Problem Summary:
I thought the problem was a shutdown, but I now realize that it’s actually a loss of connection between my GPU and the motherboard. Here's what's happening:
- The display goes black, but the PC itself remains powered on.
- The "VGA" LED indicator lights up on the motherboard, indicating a GPU issue.
when running certain games, especially those that use the DirectX (DX) API. Games that use Vulkan seem to run more stably without causing shutdowns.
Troubleshooting Steps Taken:
- BIOS Update: Updated the motherboard BIOS to the latest version to ensure compatibility and stability.
- Cleared CMOS: Reset the BIOS settings to default by clearing the CMOS, which didn't resolve the issue.
- Checked Temperatures and Power Supply: Monitored CPU and GPU temperatures during load, and replaced the power supply with a new one to rule out power-related issues. Temperatures remain within safe limits during stress tests.
- Stress Testing: Ran multiple stress tests on the CPU and GPU. The system handled the stress tests without shutting down, which suggests the issue may not be related to hardware overheating.
- Underclocked the GPU: Applied a power cap to the GPU and reduced its clock speed to see if that would help, but the shutdowns continued.
- Driver Updates and Reinstallation: Updated GPU drivers and reinstalled Windows multiple times to eliminate any potential software or driver conflicts.
Hardware Upgrades & Changes:
- Upgraded my PSU to an MSI MAG 850W Gold.
- Increased my RAM from 16GB to 32GB.
- Cleaned the PC thoroughly, and had the PSU replacement done by a professional, so all connections should be solid.
Testing & Adjustments:
- I’ve tested the system with default settings as well as custom adjustments.
- Tweaks included registry edits and modifications with MorePowerTool, aiming to optimize performance and stability.
Key Observations:
- The sudden shutdowns occur mostly with DirectX-based games.
- Games running on the Vulkan API are stable and don’t cause shutdowns.
- All other components appear to be functioning normally, with no signs of overheating or power issues.
System Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- GPU: Gigabyte RX 6800 XT
- Motherboard: MSI Tomahawk Max II
- RAM: 32GB DDR4 (Team Group)
- Storage: 1TB Samsung NVMe SSD
- OS: Windows 11
- Despite these efforts, the issue persists, and I'm unsure what else could be causing the loss of signal. Could this be related to the motherboard, or is there something I may have overlooked with the GPU?
