RTX 5080 9950x3d build Suddenly has “No Signal” issue

troubleshooting a “No Signal” Issue on Your High-End Gaming Rig: A Case Study

Introduction

Building a powerful gaming PC can be an exciting venture, but it sometimes comes with unexpected challenges. Recently, a user shared their experience with a high-performance system featuring an RTX 5080 GPU and a Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, encountering a perplexing “No Signal” issue. This article discusses the problem, explores potential causes, and outlines troubleshooting steps to resolve similar issues in custom PC builds.

Understanding the Scenario

The user’s system, constructed a few months prior, was functioning correctly but suddenly began exhibiting display problems. Key symptoms included:

No signal output from the GPU to the monitor.
The system sometimes fails to POST when a GPU is installed.
Directly connecting the monitor to the motherboard’s HDMI port yields a signal.
GPU-Z successfully detects the GPU, indicating it’s powered and recognized by the system.

Initial hypotheses pointed toward potential hardware failures, with the graphics card or motherboard being primary suspects.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Approach

Verifying the GPU’s Functionality

To rule out a faulty graphics card, the user inserted the RTX 5080 into an older system, where it operated normally. This suggests the GPU itself is unlikely the source of the problem.

Checking Motherboard PCIe Slots

The user experienced intermittent POST signals depending on which PCIe slot was used. After attempting a different PCIe slot, the problem persisted, leading to an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) for the motherboard. These steps aim to eliminate slot-specific issues.

Assessing the CPU’s PCIe Controller

Since the GPU tests OK in other systems, the focus shifts to the motherboard’s PCIe controller or the CPU’s PCIe lanes. Damage or defects in these components could prevent proper GPU communication.

Implementing Additional Diagnostic Steps

The user performed several troubleshooting measures:

Driver and Software Maintenance
- Running Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to clean existing GPU drivers.
- Reinstalling graphics drivers and operating system to resolve potential software conflicts.
Hardware Replacements and Reinstallations
- Replacing the motherboard with a new unit.
- Reinstalling Windows to address potential OS-related issues.

System Specifications