New Nvidia GeForce driver addresses RTX 50-series GPU black screen issues

GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition
(Image credit: Nvidia)

Nvidia has finally rectified black screen issues with the RTX 50-series products, which comprise some of the best graphics cards. Game-ready driver 572.60 has been published, featuring a host of bug fixes, including a fix that prevents black screens from occurring on Blackwell GPUs. The new update also supports Naraka: Bladepoint's DLSS 4 update, Monster Hunter Wilds, and 29 new G-Sync-compatible displays.

This driver update should hopefully end the stability issues plaguing the RTX 5090, 5080, and 5070 Ti. The patch notes specifically imply that "Various black screen issues" have been fixed, featuring error codes [5088957] [5100062] [5089089]. In addition, six other bug fixes have been implemented into 572.60, featuring audio fixes for GPUs connected with DP 1.4 and using DSC at "very high refresh rates" (i.e., probably 240 Hz monitors or faster), a fix for application image corruption on pixelated 2D patterns, a fix for unexpected low CUDA performance in VRay 6 on Blackwell GPUs, two Adobe Substance-related fixes and a SteamVR fix surrounding display stutter on RTX 50 series GPUs.

The bug fix most people will have been waiting for is the black screen corruption fix. This issue, alongside BSODs and various game crashes, has plagued the RTX 50 series since the RTX 5090 launched in January. For some, the black screen crashes were so problematic that they had to alter some things, such as lowering the PCIe 5.0 interface, even worse, downgrading monitor refresh rates to just 60 Hz to get the GPU to function.

Interestingly, the new GeForce driver isn't the only way RTX 50-series owners can get the black screen fix. vBIOS updates for at least some Blackwell GPUs have also allegedly been released, providing the same update. To clarify, vBIOS updates are optional; Nvidia confirmed that the black screen fix can be installed with either firmware or this latest driver. You don't need the vBIOS update and the driver to get the fix.

Whether the black screen fix will rectify all of Blackwell's current problems, including BSODs and game crashes, remains to be seen. It is also unclear whether the black screen problems directly relate to these other issues. The new Nvidia drivers released with the RTX 5090 (the 570 branch) have also allegedly been problematic on RTX 40-series (Ada Lovelace) and RTX 30-series (Ampere) GPUs. Only time will tell if this new driver also fixes issues on Nvidia's older GPUs.

Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

  • atomicWAR
    Comments in Nvidia's forum seem to deem otherwise on the fix. I am sure it worked for some as only the angriest are the most likely to post. So I'll be keeping the popcorn close as this black screen issue, in tandem with everything else 50 series, has me very interested. Even I get the occasional blink to black at random or when my wife steps on the floor just right (both monitors, multiple cables so likely not a bad connection/connector...reseated card etc etc).

    AMD for the LOVE OF ALL that is DECENT...price the 9070 series at rock bottom. Not your typical minus 50 dollars of the nearest competing Nvidia SKU but as low as you can go without actual concerns for bankruptcy or serious financial pain. AMD you need mind share back in so many ways and even as a mostly (cost :mad:) happy 4090 owner I am rooting for you so hard. If you can release a good product that severely undercuts Nvidia all while having large numbers in stock...I'll have a serious ponder about returning my two 8TB SN850X drives I just ordered and buy two or three 9070XT's for my nieces and nephews, instead.

    Nvidia has dropped the ball in a huge way and you won't get a better chance to monoplize on your market/mind share in the forseeable future than right now. An extra fifty dollars cheaper undercuting the nearest SKU by a full one hundred dollars, at launch not three months later, as some have rumored... could actually be a game changer in the mid to upper mid range.
    Reply
  • Mr Majestyk
    atomicWAR said:
    Comments in Nvidia's forum seem to deem otherwise on the fix. I am sure it worked for some as only the angriest are the most likely to post. So I'll be keeping the popcorn close as this black screen issue, in tandem with everything else 50 series, has me very interested. Even I get the occasional blink to black at random or when my wife steps on the floor just right (both monitors, multiple cables so likely not a bad connection/connector...reseated card etc etc).

    AMD for the LOVE OF ALL that is DECENT...price the 9070 series at rock bottom. Not your typical minus 50 dollars of the nearest competing Nvidia SKU but as low as you can go without actual concerns for bankruptcy or serious financial pain. AMD you need mind share back in so many ways and even as a mostly (cost :mad:) happy 4090 owner I am rooting for you so hard. If you can release a good product that severely undercuts Nvidia all while having large numbers in stock...I'll have a serious ponder about returning my two 8TB SN850X drives I just ordered and buy two or three 9070XT's for my nieces and nephews, instead.

    Nvidia has dropped the ball in a huge way and you won't get a better chance to monoplize on your market/mind share in the forseeable future than right now. An extra fifty dollars cheaper undercuting the nearest SKU by a full one hundred dollars, at launch not three months later, as some have rumored... could actually be a game changer in the mid to upper mid range.
    We'd better pray those leaked Micro Center prices are just placeholders, as they are dismal if true: $649 for 9070 and. $699 for 9070XT. I fully expect AMD to screw up another launch and gift leatherman another free pass despite an outrageously bad Blackwell release.
    Reply
  • atomicWAR
    Mr Majestyk said:
    I fully expect AMD to screw up another launch and gift leatherman another free pass despite an outrageously bad Blackwell release.
    Sad truth I hope is wrong. I miss ATI smh.
    Reply
  • bassax
    Admin said:
    Through a new game-ready driver update, Nvidia has fixed black screen issues on RTX 50-series GPUs.

    New Nvidia GeForce driver addresses RTX 50-series GPU black screen issues : Read more
    latest driver causes blackscreen for me and many on 4000 and 3000 series cards , only solvable with system restore ,and revert to older driver.
    Reply
  • Elusive Ruse
    Mr Majestyk said:
    We'd better pray those leaked Micro Center prices are just placeholders, as they are dismal if true: $649 for 9070 and. $699 for 9070XT. I fully expect AMD to screw up another launch and gift leatherman another free pass despite an outrageously bad Blackwell release.
    As with all rumours, make sure to take it a healthy pinch of salt.
    Reply