During gaming screen goes black but i can hear audio in the background

Understanding and Troubleshooting Random Black Screen Issues During Gaming: A Comprehensive Guide

Experiencing a black screen during gaming sessions can be a frustrating and disruptive problem for PC gamers. While audio may continue without interruption, the monitor remains blank, often forcing a system restart. If you’re encountering this issue, it’s essential to diagnose its root cause systematically. This article provides a detailed overview of potential causes and troubleshooting steps to help resolve black screen problems during gameplay.

Symptoms Overview

Monitor randomly goes black during gaming or general usage.
Audio continues playing in the background.
The system requires a forced restart (power button).
No evidence of overheating or hardware failures.
Symptoms began suddenly during specific activities (e.g., multitasking with video browser tabs open).

Initial Observations and Context

The issue started while playing a game called Wuthering Waves in windowed mode with side video tabs open.
Screen blackout occurred during gameplay, followed by color flashing and artifacts on the display.
Uninstalling the problematic game temporarily alleviated the issue, but similar black screens now occur with other games.
Temperatures are within normal ranges (~40-60°C), indicating overheating is unlikely.
System specifications include a high-end GPU (AMD Radeon 9070 XT), a robust CPU (AMD Ryzen 9 9600X), and ample RAM.
The system was built in June 2025, recently installed, with checked and secure cable connections.

Potential Causes and Troubleshooting Steps

Graphics Driver Issues
Ensure Drivers Are Up to Date: Use AMD’s Radeon Software (Adrenalin) to check for the latest drivers and install any available updates.
Perform a Clean Installation: Sometimes, updating isn’t enough. Consider completely uninstalling current drivers with tools like DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) and reinstalling fresh drivers.
Display and Connection Checks
Examine Video Cables: Check the DisplayPort or HDMI cable for physical damage or loose connections. Replacing the cable might resolve the issue.
Test Different Ports: Switch to a different DisplayPort or HDMI port on your GPU.
Monitor Inspection: Verify that the monitor’s settings are correct and that no firmware updates are needed.
Hardware Stability and Compatibility
Device Stress Testing: While 3DMark tests indicated no immediate issues, consider running longer stability tests with tools like FurMark