran MemTest86 and Karhu's memory tester. Got errors. Replaced the RAM over 3 weeks ago, and not a single error since.
 
OZONE said:
Let's hope it is indeed the PSU causing these random errors, although if the PSU was faulty, I'd expect the system to shut down or restart occasionally.

Have you run PassMark MemTest86? I would recommend 8 passes as a minimum (this will take all night).

For what it's worth, I had random blue screen crashes, including my PC monitor disconnecting from me randomly and other hitches/freezes. I assumed my GPU was faulty, but my RAM was the true culprit. My motherboard would flash an orange 'RAM' light whenever my system would crash or monitor disconnect. I ran MemTest86 and Karhu's memory tester. Got errors. Replaced the RAM over 3 weeks ago, and not a single error since.
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I couldn't see any lights on the motherboard during the black screens and the system stays running fine when it happens. The only memory tests I did were the built in Windows test and Memtest64 I believe, neither of which showed errors. But I borrowed some more RAM yesterday from a perfectly working gaming PC and still had the black screen issue so I'm pretty confident it's not the RAM at this point.
 
RipGroove said:
I couldn't see any lights on the motherboard during the black screens and the system stays running fine when it happens. The only memory tests I did were the built in Windows test and Memtest64 I believe, neither of which showed errors. But I borrowed some more RAM yesterday from a perfectly working gaming PC and still had the black screen issue so I'm pretty confident it's not the RAM at this point.
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Memtest64 sucks. The best two programs I found were Karhu's Ramtest and Memtest86 by Passmark.
 
I installed the new GPU and it booted to black screen 3 times in a row (same as normal, PC boots up fine but no display after POST) so then I removed my EVGA PowerLink connector from my GPU and it booted up with a display right away and I've been gaming for approx 1hr. I'm going to call that a coincidence for now because I was having similar results by having to pull a stick of RAM out to get it to boot yesterday. And obviously after putting the replacement GPU in on Saturday the PC ran fine for 3 days straight. So for now, this is where we're at:

  1. DDU, install latest GPU driver (done, no change)
  2. DDU, install previous 3 GPU drivers (done, no change)
  3. Fully update Windows (done, no change)
  4. Swap Display Port cable (done, no change)
  5. Update GPU firmware (done, no change)
  6. Swap GPU (done, no change)
  7. Turned of XMP (done, no change)
  8. Swap RAM (done that, no change)
  9. Swap PSU (done, no change)
  10. Remove EVGA PowerLink connector from GPU
Currently the PC has ran games for approx 1hr and has ran 3DMark's Time Spy 4 times in a row. I'm still calling it a coincidence after removing the EVGA PowerLink connector because A) I'm not lucky enough for the problem to just be that, and B) how ridiculous would that be after spending near £500 on replacement parts, borrowing parts and messing about with it for 9 days.

So obviously I'll keep hammering the PC and possibly run some more memory tests so when the inevitable next black screen happens, the next logical steps have to be:
  1. Swap CPU like for like
  2. Swap motherboard
Because at this point I would have eliminated the GPU, RAM, PSU, Display Port Cable and the EVGA PowerLink connector so there's bugger all hardware left to swap other than the CPU and motherboard.
 
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