I recently bought an RTX 5070 Shadow 3OC for just under $600, and after installing it, I've run into a vexing black screen problem. It gets to the Windows desktop but then freezes for 3-5 seconds before going completely black, forcing me to restart the system each time. The only time it works fine is in safe mode. My hardware isn't brand new—I have a B450 Steel Legend motherboard and a Ryzen 5 2600 CPU. I'm starting to think there may be a compatibility issue, or maybe I need to upgrade something else to make this GPU work properly. Here's what I've already done to troubleshoot:
- Cleaned drivers with DDU and tested several versions from the first supporting the 50 series to the latest.
- Reset the BIOS and updated it to version 10.
- Tried connecting just one monitor and switched between DisplayPort and HDMI.
- Adjusted the PCIe speed to Gen3 instead of Auto.
- Switched to a fully modular 650W PSU with dedicated connections for the GPU.
I'd really like some advice on any additional troubleshooting steps or whether I should consider upgrading other components. I know this GPU probably outclasses my CPU and motherboard, and I plan to upgrade them eventually, but I'm hoping to get it working in the meantime.
2 Answers
It sounds like you're dealing with a driver issue, especially since the screens are fine in safe mode using the generic Windows driver. I suggest you try reinstalling the Nvidia drivers again. Make sure to get the installers directly from Nvidia's website rather than using GeForce Experience or any other app. Just to be safe, run DDU to wipe the previous installs completely before trying a fresh installation. This might help clear up any lingering driver conflicts that could be causing the black screen.
Your PSU has an 80 Plus Gold rating and should handle the power requirements just fine. However, it’s always good to double-check that it provides enough 12V power, which is usually indicated on the label. If the black screen happens only after installing Nvidia drivers, that definitely points to an issue there. If possible, you could try a clean install of Windows to rule out any software-related problems. Sometimes starting fresh can fix these pesky issues!
Great point! Starting fresh could save a lot of headache. I remember having similar issues before, and a clean install worked wonders.
That makes sense! Safe mode usually indicates that the default drivers are working. Good luck with the fresh install!