Troubleshooting Persistent Black Screen Issues After GPU Driver Update While Playing GTA V
Experiencing technical difficulties after updating your graphics card drivers can be frustrating, especially when it disrupts your gaming experience. If you’ve recently updated your NVIDIA drivers and are now encountering a black screen that flickers every couple of seconds during gameplay, you’re not alone. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and resolving this issue.
The Scenario
Many gamers and users with NVIDIA GPUs, such as the RTX 4070, rely on drivers for optimal performance and features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). In some cases, a driver update—either prompted by the game or initiated manually—can lead to unforeseen complications. For instance, after updating drivers to support DLSS 4 in GTA V, users have reported crashes and persistent black screens that occur intermittently.
Common Symptoms
- GTA V prompts for a driver update compatible with DLSS 4.
- Game launches successfully, but the graphics driver update coincides with a crash.
- Post-update, the screen begins flickering or going black every 2 seconds.
- The issue persists even after reinstallation of drivers.
- Temporarily disabling extra monitors or switching display inputs seems to “fix” the problem, but the black screen returns under specific conditions.
Potential Causes
- Driver Compatibility Issues: Sometimes, beta or experimental driver versions introduce instability.
- Corrupted Driver Installations: An incomplete or failed installation can cause display problems.
- Display Configuration Conflicts: Multi-monitor setups or specific display settings may interfere post-update.
- Game and Driver Mismatch: Certain games may not be fully compatible with the latest driver features or settings.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Boot into Safe Mode and Clean Drivers
- Restart your PC and boot into Safe Mode.
- Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove existing graphics drivers.
- Once cleaned, reboot normally.
2. Reinstall Official NVIDIA Drivers
- Download the latest stable driver version compatible with your RTX 4070 directly from the NVIDIA website.
- During installation, select the ‘Custom’ option and opt for a clean installation.
- Avoid beta or preview drivers unless necessary.
3. Adjust Display Settings and Monitor Configuration
- Disconnect secondary monitors
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