Black screen during gameplay then restarting with persistent looping noises.
Black screen during gameplay then restarting with persistent looping noises.
I've experienced this issue for some time now. When playing a game (League of Legends) around 6 to 10 minutes in, the screen would suddenly turn completely black, and then any sound that was playing would begin to repeat endlessly. After a short pause, the computer would simply restart and then return to displaying black screens again.
I've checked the temperatures, and the GPU is running between 60 to 70 degrees, while the CPU is around 50 degrees.
My setup includes:
- CPU: Intel i5 4690k @ stock (with Hyper-212 Evo cooler)
- GPU: Sapphire R9 290 tri-x OC Edition
- PSU: Silverstone Strider Plus Silver Edition 850W
The problem began after I overclocked. At first, it was just a black screen that would restart itself. After a few days, I restored the system and it worked fine. However, whenever I tried to update the AMD driver, the screen would black out during gameplay for 6 to 10 minutes.
I kept using the older version of the OS for a couple of months before encountering another issue—this time a blue screen appeared with the message "thread stuck in device driver." After rebooting, I saw a strange colored screen. I deleted everything, reformatted the memory, and reinstalled Windows. The PC turned on normally afterward, and I installed all drivers again, thinking the problem was resolved.
But soon after joining League of Legends, I experienced another black screen, sound looping, and a restart.
Additionally, my PSU emitted a ticking noise while two computers were connected to the same wall. I noticed this noise coming from the PSU. When I turned off one of the computers, the sound stopped.
Another observation is that my PSU tends to make a chirping sound after playing games for about 3 to 10 hours.
In summary, the issue started after a minor overclock, but it was resolved after a restore. It has been working normally for a while now. The temperatures seem normal.
Thank you for your time. I really appreciate your help.
What you are describing resembles a faulty power supply unit. They lose effectiveness over time, and a clear sign of failure is their inability to start, then briefly operate before stopping. Take a break. Clean and try again. Internal components such as capacitors and circuits become overheated, especially under increased stress, reducing performance and eventually causing shutdown if the temperature rises beyond safe levels.
The rate at which a PSU degrades depends on the load it handles. Greater demand accelerates wear. While your current setup might have contributed to its decline, it shouldn’t be considered entirely responsible.
A simple test involves adding an extra fan to increase airflow through the unit. If this improves stability and extends uptime before shutdown, it indicates a need for replacement. Do not depend solely on this cooling method. If the added airflow doesn’t help, continue using the existing setup cautiously. When a PSU fails due to this kind of stress, it can lead to broader damage across your computer components.
The situation you're facing seems similar to a failing power supply unit. They tend to deteriorate over time, often showing up as a failure when they start up, work briefly, then stop. It’s best to let them cool down and try again. The internal components are getting hotter, losing efficiency under stress, and may shut down if pushed beyond their limits, which tends to happen gradually.
PSU performance is closely tied to the load it handles. A higher demand speeds up degradation. While your current usage might have accelerated the process, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re at fault.
A simple test would be to add extra airflow via a fan and see if it extends the time before shutdown. If you notice longer operation before the system powers down, it’s likely time for a replacement. Just don’t depend solely on this cooling method—other factors could be involved.
If the added cooling doesn’t help, it might not be worth waiting. Replacing the PSU promptly is advisable.
Your concern about previous issues—black screens after short use and resolution after a driver update—is understandable. It’s possible the problem reoccurred after formatting, but this doesn’t confirm a PSU failure.