I'm not very experienced with PC troubleshooting, so please keep the explanations simple. My boyfriend gave me an AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT and warned me that it had some issues. At random times, the computer itself stays powered on, but both screens go black and I'm disconnected from whatever game I'm playing. I have to hold the power button to shut the PC down completely. Occasionally, the next boot displays "Memory Overclocking failed. System is booting with default settings. Press F1 to run BIOS setup." We've tried troubleshooting based on that message, but nothing has fixed it. Games such as Warframe and Monster Hunter: World can run for hours, while Final Fantasy XIV sometimes crashes almost immediately. A friend suggested the power supply could be failing, and I'm considering buying another graphics card. Before doing that, I'd like to figure out whether the PSU, RAM overclocking, monitor settings, or something else is responsible. My power supply is a Corsair 1000e, though I need to check its exact specifications.
4 Answers
More complete system information would help, including the CPU, motherboard, RAM kit and settings, exact PSU model, GPU temperatures, and how the card is connected. Sudden black screens while the PC remains on can also come from a driver crash, overheating, unstable overclock, or a bad cable, so replacing the graphics card should be a last step.
A power problem is possible, but a quality 1000-watt Corsair unit should normally be more than enough for an RX 6950 XT. Make sure the graphics card is powered with two separate PCIe cables from the PSU rather than one cable using a daisy-chained connector. Before replacing the GPU, check the PSU model, reseat the GPU and memory, and test the system with all memory overclocking or EXPO/XMP settings disabled.
The “Memory Overclocking failed” message points more directly toward unstable RAM settings than a graphics card failure. Enter the BIOS, load optimized or default settings, and leave XMP/EXPO or any manual memory overclock disabled for testing. If the crashes stop, the memory profile was probably unstable. You can also test each RAM stick individually and run a memory test.
If you use multiple monitors, temporarily turn off FreeSync, variable refresh rate, or adaptive sync on both displays and test again. Mismatched refresh rates or display-driver issues can sometimes cause black screens, although the memory-overclocking warning still makes the RAM or BIOS settings worth checking first.
I found that the power supply is a Corsair 1000e, but I need to open the case later to confirm the exact details and cable arrangement.