I recently built a new PC with the following specs: Asus RTX 5060 ti GPU, Ryzen 9600x CPU, Phantom Spirit 120 SE cooler, MAG B 850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI motherboard, Corsair RM850x PSU, A-TECH 16GB (2x8GB) DDR5 RAM, and a Predator M.2 SSD 2TB. I also included an old 120 GB SATA SSD and a random 1 TB M.2 SSD that I found without any details. While the system boots okay, I'm facing issues with the random SSD that isn't recognized. The bigger problem is when I try to install new graphics drivers; the system freezes during the installation, forcing me to shut down. I've even tried a clean Windows 11 install on the Predator drive, but the issue persists. Could my GPU be faulty, or is there something else I can try before I consider an RMA?
2 Answers
Consider removing that random M.2 SSD. Sometimes, having incompatible or faulty drives can create conflicts that lead to freezes.
Try booting into safe mode with networking and use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely remove your current graphics drivers. After that, boot back into regular Windows and only download the driver file—avoid installing GeForce Experience, and make sure to run the installation as an administrator. This could help fix the freezing problem during driver installation.
I've had similar issues with DDU freezing my PC. If that happens, then it could indicate deeper hardware issues.
I second that! If issues continue, it might suggest a serious problem with your power supply or potentially a faulty video card, since that could happen when the GPU driver loads. Make sure to reseat the GPU and check all power connections too.