Gigabyte GTX 1660 Ti experiences frequent random black displays.
Gigabyte GTX 1660 Ti experiences frequent random black displays.
Recently transitioned from Windows 10 to Windows 11. I reinstalled the drivers for my GTX 1660 Ti via GeForce Experience's "reinstall driver" feature. Since then, my display becomes completely black with certain interfaces; yet the problematic applications keep changing. The first time this happened was with PDF files—opening them in Adobe Reader sometimes caused a black screen. The only solution was closing Adobe through Task Manager. After tweaking settings in Adobe Reader, the issue ceased, though images would appear as yellowed squares. The problem seemed to resolve itself occasionally, and PDFs now displayed correctly without issues. Recently, it reappeared during gaming: a black screen when opening specific menu options, but normal gameplay resumed once closed them. Audio played normally, so it wasn’t a freeze. Inputs functioned perfectly. Once I restarted the game (Dying Light), the issue vanished again. Black screens remain the only concern with my graphics card—no artifacts, temperatures are fine. Is my GPU failing or is there a cable problem? I’m using an HDMI to DVI cable on an older BenQ GL2450. System details: OS Windows 11 (updated recently), CPU AMD Ryzen 5 3600, no overclocking, cooler Arctic Freezer 34 eSports Duo (new), GPU GIGABYTE GTX 1660 Ti Mini ITX OC, motherboard MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX with E7B86AMS.H50 (installed 11/07/2019), BIOS RAM Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 MHz (2x8), XMP enabled, PSU Corsair VS650 (2018) 650W, monitor BenQ GL2450, case Thermaltake V200 with tempered glass (modified for airflow—front panel removed, mesh filter added), fans 3x120mm Arctic P12 PWM PST CO intake front (new), and rear 1x120mm Thermaltake stock exhaust).
The conversion between HDMI and DVI isn’t an issue—it just changes the connector type. Your GPU seems to be working correctly. It looks like the problem might be with Windows itself. Do you have access to a clean installation of Windows that you can use for troubleshooting?
The SSD seems to be in decent shape despite being older, and I originally ran Windows 7 there. It worked well with an older Asus board. If I try resetting it, it should return to Windows 7, but could that cause further issues?
Thank you for your patience. I’ll consider the suggestion if the problem persists. On another point, it could also stem from a faulty VRAM chip, which means the issues vary based on where it occurs—often affecting texture or rendering areas that typically don’t cause major problems. If this is likely, should we think about replacing the GTX 1660 Ti Mini ITX OC overall, given its age?
These parts are built to handle temperatures up to 100°C, and a 1660ti doesn’t always need front intake—it just stays warm without harming it. There are PS3s that have lasted 16 years running at 90°C still, and the issue usually lies with the power supply, not chip temperatures. These GPUs are designed for demanding games. Treating them like a car can be misleading; using a chip doesn’t degrade performance. If it starts up and runs games, it’s functioning properly. Any damage would likely make it stop working or only partially work in a badly damaged state.
Information-rich response appreciated. The mindset around the car is evident, along with lingering caution from Windows 95/XP times. It seems unlikely it's a hardware problem since everything functions well overall. I’ll attempt a fresh W11 installation if the black screens continue.