Understanding Intermittent Display Failures After GPU Upgrade: A Case Study with RTX 5070
Introduction
Encountering hardware-related issues can be both frustrating and puzzling, especially when upgrading components like the graphics card. This article examines a real-world scenario involving a PC with intermittent display problems following an upgrade to an RTX 5070 GPU. We will analyze the troubleshooting process, common causes, and potential solutions to help guide enthusiasts facing similar issues.
System Overview
The affected system includes the following components:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B450M S2H (BIOS version F66)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5700X3D (upgraded from Ryzen 3600 approximately 1.5 years ago)
- Power Supply: Gigabyte 650W 80+ Bronze
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x8GB DDR4 3600MHz
- Graphics Card: Powercolor RX 6800 Fighter (originally used, now replaced)
- Additional peripherals and standard lighting
Initial Issue Encountered
Upon returning home and powering on the PC, the user observed:
- No display output on both monitors
- All fans (case, GPU, CPU) and lighting were operational
Troubleshooting Steps
- Cable and Port Testing: Swapped cables, tried different display ports
- External Device Testing: Connected a laptop to the monitors; display worked, indicating monitors and cables were functional
- GPU Testing: Removed the RX 6800 and tested it on a friend’s PC; the same issue persisted (fans spinning, but no display), indicating a likely GPU problem
Replacements and Subsequent Problems
- Replaced the RX 6800 with an RTX 5070
- At first, the new GPU provided display output successfully
- After two days, upon powering on the system, the display was again absent, despite fans spinning
- Notably, manual restarts sometimes resulted in successful boot with display, but success was inconsistent (~50%)
Current Status and Hypotheses
This intermittent behavior suggests several possible causes:
- Power Supply Issues: Insufficient or unstable power delivery could affect GPU performance or motherboard stability
- RAM Compatibility or Defect: Faulty or incompatible RAM modules may cause boot issues
- Motherboard Problems: BIOS incompatibilities, faulty slots, or motherboard degradation
- GPU-Specific Issues: The RTX 5070 itself or its compatibility with the system
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