Black screen

[mikeo]

Recently my PC (spec in sig.) has started to Black Screen. The monitor appear to detect no signal and shuts down (IE. Black screen).
This can happen anytime (IE. sat at the desk top, browsing via Firefox, running Haven etc.).

Looking in the Windows event viewer, I get the following error messages:

1) Warning Event 4101 ... Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.

Yes the generic Nvidia failure !

2) Error Event 1000 ...
Faulting application name: dwm.exe, version: 10.0.22621.2506, time stamp: 0xdef1fe51
Faulting module name: dwmcore.dll, version: 10.0.22621.2715, time stamp: 0xc95a35c0
Exception code: 0x8898008d
Fault offset: 0x000000000011b63d

3) Warning Event 0 ... The Desktop Window Manager process has exited. (Process exit code: 0x8898008d, Restart count: 1, Primary display device ID: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080)

Then Events 2 & 3 are repeated. With the "Restart count" going up each time.
The only way to get things back, are a hard restart of the PC.

To me this looks like windows is trying to talk to the graphics card and can't get a reply. So no signal going out to the monitor and this then goes to sleep. Only guessing here but looks that way to me.

Now my PC has been running fine with the Nvidia drivers that I installed quite a while back to play Balders Gate 3 and the last Windows update was back on the 10th January. Nothing else has changed.

I did manage to download the latest drivers and do a clean install with them. But the same thing happens.
IE. Black screen, sometime straight away when you go into Windows, sometimes after a few minutes.

I've tried:
- Removing the DP cable and re-seating it.
- Tried the DP cable in another port on the back of the graphics card.
- Removing and re-inserting the graphics card into the PC.
- Graphics card runs cool and no over heating (happens with zero load anyway at times).
- Run SFC

In the end I shut the PC down and plugged the DP cable into the on-board graphics.
I did not remove the Graphics card or its drivers, as the BIOS should (I assume) auto detect what you have plugged in.
For the last few days it's been running just fine with the on-board graphics, just obviously can't game on these.
So I assuming here that as it runs fine on the on-board graphics, that this rules out a Windows issue!?

I have had a good GOOGLE and the consensus seems to be either driver issue (don't think it is this myself) or the graphics card.

The RTX 3080 is still within warranty. It's just such a pain to send these things back.
One option would be to buy something like an RTX 4070 (non super) as these are similar performance to my 3080 and currently a good price.
Then if the problem is sorted, see about an RMA on the 3080 (not bought at OCUK). And could sell any replacement.

Anyone had similar problem/s? or have any suggestions?

Any help/advice appreciated.

PS. I've been building PC's for a fair few years now but would not consider myself an expert.

PPS. I built the PC around a year ago and it's been fine up to now.

 

[mikeo]

Does the onboard graphics use the same resolution and refresh as when you're connected to the graphics card?

Have you tried running on HDMI instead of DP?

Do you have anything installed or running in the background, that could interfere with the functioning of the graphics driver and/or uses hardware acceleration while you're gaming?

Same resolution (just checked)
IE. 2564x1440 @ 144Hz

I did wonder about trying a HDMI cable (got as far as sorting a decent one out). But I always thought Display Port was the way to go for a PC monitor. I'll give it a go tomorrow.
Maybe worth mentioning that it's a Gsync monitor (see sig.).

"Do you have anything installed or running in the background, that could interfere with the functioning of the graphics driver and/or uses hardware acceleration while you're gaming?"

It's doing this even sat on the desktop or browsing.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, appreciated

 

[mikeo]

Quick update. As I don't have much time at the moment.

- Tried a HDMI lead. The PC got into a continuous re-boot cycle. I know this monitor wont support G-sync on anything other than a DP cable. But who knows what the issue is here!
- I tried removing the card and re-seating it (again).
- Tried pulling both power cables from card and PSU and re-connecting them.

Now the graphics card doesn't look to be putting out any signal at all! I have a suspicion that Windows has booted OK, you just can't see anything.

Swap back to on-board graphics and all is well.

Can't try the card in another Pcie socket as it's a very long card and will foul on the HD rack that contains my various SSD's.

Could try removing anything Nvidia related via the Control Panel and re-booting and see what happens.

Could also try using Acronis True Image to recover my C: drive backup from a while back and see what happens I suppose.

Though as I don't have much time at the moment, I may well just have to leave it "as is" until I've got more time.
At least I still have a basic functioning PC.

Life..................

PS. Don't have another PC to test the Graphics card in unluckily and at my age (68) no one I know still plays PC games (except me of course).

 

[mikeo]

Interesting.

Just re-booted the PC and it came up with a BIOS type message:

No VBIOS support detected in this card. BIOS CSM/UEFI mode setting in BIOS will be changed to "enabled"

On taking the side panel off the PC, there is no LED illumination on the card.

Starting to look to me like the Graphics Card is FUBAR!

PS. On-board graphics still seem to work just fine.
PPS. The Graphics card has two different BIOS (Performance and Silent), tried both and nothing.

 

[mikeo]

Had a bit of spare time today, so did a bit more testing.

"DDU the GPU drivers and see if it works with no drivers. (you may have to disable internet to stop windows installing a driver)"
Tried this and it installed the stock Windows VGA driver. Seemed OK. So downloaded the latest Nvidia drivers and installed these.
Started to look hopeful.... Then while on the desktop, the dreaded Black screen and fans spinning at 100%

"Are you using 2 separate power cables for the GPU?" ... indeed I am and have been for some 18 months and all was OK till recently. Same 'game ready' Nvdia drivers since Balders Gate 3 came out. And no Windows updates since the 10th January of this year.
So nothing software wise should have changed.

"Tried different PCI-E sockets on the PSU?" ... yep and it appears to make no difference

I've done a fair bit of general testing while running just fine on the On-board graphics (Windows memory test, Prime 95 for 24 hours, 3Dmark CPU profile test etc. etc.) and everything just fine and dandy.

Seeing as how heavy this card is, I wonder if it could have damaged the Pcie socket on the mobo? Ive had a close look and the card does not appear to sag and the connector on the mobo also looks fine.

So unless anyone has any other suggestions, I think that I will bite the bullet and raise an RMA on Monday for the graphics card.
Always a nightmare this. The worry that they will come back and say "tested OK".
But can't really see what else that I can try!?

 

[mikeo]

Thanks for everyone's input.

Once again removed the Nvidia drivers via DDU in Safe mode and just re-installed the driver on its own (an older one) and it still Black screens.

So I've decided that I've had enough and have Emailed the supplier (not OCuk) with a query re-raising an RMA. At least they supposedly have a 48 hour turn round.

I'll update this thread when I have any further update/s.

TBC

 

[mikeo]

O'dear.

The good news is that the graphics card appears to have tested OK.
And the bad news obviously, is that the graphics card appears to have tested OK.

From the supplier:

"No Fault Found - Installed GPU into an MSI X570 Motherboard, 5800X CPU, 2 x 8GB DDR4 RAM on a 4k Monitor. Ran Cyberpunk for 2 hours, Starfield for 2 hours, also left it running OCCT GPU test and Final Fantasy XV Benchmark over the weekend for 43 hours, no issues detected".

The good news, is that the supplier is not going to charge me for testing, or the P&P either way. Now that's what I call "good service".

So.......... more testing for me to do.

1) I'll remove the HD rack in my PC case. This will allow me to test the Graphics card in the lower PCIe socket. Though obviously much lower bandwidth here (x4 rather than x16).
And see how it goes.
Am starting to wonder if the BIG HEAVY graphics card has somehow damaged the main PCIe slot? No obvious damage or droop from the card.

2) If no joy from the above. Then I'll try a full re-install of Windows 11. I have a retail copy, so should be no issues here.

So...TBC

Got to laugh at times, otherwise you would cry.

 

[mikeo]

How are you getting on with this?

If the GPU was not sagging at all i would think the PCI-E slot should be ok and hopefully a fresh windows install works.

Not heard from the supplier since their Email on Monday when they said that they would return it FOC. So I've just Emailed them politely and asked when I might be able to get it back. So TBC

In preparation for its return, I've updated the BIOS to the latest. I had not bothered to do this previously, as the last few BIOS updates seemed to just be to support gen 13/14 Intel CPU's. But I thought it might be worth a go.
Needless to say Windows then insisted that I change/update my PIN login, as it seemed to think that I had "upgraded hardware" (probably the Graphics card not being there!?).
Windows 11 also ended up not activated (probably for the same reason). Luckily my retail Windows 10 key sorted this.
Got to laugh.

Tend to agree with you about the PCIe socket. But who knows at this point.

When it comes back, I'll try (in this order I think).
1) Put graphics card back in main PCIe socket and see what happens.
2) If still issues. I'll see if I can try it in the secondary PCIe socket (though this is only x4 I think). I'll need to remove the HD rack in the PC case to do this (pain).
If this sorts it. Then I would probably be looking at a new motherboard. Think I would take the opportunity to go Z790 and DDR5.
3) If still FUBAR. I'll try a new Windows 11 install and see what happens there.

So... looks like a fair bit of work ahead for me

 

[mikeo]

Just heard straight back from the supplier and they apologized for the delay and are going to try and get it off today and have requested a Saturday delivery, or at worse, Monday.

Certainly can't fault their RMA procedures and Customer Service.

PS. Meanwhile my PC running on the IGP is just fine, not the slightest hiccup.

 

[mikeo]

Got my Graphics card back today. As it did not arrive on Saturday as promised, then they upgraded the delivery to Sunday. As it has not cost me a penny to send the card off to get tested, can't complain.

So....

Put the Graphics card back in the main PCIe slot and as soon as I tried to run the Heaven 4.0 benchmark, it black screened, same errors in Windows event viewer as before (see earlier posts).
I did notice that the LEDs on the card (illuminated TUF symbol) was off, so waggled the power connectors to the Graphics card and the LEDS came on/off.
But on further investigation, it's not the power leads, it's the card/slot itself. As if you push on the Graphics card, the LEDS went on/off.
No obvious damage to the PCIe slot but...
So I'm assuming here that the main PCIe slot is FUBAR!!!!

So removed my HD rack from the PC (has 4 SSD's in it these days). And inserted the Graphics card in the middle slot (only x4 by the look of it). And guess what? It looks like it works just fine. Ran Heaven 4.0 for 2+ hours and no problems and also Blender.

I'll run the PC like this for a couple of days to make sure all stays OK. But it looks like it's time for a new mobo and complete re-build / re-install of Windows 11. A pain really but that's life at times.

As I said earlier, think I'll take this opportunity to go Z790 and DDR5.
Think I'll stick with an MSI board. Maybe the Z790 gaming or TOMAHAWK. Unless anyone has any better choice/s? I used to use ASUS boards but got a couple of duff ones at one point and this put me off.

Computers. Got to laugh.

PS. The motherboard is still under warranty. But don't think that I can be bothered to go through with another RMA.

 

[mikeo]

Could you try putting some sort of support under the GPU to push the back of the card up just slightly higher.?

Sadly I have already tried this and still falls over.

I think unluckily it's beyond saving.

Just ran the GPU tests in OCCT for a couple of hours (card in lower slot) and it passes with flying colours.

So think I'll give it another 24 hours and order up a new motherboard. I'm leaning towards the MSI Z790 gaming plus, very similar to my current boards (need to pick up some DDR5 as well) and a Graphics card prop / bracket as well.

Got to laugh I suppose.

 

[mikeo]

Finally finished re-building my PC round a new MSI Z790 gaming plus and some Corsair 5600MHz memory.
And all "at the moment" seems fine.
So hopefully back to gaming tomorrow! Whoopee..........

PS. Also fitted a GPU support just in case. Though the weird thing is there was no obvious sag, just being paranoid here (it only cost £7.99).