I'm experiencing random black screens while gaming on my PC. The display turns off, the audio cuts out, but the PC remains on. Sometimes it shuts down after a few minutes. Interestingly, this issue doesn't occur during regular browsing; it mostly happens when I'm gaming. Here are my specs: R5 7600, RTX 3080, 16GB DDR5, and a 750W Bronze PSU. I've tried reinstalling drivers, changing cables, lowering game settings, and even undervolting to no avail. I'm wondering if this could be a power supply issue or if my GPU is failing?
3 Answers
Your issue seems classic for power instability under load. Black screens like you describe, especially with the sound cutting off, really points to the PSU. An RTX 3080 can demand quite a bit, and while your 750W unit might do the job, it may struggle with sudden spikes. Keep an eye on your GPU’s temps too. If you don't see any artifacts or crashing issues, it’s likely not the GPU, but rather a power-related issue. An 850W Gold PSU will provide a bit more headroom for those power demands.
It sounds like you might be dealing with power delivery issues. When a system black screens under load but keeps the fans running, it often indicates that the PSU can't handle the wattage spikes from the GPU, especially with an RTX 3080. Check the specific model of your PSU and its age. Also, make sure you're using separate PCIe cables for the GPU instead of daisy chaining them. Running a stress test like OCCT can help identify if the PSU is struggling. Replacing your PSU with a higher quality 850W Gold unit could improve stability.
Sounds like you’ve done solid troubleshooting so far! Since you mentioned trying various cable setups and getting no clear driver errors, I think going for that quality PSU upgrade is smart. Take a look at your connectors for any signs of wear, but be sure to check for stable power delivery during gaming loads with monitoring software too. It might give you a clearer picture of what's happening when the black screens occur.
I also recommend doing a thorough check on your GPU temperatures and running tests without the daisy-chained cable. A dedicated cable can sometimes prevent those transient spike issues. It's definitely a good idea to move to that quality PSU you're considering!