I'm completely new to PC gaming and recently bought this computer from a friend. It was factory-reset before I got it, and my friend said they never experienced this issue. During games such as Valorant and Garry's Mod, both monitors suddenly lose their picture, but I can still hear game audio and talk to friends. The game also seems to keep running, since I can still move around and perform actions even though I can't see anything. After a short while, the monitors remain off for around 15 seconds and the PC fans start spinning very loudly. I usually have to shut the computer down and restart it. What could be causing this, and what should I check first?
2 Answers
Because you can still hear the game and communicate while the screens are black, the whole PC probably hasn’t frozen. The problem may be limited to the graphics output or graphics card driver. Check whether the monitor power lights stay on when the picture disappears, reseat the display cables, and update or clean-install the graphics driver. If both monitors go black at the same time, also make sure they’re connected to the dedicated graphics card rather than the motherboard video ports.
Try replacing the HDMI cable first, and also test a different port on the monitor or graphics card. A damaged or loose cable can cause the display to cut out while the computer and game continue running. There usually isn’t a special HDMI cable required for basic testing, but make sure the replacement is in good condition and supports the resolution and refresh rate you’re using.
I haven’t tried another cable yet. I wasn’t sure whether HDMI cables had to be specific to the PC, so I’ll test a different one and check the connections.
The monitors stay off for roughly 15 seconds, but I’m not sure what the power indicators mean. I normally just turn the PC off and start it again because I can’t get the picture back.