I've been dealing with some frustrating issues with my Nvidia GPU lately. For about a week now, my GPU or its drivers have been crashing unexpectedly. Whether I'm gaming or just browsing the web, my monitor suddenly goes black and the only way to get it working again is by rebooting the entire system. This started during gaming sessions, and I thought it could be a driver issue, so I updated to the latest version, but that didn't help. The crashes occur unpredictably—sometimes after an hour of gaming, sometimes right after I start my computer. I realized it wasn't just gaming related when even optimizing settings in the Nvidia App caused the driver to crash.
I've checked Event Viewer, but there are no relevant error logs about the GPU or drivers, only messages about the forced restarts. I resorted to connecting a monitor to my integrated graphics to navigate after a crash, but I still need to restart my machine to get the Nvidia GPU working again. This problem started without any changes from my end and persists despite trying different driver versions, both upgrades and downgrades.
I can't monitor GPU temperatures during crashes since the screen goes black, but I haven't noticed the fans ramping up when this happens.
Does anyone have insights on further diagnostics I can perform or other possible issues? Here are my system specs:
- Windows 11 build 26200
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (monitor connected via mDP port)
- UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics
- 32 GB RAM
- i5-13600K processor
- PRO Z790-A WIFI (MS7E07) motherboard
I've tried the following so far:
- Updating drivers to the latest version (with and without Nvidia App)
- Downgrading drivers to earlier versions
- Clearing shader cache
- Using WIN + CTRL + SHIFT + B to attempt a driver reset during crashes
- Verifying the GPU is properly secured and the PCIe cable is connected correctly
- Removing and reseating the GPU
4 Answers
I'd suggest trying DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely wipe your current drivers before reinstalling the newest ones from Nvidia. Also, keep an eye on your GPU's core and hotspot temperatures since overheating can trigger these kinds of issues. And while you’re at it, double-check your power supply and make sure it’s a quality one; maybe even test with a different one if you can.
The symptoms you’re describing might indicate that your GPU is either failing or overheating. It could be a power management issue too. Check to make sure all power cables are firmly connected, and if possible, run it at default clock speeds. Nowadays, driver issues are less common, but if you have access to another machine, testing the GPU there could help determine if it’s the card that's causing the problem.
Yeah, it could very likely be an overheating GPU, or it might be failing. If you can, reseat the card and confirm the power cables are all properly connected. Just to be safe, make sure your drivers are up to date, but like others have said, chances are slim that it's a driver problem.
It sounds like your GPU might be on the fritz. Have you checked if it's still under warranty? If it is, I recommend reaching out to the manufacturer for a replacement just in case.
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