PSU or GPU issue? Black screen when gaming

[ussjtrunks]

I recently switched to a new mobo and PSU.

When I plug in my GTX 970, it crashes whenever I launch a game. The screen goes black but sound continues to play in the background normally. It works fine in the menus, but crashes as soon as you launch any gameplay. This has happened with every game I've tried so far (including 3D Mark). The white power light on the GPU remains on during this time.

I swapped it out for an old GTX 660 I had lying around, and that card works perfectly. However, this one uses a 4-pin PCI-e connector, while the GTX 970 uses a 6-pin, so I can't rule out PSU issues. I tried swapping out the PCI-e cable and switching to a different slot on the PSU, but it didn't help.

The PSU is a brand new 650W Seasonic Focus Plus Gold from Newegg.

I tried stress testing my CPU with Prime 95 to see if that could cause a PSU failure, but it passed without any issues.

 

[Darkbreeze]

*Graphics card CLEAN install tutorial using the DDU*


Do that, and then go from there if there are still issues.


You will want to download both the latest drivers AND the DDU, first, and then boot to safe mode to run the DDU. Not booting to safe mode to run the DDU can result in not all of the old files and registry settings being removed, which can in turn, not solve the issue.

How to boot into safe mode in Windows 10


It would probably also be a very good idea to reset the CMOS (BIOS) in order to reset the hardware tables. Often, that alone cures the problems. If you are not on the latest bios version for your motherboard, but not any version newer than December because the very latest bios versions were buggy due to the Spectre and Meltdown microcode updates, then I would update the bios first.

 

[ussjtrunks]

Forgot to mention clean driver install with DDU was the first thing I tried. Sadly, it didn't work. I also tried rolling back to older driver versions.

I will try CMOS reset.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Have you tried pulling out the graphics card, making sure there is no debris or contaminants in the PCI slot, cleaning the teeth on the card with isopropyl alchohol or a clean pencil eraser, and then reinstalling the card. Make certain you get it fully seated, locked in and screwed down. Plug in the supplemental connectors.

Also, before you do ANY of that, since this is a new motherboard, it's probably a really good idea to make sure the bios is up to date. Since the older card works but the newer one does not, might be relevant. What are your full system specs including ALL model numbers?

 

[ussjtrunks]

I've used a compressed air can on the PCI-e slot to see if there was any debris there (although I hadn't cleaned the connectors on the GPU). But since the other GPU works fine, I don't think that's the issue.

The specs are:

CPU: Ryzen 5 1600
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-AB350M Gaming
GPU: ASUS GeForce GTX 970 STRIX
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4
PSU: Seasonic Focus Plus 650W Gold

I just remembered that I should have a 450W or 500W PSU (Corsair Builder Series) in one of my old computers that still works. I will try to hook my build up to that on the weekend to rule out PSU issues.

 

[Darkbreeze]

If you do not have BIOS version F10 installed, I would install that, and then after a successful flash, reset the bios to the "optimal default" or "setup default" setttings. Save and exit bios, boot Windows do the GPU card clean install AGAIN making sure to do so IN safe mode. See if anything changes.

If not, the only thing it can really be is the card itself since everything else works ok with the older non-UEFI card installed.

You might also check your card to see if it has a legacy/UEFI switch and make sure it is set to UEFI.

 

[ussjtrunks]

I managed to snag a GTX 1080 at MSRP on the Geforce store last week. It came in and it works perfectly. Looks like the issue was the 970.

 

[Darkbreeze]

That's what I figured, which is why I said that if the bios update didn't fix it the only thing it could be is the card itself.