Question Screen goes black for 1 second shortly after login (no crash)

[UltraBimbis]

Recently built a system and have been having this strange problem since day 1.

Roughly 3-6 minutes after I login, the screen will go black for about 1 second. This is not a crash, everything continues as normal and when the picture resumes there are no crash reports (nothing saying the display driver crashed).

After this, the screen will not go black again unless I reboot or the computer wakes from sleep. Nothing seems to trigger this, it happens at complete random, usually while I am browsing the web. Neither the CPU nor GPU are overclocked. Gaming performance is normal, including at 165Hz. No CPU or GPU spikes reported in any monitoring software.

I have looked in the event viewer, nothing is reported when the black screen happens. The monitor does not report a lost connection (usually it will say "Displayport signal not found").

So far to fix this I have tried doing a clean install of my GPU driver including resetting all Nvidia control panel settings, using a different displayport cable, and using a different output slot on the GPU. Nothing has fixed the problem. I have previously run the monitor via HDMI from a laptop with no issues, though only at 144Hz because that is all it supports.

My only guess is that the GPU is performing some operation shortly after I log in that it fails to complete, since this behavior is perfectly consistent every time I boot up. It could also be the monitor itself, but after this happens nothing seems to change (it does not change resolution or refresh rate). I do not think it's a PSU issue because I can run full throttle while gaming. So basically I'm totally stumped. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I am using the following parts:
GPU: PNY RTX 2080 Super (bought used, about 1 year old according to the seller)
Display: Asus VG27AQ 165Hz (<6months old)
PSU: Seasonic Focus PX 850W (brand new)
OS: Windows 10 Home 64 bit

 

[Colif]

Try a clean boot and see if it changes anything - make sure to read instructions and make sure NOT to disable any microsoft services or windows won't load right - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

if clean boot fixes it, it shows its likely a startup program. You should, over a number of startups. restart the programs you stopped to isolate the one that is to blame.

 

[UltraBimbis]

You may be onto something, but of course it's never that easy.

I did a completely clean boot and the thing didn't happen. I then re-enabled the boot processes a few at a time between restarts and I was still in the clear. But then I made it all the way back to having everything enabled... and it didn't happen. I knew this was too good to be true so I turned off my PC to go run some errands. When I got back (everything still enabled) it went black a few minutes after startup again. This may turn into a multiple day endeavor, since obviously some things are staying warm enough between restarts to not trigger the problem again.

I have no confirmation that doing a clean boot helped because everything after the first restart was fine. I will fiddle with it for a few days to see if I can get a consistent fix.

But once I figure out the problem, what's the next step? Leave it disabled? Reinstall that particular thing?

 

[Colif]

there is no rush, take your time figuring out which it is. Maybe even leave it completely clean for a few days to make sure it doesn't happen and then add 1 per day.

well, depends on what cause is. Might be an update, might not really be essential to run at starrtup. I have culled mine recently as it isn't hard to load some of them after start if I need them. Some like steam want to auto update games on launch, that isn't really needed.

 

[UltraBimbis]

So bad news, clean booting does not help the problem at all. I even tried booting into safe mode and the problem still persists, though it takes longer to happen (about 16 minutes both times I tested it) and this time the screen goes black and stays black, showing "Displayport signal not found" on my monitor. The computer stays on, but I can't see anything.

Weird thing is though, this problem still only happens on the first boot (or wake from sleep). I restarted back into safe mode soon after the first black screen occurred, and it did not happen again.

Judging by this behavior, it's probably a GPU thing right? Maybe safe mode doesnt have enough going on to address the error and fix the black screen like it does in normal mode? I really don't know. Again, any further help is appreciated!

 

[Dawis67_AE]

I have also been having the same problem, altho it appeared after i moved. Currently im having much bigger problems, as i cannot get past the boot windows on motherboard, but its probably something else. What motherboard are you using?

 

[UltraBimbis]

I have also been having the same problem, altho it appeared after i moved. Currently im having much bigger problems, as i cannot get past the boot windows on motherboard, but its probably something else. What motherboard are you using?

Using an X570 Aorus Pro. Maybe I should re-seat the GPU?

Edit: Tried re-seating the GPU today, did not help.