Random Black Screens (graphics card issue?)

marsh2907 · 4 Mar 2014 at 18:52

Hello,

Was wondering if anyone could help me. Basically every so often i'm getting random black screens. Doesn't seem to matter if i'm gaming or just watching some videos.

Is there anyway to find out what is causing it? My main thought was the graphics card but not sure. Only had it about 4 months so still within warranty so if it is that then I can contact them get my card replaced.

Thanks you in advance

Qitarah · 4 Mar 2014 at 19:05

List your full PC specs and driver version you have.

marsh2907 · 4 Mar 2014 at 20:09

Graphics Card: AMD HD 7970 3gb
CPU: AMD phenom II x 6 1100T (3.3ghz)
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows 7 64bit
PSU: 850

Drivers: AMD CSS v13.12

My graphics card is the newest part which I updated a few months back but only recently started getting these black screens.

phazari180 · 4 Mar 2014 at 22:05

Got any spare display cables? If so give them a try, you'd be surprised how often this occurs with low quality digital display cables.

deFiniLoGy · 5 Mar 2014 at 00:48

Is your PC still on when your screen blacked out?
And hows the ventilation of your case?

Avenged7Fold · 5 Mar 2014 at 01:13

If you get them often, get a spare drive and put a fresh install on it. Let it boot up and run under normal use. If you get errors still, its likely a hardware error, if not likely a software or driver error.

Have you changed graphics card to another one or used a motherboards integrated graphics.

Also... how come you bought a PC four months ago which has a Phenom in it?

Was it second hand with a short term warranty?

marsh2907 · 6 Mar 2014 at 23:33

phazari180 said:
Got any spare display cables? If so give them a try, you'd be surprised how often this occurs with low quality digital display cables.

Well I didn't have any issues with my previous card which was only a model down. (AMD HD 6950 2GB) although ill give it a try.

deFiniLoGy said:
Is your PC still on when your screen blacked out?
And hows the ventilation of your case?

My computer is CPU water cooled and has 8 fans so quite cool.

Avenged7Fold said:
If you get them often, get a spare drive and put a fresh install on it. Let it boot up and run under normal use. If you get errors still, its likely a hardware error, if not likely a software or driver error.

Have you changed graphics card to another one or used a motherboards integrated graphics.

Also... how come you bought a PC four months ago which has a Phenom in it?

Was it second hand with a short term warranty?

Well it was doing it on my computer so decided to do fresh install and still happening.

Haven't got a spare computer to try that i'm afraid.

My PC as a whole is 2 1/2 years old.

It's my graphics card which is the newest part. Only got it 4 months ago.

Got a feeling my graphics card is faulty.

Avenged7Fold · 6 Mar 2014 at 23:40

Sounds like a memory issue on the card. Would try see if a few bumps to Vram voltage makes a difference.

marsh2907 · 7 Mar 2014 at 00:12

How would i go about that?

Avenged7Fold · 7 Mar 2014 at 00:18

Was going to suggest MSI afterburner but apparently you cant touch 7970 memory voltage.

You can instead clock memory down a little bit and see if it is any more stable.

If the memory is at fault either way, you would be looking at RMAing the card anyway. Use your motherboards onboard GPU and take the card out, to see if you still get the issues.

marsh2907 · 7 Mar 2014 at 17:26

thanks ill av a look and see if it fixes it.

marsh2907 · 16 Mar 2014 at 11:27

Well had no luck finding out the problem. I can't figure out if it's my graphics card, monitor or even cable causing this issue. Don't have another PC in house to switch stuff around with.

Is there no programs I can run to narrow down all the possibilities?

Don't fancy what ever it is breaking or even buying new parts if they don't need replacing. (Money issues)

thanks