Okay, this is definitely not normal. Your PC screen suddenly went dark in the middle of a gaming session, leaving you angry, frustrated, and (perhaps most of all) confused.
What could be going on inside your machine to cause this problem? While there are many reasons why a PC screen may suddenly go dark, we've listed six of the most common reasons below, along with troubleshooting tips that can help you find a solution. .
1. An item is not completely or correctly connected.
After restarting your PC (always try first), make sure all cables on your PC are securely connected. Make sure your HDMI or DisplayPort cable is securely plugged into the ports on your GPU and monitor. It is also possible that the cables or ports are faulty. So try using a different cable and/or port and see if that fixes the problem.
Finally, if your PC's overall graphics performance is poor, check to make sure your monitor is connected to your graphics card rather than your motherboard. If your processor has an integrated GPU, connecting to your motherboard will tell it to use that instead of your graphics card. Most integrated GPUs can't handle modern games and can simply shut down if overloaded.
2. There is a configuration problem in your PC's power or screen settings.
Some options in your PC's power settings may cause graphics issues. Check if options like screen timeout or auto sleep are enabled on your PC. These options are intended to turn off your PC if you haven't interacted with it in a while, but setting it too aggressively can cause your machine and/or screen to suddenly go to sleep when you're using it. .
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Windows also includes various power saving options. These options reduce component power consumption to save battery life (on laptops) and reduce power consumption and heat (on desktops). However, this also reduces the power available to your GPU and other essential components, which can lead to crashes. Check your power settings and turn off any battery saving features that may be active.
3. Your graphics card drivers need to be updated.
Graphics cards use specialized software, called a driver, that allows the card to communicate with your operating system. This software requires periodic updates, and outdated drivers are a common cause of black screens and other game performance issues.
You can download the latest version of your graphics card drivers for free from the card manufacturer's website. Download the latest drivers, run the installer and try playing again. Conversely, some cards experience issues after installing new drivers. If you recently installed new drivers, try going back instead.
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4. Your power supply is not providing enough watts.
A PC can simply shut down if its components are not receiving enough power from the power supply (PSU). This can happen even if your PSU was working fine before, because computer components such as the CPU and GPU need increased power when under heavy load. If your power supply does not have sufficient headroom, you risk experiencing a sudden screen cutout in the event of a consumption peak.
If you suspect a power problem, first calculate the wattage requirements of your components and then compare them to the power rating of your PSU. If you find that your PSU isn't producing enough power, you can either improve it or find ways to reduce power consumption, such as understeering components. (It is also possible that your power supply may not produce rated current levels due to damage or faults – see point 6 below).
5. Your system shuts down because it gets too hot.
PCs sometimes shut down when components like the CPU and/or GPU overheat. Typically, it takes significant heat levels for this to happen, and so it's more common if you're pushing your components hard via overclocking, or if you're playing a game at settings your card can't. really manage. This phenomenon is also more common on laptops, which have a lower thermal threshold than desktop computers.
Many PCs run at a bit of a hot temperature without a problem, but if your PC has gotten much hotter than usual before the black screen appears, that's a problem worth looking into. You can use a heat monitoring tool to monitor your PC's temperature and observe any spikes. Also make sure your PC is physically clean, as dust and dirt buildup in vents and fan cases is one of the most common causes of overheating.
6. One or more elements of your system are damaged or defective.
Finally, the one we all dread: There may be a mechanical problem with one of your components. If you have faulty components that are causing screen crashes, the problem is likely with the PSU or graphics card. It's also possible that your monitor is causing the problem. You can easily check this by connecting your PC to another display and checking if the problem still occurs.
You can test your power supply by performing a “jumper test” with a paper clip, or by using a multimeter or power testing tool. To test your graphics card, try running graphics-intensive benchmarking software like Heaven or Cinebench and observe how your card performs. (The CPU and RAM can also cause this problem, so it's worth testing these if the PSU and GPU are in good condition.)
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Still having black screen issues? It may be time to take your computer to a professional repairer who can help diagnose and fix the problem. This is not admitting defeat, it is preventing the cause of the problem from getting worse. Every day you spend not fixing the problem can result in a bigger headache later.