Black screen issue after installing a new (second-hand) GPU.
Black screen issue after installing a new (second-hand) GPU.
I improved my computer a few days back by installing a new SSD, adding more RAM, and using a second-hand graphics card. I began with a fresh Windows setup. I tested 3D Mark and FurMark to verify performance, especially for the graphics card, and both scored well—39xx for 3D Mark Steel Nomad and 41xx average, while FurMark ran smoothly. Then, during a gaming session, the screen went dark but the graphics logo stayed on and the fans continued to spin. After some time, I restarted and it worked again, though it still wouldn’t power up properly. Eventually, I reinserted the card and tried reseating everything. When I pressed the power button, there was a loud noise and a bright flash. I unplugged all components, removed the power supply, and found it rattling. After shaking it, I retrieved the unit and noticed a part number on it. I installed a new PSU after checking the specifications, and everything functioned correctly this time (except for the initial test with the old card). Still, after about 2.5 hours of use, the screen went black but the light remained on. I powered off the machine but hesitated to restart due to fear of another issue, so I reinstalled the old graphics card and am writing this update.
Additionally, I suspect the previous PSU was faulty, as I experienced frequent lag spikes during games with both GPUs using it. After switching to a new PSU, the lag disappeared completely. I also observed that the older graphics card (5700XT) had small LEDs near the PCIe connectors that lit up when the PC was connected. These lights were present on the newer card (6900XT), but they didn’t illuminate either when plugged in or off.
I’m unsure what to do next, so I’m reaching out for advice. My system specs are: AMD Ryzen 3600 G.Skill Aegis F4-3200C16D-32GIS, Samsung 990 Pro 4TB (without heatsink), new graphics card ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6900 XT, old graphics card ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT, PSU Corsair RM1000x, previous PSU Asus ROG Strix 750W Gold (burned), motherboard ASRock B450M Pro4. The BIOS is from 2019-12-09, running Windows 11 64-bit with the latest AMD drivers.
For reference, the last crash occurred when I was hesitant to proceed, while trying to boot COD Cold War. The PC didn’t have a minidump, but I’ve shared the app and system event logs.
What’s interesting is that the system unexpectedly shut down at 19:06:15 on 18-8-2024. I don’t recall it shutting down between 17:00 and 19:44 during that crash, even though I wasn’t near the PC at the time.
It mainly addresses CPU and security problems, but it probably resolves GPU-related issues as well.
Since 2019 numerous updates and enhancements have been implemented, it's worth giving it another shot. Any problems with the CPU, memory controller, motherboard, compatibility, or controllers—especially PCI_E issues—can often be resolved. Improvements in security and overall performance are also notable.