When I play demanding games, my GPU fans suddenly ramp up to maximum and the computer eventually loses video output with a black screen. Stress tests haven't reproduced the problem, but it happens during certain games. I tested both an RTX 4070 Ti Super and an RTX 3070, and the behavior remained. After a crash, the computer may continue showing a black screen and won't boot normally until it has been powered off and left alone for a while. I've checked temperatures and voltages, but nothing obviously abnormal stood out. The power supply is rated at 850W.
3 Answers
An 850W unit should generally provide enough capacity for either of those GPUs, so wattage alone probably isn’t the issue. The exact PSU model and its condition still matter, especially with transient spikes. Make sure the GPU power connectors are fully seated, avoid sharply bending the cable near the plug, and use separate PSU cables where applicable. Testing with another known-good PSU would help rule out power delivery.
Since swapping GPUs didn’t change anything, the graphics card itself is less likely to be the cause. Log CPU temperature, GPU core and hotspot temperature, clock speeds, and voltages with HWiNFO while gaming. Also check Windows Event Viewer afterward for display-driver resets, WHEA hardware errors, or unexpected power-loss events. A game-specific crash can still expose instability that a synthetic stress test misses.
I’ve monitored the temperatures and voltages during use, but I’ll check the hotspot readings and the hardware error logs specifically.
Because the system remains unusable until it cools or sits powered off, check more than just the GPU temperature. CPU temperatures, motherboard VRM temperatures, RAM stability, and BIOS settings could all be involved. Try resetting BIOS settings to defaults, disabling any overclock or memory profile temporarily, updating the motherboard BIOS and chipset drivers, and performing a clean graphics-driver installation. If the issue continues, test the memory and motherboard as well as the PSU.
The 850W rating sounds sufficient, but a failing or lower-quality unit can still cause black screens even when the total wattage looks safe.