I'm a truck driver who uses a desktop PC in my truck, and I've recently started having severe FPS problems in games. The biggest issue is that road vibrations, potholes, or even small movements in the truck seem to make the graphics card disconnect, causing the system to switch over to the Ryzen 5 9600X's integrated graphics. Sometimes something as minor as closing a door or standing up triggers it, and the PC has even restarted after a cabinet lid fell nearby. I usually have to reseat the GPU after driving, making sure it is fully locked into the PCIe slot and that its power connectors are secure. The PC is stored in an open mini-closet while I'm using it, but the truck environment makes buying replacement hardware difficult. Are there any temporary fixes or ways to secure the card and prevent this from happening?
System specifications:
- Ryzen 5 9600X
- ASRock B650M Pro RS WiFi
- 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5, rated for 6000 but currently running at 4800
- Yeston Radeon RX 6700 XT
- MSI MAG A850GF power supply
- Noctua NH-L9x65 cooler
- ASUS AP201 case
- Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB boot drive
- Samsung 970 EVO 500GB SSD
- TeamGroup T-Force 1TB SSD
- Seagate IronWolf 4TB hard drive
2 Answers
The vibrations are probably moving the card or stressing the PCIe slot even if the latch appears closed. Try powering the PC down completely, removing the GPU, and inspecting both the card contacts and the slot for dust or damage. Then reinstall it with the case screw secured tightly and add a nonconductive support under the far end of the card. Also check that the power supply cables are not pulling sideways on the GPU connectors. If Windows recently installed an AMD graphics update, rolling back or clean-installing the driver could be worth trying, but the physical disconnects should be solved first.
First, confirm that the monitor cable is connected directly to the RX 6700 XT rather than the motherboard video output. Since the problem happens after physical vibration and the system falls back to integrated graphics, the more likely issue is an intermittent PCIe connection or power connection. Make sure the card’s rear bracket is screwed firmly to the case, the PCIe retention latch is engaged, and the card is supported so its weight cannot flex the slot. A temporary brace or dense foam support can help, as long as it does not press hard against the fans or block airflow.
The display cable is connected to the graphics card. I’ve also been checking that the card is fully inserted and that the power plugs are tight whenever it happens.
The computer sits in an open cabinet in the truck, and even a nearby impact or a lid falling can sometimes make it restart, so I suspect the vibration is affecting the hardware rather than just the driver.