Question Screen's Randomly Turn Black (PC Crash)

[georgens]

I will be playing a game (Rainbow Six Siege) and my display will suddenly die, I assume this is because of the GPU however I'm not sure.
I cleaned out my PC of dust and monitored and I'm sure it's not a cooling problem.
When the screens die the PC keeps running however it's unresponsive, I have to reboot it by turn it off at the PSU.

SSD: 250GB Samsung SSD (pretty new) and I've got about 50GB left free.
GPU: Asus Strix Gtx 960 4GB GPU (not over clocking)
PSU: Cooler Master RS - 520W–A1 ASAA Cooler Master Pro Modular M520 RealPower supply
Processor: AMD FX- 8350 8 Core 4GHz
Hard Drive: 1TB Blue Sata Drive (600GB free)
RAM: 32GB (4x8GB Sticks)
Motherboard: M5A78L-M/USB3

 

[AndysProCYP]

I am having a very similar if not the same problem with my system.
No matter if I'm gaming or browsing the net, the screen randomly goes black out-of-the blue, GPU stops responding (GPU fans stop), but I still hear my music or game sounds in the background. In order to temporary fix this for me I undergo the following steps:

• turn system off
• remove PSU cable
• hold the power button for a minute to drain
• remove GPU's power cable (6Pin) and then re-plug it back (this step might be unnecessary for you)
• plug the PSU cable and system back on .

I believe that what we are experiencing is related to the following points: However I could be entirely wrong

• Bad GPU drivers
• Faulty GPU

of even
- Faulty PSU

Also my build is much older than yours is, which might help us to identify what is causing these random GPU fails.

Lastly, when did you start experiencing this issue? do you remember if it was after a GPU upgrade? windows update? after you potentially upgraded any of your PC hardware?

My current build:
PSU: Coolmaster G650M
CPU: i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
MBD: MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) (MS-7750)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060-6GB
Boot SSD: Corsair Force 3 120GB
SSD: Samsung 970 Pro NVMe PCIe M.2 512GB
HDD: WD Blue 1TB (2012)

 

[daPain58]

I am having a very similar if not the same problem with my system.
No matter if I'm gaming or browsing the net, the screen randomly goes black out-of-the blue, GPU stops responding (GPU fans stop), but I still hear my music or game sounds in the background. In order to temporary fix this for me I undergo the following steps:

• turn system off
• remove PSU cable
• hold the power button for a minute to drain
• remove GPU's power cable (6Pin) and then re-plug it back (this step might be unnecessary for you)
• plug the PSU cable and system back on .

I believe that what we are experiencing is related to the following points: However I could be entirely wrong

• Bad GPU drivers
• Faulty GPU

of even
- Faulty PSU

Also my build is much older than yours is, which might help us to identify what is causing these random GPU fails.

Lastly, when did you start experiencing this issue? do you remember if it was after a GPU upgrade? windows update? after you potentially upgraded any of your PC hardware?

My current build:
PSU: Coolmaster G650M
CPU: i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
MBD: MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) (MS-7750)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060-6GB
Boot SSD: Corsair Force 3 120GB
SSD: Samsung 970 Pro NVMe PCIe M.2 512GB
HDD: WD Blue 1TB (2012)

Check the dump files created when PC crashes, it should give you the idea. It also happens to me, and at first the gpu drivers were crashing but after few days my mobo died

Sent from my CPH1729 using Tapatalk

 

[AndysProCYP]

Check the dump files created when PC crashes, it should give you the idea. It also happens to me, and at first the gpu drivers were crashing but after few days my mobo died

Sent from my CPH1729 using Tapatalk

Thank you for your response.

Sorry to hear about your motherboard, hope your new one is treating you well. Did you ever find out what was the cause for your motherboard dying?

In my case, I followed your advise and when the black screen happens I checked for dump files and there was nothing to see. A few days ago I've experienced very frequent crashes especially when gaming. The dump files yielded a problem with GPU drivers 436.48 (which apparently had Nvidia working around the clock to put together hotfix 436.51).

Error Message (from dump file)
This was probably caused by the following module: nvlddmkm.sys (0xFFFFF8800FD31870)
Bugcheck code: 0x116 (0xFFFFFA8013651010, 0xFFFFF8800FD31870, 0xFFFFFFFFC000009A, 0x4)
Error: VIDEO_TDR_ERROR

Since I am running Win 7 and drivers 436.51 are only available for Win 10, I'll roll-back to 436.30 (which were a lot more stable despite getting the random black screens).

Clearly the dump files point out that the module nvlddmkm.sys is what causes the crashes, can this faulty module also be the reason for the random black screens?

 

[scout_03]

for gpu test use gpu-z rendering option and check temp with hwinfo for the psu use occt and stress test psu for about 10 minutes and see if it hold on take note of voltages before stress start and on test report any for abnormal readings in voltages .

 

[daPain58]

Thank you for your response.

Sorry to hear about your motherboard, hope your new one is treating you well. Did you ever find out what was the cause for your motherboard dying?

In my case, I followed your advise and when the black screen happens I checked for dump files and there was nothing to see. A few days ago I've experienced very frequent crashes especially when gaming. The dump files yielded a problem with GPU drivers 436.48 (which apparently had Nvidia working around the clock to put together hotfix 436.51).

Error Message (from dump file)
This was probably caused by the following module: nvlddmkm.sys (0xFFFFF8800FD31870)
Bugcheck code: 0x116 (0xFFFFFA8013651010, 0xFFFFF8800FD31870, 0xFFFFFFFFC000009A, 0x4)
Error: VIDEO_TDR_ERROR

Since I am running Win 7 and drivers 436.51 are only available for Win 10, I'll roll-back to 436.30 (which were a lot more stable despite getting the random black screens).

Clearly the dump files point out that the module nvlddmkm.sys is what causes the crashes, can this faulty module also be the reason for the random black screens?

I had the same problem. The NVIDIA driver crashed for me while playing Crysis 2.I fixed it by not connecting to Interbet. As soon as the PC connected to Net, the problem would get reproduced and I had to reinstall windows again. After a few days of this frequent problem my motherboard S died probably because of the capacitor. I had changed the motherboard but the problem still occurred. I then started using driver version 417 and no problem occurs since then

Sent from my CPH1729 using Tapatalk

 

[AndysProCYP]

for gpu test use gpu-z rendering option and check temp with hwinfo for the psu use occt and stress test psu for about 10 minutes and see if it hold on take note of voltages before stress start and on test report any for abnormal readings in voltages .

Thank you for your reply, I followed the steps you recommended. I've taken screenshots and they are available here.

In summary, I ran the GPU-Z render test twice, the first time, just before the 10 minutes mark I noticed my PC case side panel was not properly attached, and while I tried to attach it back, I got the black screen issue. After restarting the PC I've run the test once again for 10 minutes and no problems occurred. GPU temperatures seemed fine with lower 34 and highest (during test) 70 Celsius. (there's more details within the screenshots should it be necessary)

Shortly after I ran the OCCT test for PSU. Since I am no specialist on voltage and wattage I am unsure whether there was a problem or abnormal reading in power. The OCCT test results where error-free, the 10 minutes test was completed with no hick-ups or whatsoever. There are 3 screenshots in the link above, before, after and during OCCT test. If you canmake any other conclusion based on the graphs displayed in the screenshots, please share.

To sum up, more and more I believe that the issue with the black screen causing the GPU to stop displaying, could be more related to

• a loose or faulty cable?
• some hardware piece not attached firm on MBD?
• or even a faulty PCI express port? after all the GPU is rather heavy and it might be falling on its weight. perhaps I should get some brackets to support.

who knows

 

[AndysProCYP]

I had the same problem. The NVIDIA driver crashed for me while playing Crysis 2.I fixed it by not connecting to Interbet. As soon as the PC connected to Net, the problem would get reproduced and I had to reinstall windows again. After a few days of this frequent problem my motherboard S died probably because of the capacitor. I had changed the motherboard but the problem still occurred. I then started using driver version 417 and no problem occurs since then

Sent from my CPH1729 using Tapatalk

Wow... had to reinstall windows every-time, and even with a new MBD wouldn't fix it, I feel for your buddy. So your black screen problem related to both hardware and software. Do you think if you've reverted back to driver 417 using your old MBD, would that had the problem fixed?

 

[scout_03]

andy your files are in rar and i wont register to this site to get them post picture of them on a open link to public in plain text so everyone could see them .

 

[daPain58]

Wow... had to reinstall windows every-time, and even with a new MBD wouldn't fix it, I feel for your buddy. So your black screen problem related to both hardware and software. Do you think if you've reverted back to driver 417 using your old MBD, would that had the problem fixed?

Which OS are you using? I found this problem on Windows 7.After I upgraded To Windows 10, I had no crashes by the GPU driver.So I believe you should fresh install windows and then install the driver to check if the problem persists

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[AndysProCYP]

andy your files are in rar and i wont register to this site to get them post picture of them on a open link to public in plain text so everyone could see them .

You don't have to register, it is free to download and you just have to extract the screenshots.

 

[AndysProCYP]

Which OS are you using? I found this problem on Windows 7.After I upgraded To Windows 10, I had no crashes by the GPU driver.So I believe you should fresh install windows and then install the driver to check if the problem persists

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I am on Win 7 Ultimate 64bit, and I too believe that the OS could have been one of the issues. Every since I've upgraded my GPU to 1060 6gb I started having problems with my GPU drivers. I think you are correct saying that the OS could be a major reason, causing the crashes. When I update to Win 10 I'll be able to say whether the issue was fixed or not. Either way thank you for sharing.

 

[scout_03]

roolback to these driver and see what happens https://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/107008/en-us

 

[daPain58]

I am on Win 7 Ultimate 64bit, and I too believe that the OS could have been one of the issues. Every since I've upgraded my GPU to 1060 6gb I started having problems with my GPU drivers. I think you are correct saying that the OS could be a major reason, causing the crashes. When I update to Win 10 I'll be able to say whether the issue was fixed or not. Either way thank you for sharing.

I used win 7 ultimate 64 bit too. Problem got fixed when I changed to Windows 10.If drivers don't fix, then download Windows 10 from Microsoft website and try

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