Video output, cable, screen, start-up sequence, motherboard LEDs, driver and BIOS. AMD points out that a missing picture can come from the screen, the graphics card or the cables.
GeForce RTX 50 and 40, Radeon RX 9000 and 7000
Faulty graphics card: gaming PC diagnosis in Lausanne.
Black screen, artefacts, crashes, a 12V-2x6 connector that got hot, noise or overheating: PC4GAMER first checks whether the cause lies with the card, the cable, the power supply, the drivers or the rest of the PC. You know the cause and the price of the next step before you buy a part.
- Price confirmed before any work starts
- No part changed without agreement
- Lausanne and the canton of Vaud
The symptoms
What you see, and what we check
You don't need to know the cause. Describe what you see, in which game and after which change it started.
Dots, lines or abnormal colours. ASUS cites an outdated driver, unstable overclocking, or too high a temperature of the GPU or its memory.
The game closes, the screen goes black or the graphics driver stops responding. We read the Windows event log and check the drivers, RAM, storage, power supply and the in-game load. Our guides: PC freezes or crashes in games, Code 43 and VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE.
Burn mark or hot smell: switch the PC off and don't run another test. We check the cable or adapter, the connection, the bend and the power supply.
Fans at full speed, fan curves, dust and airflow. A faint high-pitched whine can also come from the card: ASUS says it comes from the components and does not affect the hardware.
Processor and graphics card temperatures, automatic clock reduction, dust, thermal paste and fan curves.
Sources: AMD, common boot issues · ASUS, black screen or abnormal display · ASUS, graphics card coil whine
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50
RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, 5070 and 5060 Ti
Recent cards have their own pitfalls: driver, 12V-2x6 connector and the power they ask of the power supply.
What has been reported
- NVIDIA fixed random black screens, a black screen during driver installation and crashes with a black screen in demanding games (driver 576.02, 16 April 2025).
- RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti: blank screen on restart, fixed by a firmware update for the card, to be applied only if you have this problem.
- NVIDIA acknowledged that fewer than 0.5% of RTX 5090, 5090D and 5070 Ti cards had one ROP fewer than specified, then that some early RTX 5080 cards were affected too: it advises asking the card's manufacturer for a replacement.
- RTX 5090: isolated cases of melted connectors were reported by users from February 2025.
What the diagnosis checks
- Driver version and installation, Windows event log and stability under load.
- 12V-2x6 cable or adapter: NVIDIA advises plugging it in fully and leaving at least 35 mm of slack, because a tight bend strains the connector.
- Power supply: real output, age, quality and connectors. NVIDIA states 1000 W of system power for an RTX 5090, 850 W for an RTX 5080 and 750 W for an RTX 5070 Ti.
- Temperatures under load: NVIDIA gives a maximum of 90 °C for the RTX 5090, 88 °C for the RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti, and 85 °C for the RTX 5070.
- FPS and graphics card usage, compared under load.
Workshop diagnosis
60 CHF
Remote help at CHF 30 if Windows still starts. In-depth analysis at CHF 120 for an intermittent fault.
Describe my RTX 50Sources: NVIDIA, driver 576.02 release notes (16.04.2025) · Tom's Hardware, RTX 5060 firmware (24.05.2025) · ComputerBase, NVIDIA statement on the ROPs (21.02.2025) · heise, RTX 5090 connectors (10.02.2025) · NVIDIA, build guide (12V-2x6 cable) · NVIDIA spec pages RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40
RTX 4090, 4080, 4070 Ti, 4070 and 4060
The 16-pin connector of the RTX 4090 made headlines as early as 2022: it is checked together with the power supply when the card shuts off or smells hot.
What has been reported
- RTX 4090: in 2022, NVIDIA linked around fifty cases of melted 16-pin adapters to connectors not fully inserted in the card.
- In 2023, the connector was revised as 12V-2x6: the sense pins sit further back, for safety. Without contact on these pins, the card gets no power.
- RTX 4090: 450 W, 850 W of system power and a maximum of 90 °C, according to NVIDIA.
What the diagnosis checks
- 16-pin adapter or cable: seating, bend and signs of heat.
- Power supply: real output, age, quality and connectors.
- Drivers, Windows event log, stability and temperatures under load.
- Video output, cable and screen when there is no picture.
Workshop diagnosis
60 CHF
Remote help at CHF 30 if Windows still starts. In-depth analysis at CHF 120 for an intermittent fault.
Describe my RTX 40Sources: Tom's Hardware, NVIDIA statement (18.11.2022) · Tom's Hardware, 12V-2x6 connector (03.07.2023) · NVIDIA spec page RTX 4090
AMD Radeon RX 9000
RX 9070 XT, 9070 and 9060 XT
Crashes, a driver that stops responding or no picture: AMD gives a list of causes to check one by one.
What has been reported
- AMD lists crashes, hangs and TDRs (the graphics driver stops responding) among stability issues, with causes such as an old BIOS, an unsupported memory configuration, unstable overclocking, overheating or old or corrupted drivers.
- Some RX 9070 XT cards have a 12V-2x6 connector, such as the Sapphire NITRO+. In 2025, a few owners reported burnt connectors on RX 9070 XT cards; Sapphire blames the adapter cables.
- AMD states 304 W and a power supply of at least 750 W for the RX 9070 XT, 220 W and 650 W for the RX 9070, and 160 W and 450 W for the RX 9060 XT.
What the diagnosis checks
- AMD and chipset drivers, BIOS, Windows event log and stability under load.
- Power connectors (8-pin or 12V-2x6 depending on the model) and any adapter.
- Temperatures and cooling of the card.
- Video output, cable and screen when there is no picture.
Workshop diagnosis
60 CHF
Remote help at CHF 30 if Windows still starts. In-depth analysis at CHF 120 for an intermittent fault.
Describe my RX 9000Sources: AMD, stability issues · Sapphire, NITRO+ RX 9070 XT · Tom's Hardware (30.12.2025) · PCGH (25.01.2026) · AMD spec pages RX 9070 XT, RX 9070, RX 9060 XT
AMD Radeon RX 7000
RX 7900 XTX, 7900 XT and 7800 XT
The RX 7900 XTX had a cooling defect on some of the reference cards: the diagnosis looks at temperatures under load.
What has been reported
- RX 7900 XTX: AMD first stated that a junction temperature of 110 °C is normal for this card.
- AMD then acknowledged faulty cooling on a small batch of RX 7900 XTX cards made by AMD, and promised to replace them.
- RX 7900 XTX: 355 W and a power supply of at least 800 W, according to AMD.
What the diagnosis checks
- Card temperatures under load and fan behaviour.
- Dust, airflow and space around the card.
- Drivers, Windows event log and stability.
- Power supply and connectors.
Workshop diagnosis
60 CHF
Remote help at CHF 30 if Windows still starts. In-depth analysis at CHF 120 for an intermittent fault.
Describe my RX 7000Sources: Tom's Hardware (29.12.2022) · Tom's Hardware (06.01.2023) · AMD spec page RX 7900 XTX
Your card isn't in the list (RTX 30, RX 6000 or older)? The diagnosis follows the same method: driver, cables, power supply, temperatures and stability.
Prices
The price before any work
The exact price is confirmed after reading your request. You know what will be checked before you drop off the PC or open a remote session.
Remote help
30 CHF
- Windows still starts
- Check of drivers and settings
- First analysis of the symptom
- Confirmation of whether a drop-off is needed
Workshop diagnosis
60 CHF
- Crash, heat, noise or unstable FPS
- Temperatures and stability
- Windows, BIOS, RAM and storage
- Solution explained before repair
In-depth analysis
120 CHF
- Intermittent or complex fault
- Longer hardware tests
- Repair priorities
- Clear report
These prices cover the diagnosis. Any repair, part or extra work is announced before it is carried out. Components remain at your expense: you buy them directly from the retailer.
After the diagnosis
If the card needs replacing
You buy the new card directly from the retailer. PC4GAMER charges for the expertise, the installation and the validation, not a hidden mark-up on the card.
GPU advice
30 CHF
- Game/screen goal
- Useful budget
- AMD/NVIDIA choice
- Buying priority
Compatibility
60 CHF
- CPU bottleneck
- Power supply and connectors
- GPU length / case
- Airflow and heat
- Clean shopping list
Installation
120 CHF
- GPU fitting
- Driver clean-up
- Clean drivers
- Temperature test
- FPS/stability validation
Before you come
What saves time
1
The exact model
Brand and model of the card, model and wattage of the power supply, original cable or adapter.
2
The symptom
What you see, in which game, since when and after which change: driver, update or new part.
3
A photo
Of the connector, of the screen with the artefacts or of the error message, if possible.
4
The right format
Remotely if Windows starts, otherwise in the workshop, by appointment. The price is confirmed beforehand.
Burn marks, a hot smell or a PC that shuts down under load: switch it off and don't run another test. Send a photo instead.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is my graphics card dead?
Not necessarily. A crash or a black screen can come from the driver, the cable, the power supply, the memory or the cooling. The diagnosis is there to tell these causes apart before you buy a part.
My card's connector got hot or melted: what should I do?
Switch the PC off and don't run another test. Keep the cable and the adapter, and send photos. The diagnosis looks at the card, the cable, the adapter and the power supply. If the card is under warranty, the claim is then made with the retailer or the manufacturer.
Can the diagnosis be done remotely?
Yes, from CHF 30, if Windows still starts: drivers, settings and error logs. For a black screen, a connector problem, noise or heat, the PC needs to come to the workshop (CHF 60).
Is my power supply enough for an RTX 5090?
NVIDIA states 1000 W of system power for the RTX 5090 and 850 W for the RTX 5080. We check your power supply's real output, age, quality and connectors before you order.
Are parts included in the price?
No. The prices cover the diagnosis or the work. If a part needs replacing, it is announced with its price beforehand, and you buy it directly from the retailer.
By symptom
Go straight to the right topic
The PC no longer starts
For a black screen, a boot loop or an indicator light stuck on the motherboard.
See the first checksThe PC runs hot or loud
For fans racing, FPS dropping after a few minutes or a very hot case.
See heat and noiseRAM not detected
For a PC that no longer starts after adding memory, or to find the right slots for your modules.
See the RAM page