I replaced the fan on my Asus Phoenix GeForce RTX 3060, and ever since then the computer loses monitor signal shortly after Windows begins loading. The screen sometimes flickers first, then goes completely black, while the graphics card fan ramps up. The card worked normally before I separated the heatsink from the GPU. I replaced the thermal paste twice and the thermal pads appear to be in good condition. Temperatures were still at idle when I managed to check them before the signal disappeared. The same problem also occurs in Safe Mode and the Windows recovery environment. In Safe Mode the fan does not ramp up, but the display still cuts out. What hardware or installation issue should I check?
1 Answer
Because it also happens in Safe Mode and recovery, this probably is not just a Windows driver problem. Reseat the graphics card and its power connector, check that the replacement fan is connected correctly, and inspect the heatsink mounting pressure and surrounding components for anything shifted or damaged. Make sure no thermal pad is too thick or misplaced, since that can prevent the GPU or memory from making proper contact with the cooler. If possible, test the card in another system or try a different graphics card in this computer. Those tests should help determine whether the card was damaged during disassembly or whether the issue is elsewhere.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload