Black Screen suddenly but audio still going on (no cursor)

Understanding and Troubleshooting Random Black Screen with Persistent Audio on Windows PCs

Experiencing sporadic black screens while your audio continues uninterrupted can be both perplexing and disruptive. This issue, characterized by the display losing signal yet the system staying active and producing sound, can stem from various hardware or software complications. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what might be causing this problem and the steps you can take to diagnose and resolve it.

Symptoms Overview
– Random black screens with “No signal” message on monitor
– Audio continues to play despite the display loss
– Occasional system crashes accompanied by alert sounds resembling system notifications
– During startup, the screen remains blank whereas keyboard indicator lights are functional
– Ability to shut down or restart using keyboard shortcuts despite the display issue

Common Troubleshooting Steps Already Attempted
– Keyboard shortcut command (Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B) to reset graphics driver
– Memory testing using MemTest86
– Monitoring CPU and GPU temperatures (found within normal range)
– Replacing the power supply unit (PSU)
– Taking the graphics card (GPU) to a repair shop (confirmed functional)
– Inspecting and securing display cables
– Reapplying thermal paste on CPU
– Performing clean installs of Windows 10 and Windows 11 on different storage devices

System Specifications
– Processor: Intel Core i3-10105F
– Motherboard: Asus H510M-K Prime (BIOS version 2402)
– RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz, including brands GEIL Evo Spear and TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z
– Graphics Card: Zotac GTX 1660 Ti Gaming 6GB GDDR6
– Power Supply: Cooler Master MWE Gold V3 650W ATX 3.1
– Storage: Patriot 256GB SSD and SSTE 256GB NVMe SSD

Potential Causes and Diagnostic Considerations
While the issue seems hardware-centric due to the hardware checks performed, several areas warrant closer examination:

1. Graphics Card Stability:
2. Despite being tested, consider stress testing the GPU with tools like FurMark or Unigine Heaven to check for instability.

3. Ensure the GPU drivers are up-to-date or try installing a clean driver version.

4. Display Output and Cables:

5. Test with different cables and monitors to rule out connection issues.
6. Use different output ports (HDMI, DisplayPort)