Monitor goes to power saving mode (black screen) within 5 minutes of gaming

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kardkoach

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Happens when I try to play Overwatch, Metro LL and Witcher 3 (sometimes it makes a clicky noise when monitor goes to sleep sometimes it doesn't). Does not happen when I'm just web browsing and watching youtube videos.

Specs: i7 4770k @4.1Ghz, GTX 980Ti (110% power limit but not manually overclocked or messed with voltage), Rosewill 750W Power supply, windows 10

So far I've tried and to no avail: reinstall Nvidia GPU driver, reinstall Overwatch from my HDD to SSD, reseat the GPU and re-plug in the power cables with different configurations (8+6 pin), 3 different displayport connections with my main monitor, running HDMI connection alone on my secondary monitor, setting power settings to high performance (never turn off display & never sleep).

My 980Ti barely goes above 70C so I don't think it's overheating, but I think it is most likely something wrong with either the PSU or the GPU, since I tested both monitors that I have and same results. Any help would be appreciated..
 
Solution
Flyfisherman

Hi my friend, if it smells like burned plastic, then it is very important to evacuate the room, just flee.
What is the danger? Cancerous fumes!
The burned or overheated cpu can easily be overshot.


If heat is produced in more than expected amount (such as in cases of short-circuits, or applying more voltage than rated), or
If heat dissipation is poor, so that normally produced waste heat does not drain away properly.

Best regards from Sweden
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Flyfisherman

Flyfisherman

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It sounds like the monitor looses its signal or can't handle the signal?
Is it any indication on the monitor that the graphics signal is lost, or does it just go to sleep?
Btw. how can you tell that it actually goes to sleep? Will it just quit and not showing any image on the screen what so ever?
Then it would suggest a monitor problem. replace the monitor with the other one and have only one connected and try.

Best regards from Sweden



 
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kardkoach

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Well, in the middle of the game, it will all of a sudden black screen, followed by a message on the monitor saying that it goes into a power saving mode. When that happens, most of the time I'm forced to hard restart because the system will not register keyboard or mouse inputs. I was testing it on 1 monitor with 1 cable at a time, either on my primary monitor which is 1440p 144hz with displayport connection or my secondary monitor which is 1080p 60hz with HDMI connection.

P.S sometimes it will do that within the first minute, when the game was still in the menu.
 
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darkguset

darkguset

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There is obviously nothing wrong with your monitor since you say that your system stops responding (freezes) when this happens. That means that your system is unstable.

I noticed you have a slight overclock on your CPU and the fact that you mention that it only freezes when you are playing a game points to a system instability.

Although your PSU is not a top brand, 750W should in theory be enough.

Do me a favour. Reboot into BIOS and reset to "Optimised defaults". Save and restart your PC. Boot into Windows and try playing a game.

If it is still doing it try the following:
1. Update your motherboard BIOS
2. Update your VGA BIOS
3. Up the voltage on the CPU a notch

Try these and see how you go.
 
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kardkoach

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Resetting to default & update the motherboard drivers given by the manufacturer did not help..

I rather not mess with the BIOS update unless it's a last resort.

I don't see the need to up the CPU voltage if I'm running at default stock clock (3.5Ghz).
 
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Flyfisherman

Flyfisherman

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Hi,
You mentioned:
Happens when I try to play Overwatch, Metro LL and Witcher 3
Click to expand...
All of these are Steam games, right?

Try to turn off Steam Overlay:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3168263

[Edit] And if You have this:
Deactivate Origin in Game http://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/deactivate-origin-...
How to remove that annoying UPlay overlay? http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...

Just a thought, for testing.
Best regards from Sweden
 
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Flyfisherman

Flyfisherman

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AnandTech forum it is the HDMI cable: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/gtx-980-ti-and-hdmi-switch-causing-blank-screen-issues.2444118/

On Reddit it seems to be a bad HDMI cable: https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/379a5u/gtx_980_occasionally_screen_flashes_black/

See also this Tom's thread: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2905325/black-screen-screen-980.html#17169405

And last but not least: I myself has an AMD RX480 so I am not to familiar with all the extra s/w Nvidia install with the gracpics card, but I would strongly suggest that you try to find out and uninstall all such extra 3:part s/w.
As I have to do with AMDs equivalent s/w.


And try to use a regular DVI cable and if not try a DP (DisplayPort) cable or at least perhaps you can borrow one just for testing?
Best regards from Sweden
 
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kardkoach

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Overwatch is not a steam game, it is a blizzard game on Battlenet.

 
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kardkoach

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I did not do anything else that I haven't mentioned. Now my suspicion goes up on either the GPU or the PSU.

And just now, the moment I entered Overwatch menu, the computer INSTANTLY went to power saving mode and rebooted (and it did again with a 2nd attempt).. FML
 
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Flyfisherman

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Windows system files compromised, maybe?

Try this:
1. Start the computer in Safe mode
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2304-safe-mode-start-windows-10-a.html

2. Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow) it will check the integrity and try to repair system files:

Start > type cmd > in the list right click on the CMD.EXE and chose 'Run as Administrator' > new window > type sfc /scannow Enter

Because in Safe mode, very few drivers and services is loaded and none external autostart s/w and then it will free up otherwise locked system files to be checked and possible repaired.

3. While You are at it in Safe mode:
Start > type cmd > in the list right click on the CMD.EXE and chose 'Run as Administrator' > new window > type chkdsk /f [Enter]

4. After that you can try (still in Safe mode):
Right click on Start > type cmd > in the list right click on CMD.EXE and chose 'Run as administrator' >
copy and paste this or just type it:
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth Enter

5. Next: and here is the very important step:
Click Start > type Power > in the list right click on Power shell > run as Administrator > copy this exactly:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml"}
If you right click in the Power Shell window the test string will automatically copy itself into Power Shell.
Press Enter

6. Restart the computer and run Windows update:
Start > Settings > Update and security > Windows update
Restart the computer

Best regards from Sweden

[Edit] Updated.
 
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Flyfisherman

Flyfisherman

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Hi, Not at all can I recommend this s/w.
Please see this post: and the next: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-3432042/monitor-reading.html#19772366
from today and my very bad experience!

Why is it suddenly people start recommend a s/w I never even heard of before and possible risk for crashing the system?
What is wrong with the very long and trusted HWMonitor for sensor readings or Speccy for H/W info?

Best regards from Sweden :sarcastic:

 
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kardkoach

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This is the idle reading: motherboard average 30.6C maximum 31C. 12V is at 12.288V
 
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kardkoach

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Update #2: I managed to change the Overwatch setting to 1080p 60 FPS to reduce the GPU load down to about an average of 30%, and I've been playing for just over an hour without issue. So it seems that something in my system that has issue with high GPU load.

Edit: Played another hour of Overwatch @1440p 60FPS with average of 40% GPU load without issue.
 
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kardkoach

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Thank you all for helping! I tested my 980ti at a friend's place and it is dead.. (probably a blown capacitor or something of the sort because it emits an unpleasant smell).
 
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Flyfisherman

Flyfisherman

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Hi my friend, if it smells like burned plastic, then it is very important to evacuate the room, just flee.
What is the danger? Cancerous fumes!
The burned or overheated cpu can easily be overshot.


If heat is produced in more than expected amount (such as in cases of short-circuits, or applying more voltage than rated), or
If heat dissipation is poor, so that normally produced waste heat does not drain away properly.

Best regards from Sweden
 
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