I see a black screen after installing a new video card. What to do?

And so, the situation is familiar to many. You insert your new GPU in anticipation of perfect PC performance, turn on your machine, but the screen suddenly goes black. The mood fades along with the screen, and disappointment appears. What went wrong? You’re just freaking out wondering what can be the reason for a black screen after you install a new video card, and the problem seems too complicated to handle it. However, things aren’t so bad. We’ll figure out the causes of the problem and provide you with simple solutions.

What might be the cause of a black screen immediately after inserting a new GPU

It's no secret that it's impossible to fix a problem without understanding its causes. And the no display issue can arise for a variety of reasons. Therefore, let's consider what can trigger the issue of a black screen right after you install a new video card, so you realize what you’ll be dealing with.

• Lack of power;
• Dust accumulation in PC connections;
• Damaged or broken cables;
• Issues with GPU drivers;
• Broken GPU;
• Faulty card slot;
• Incorrect video card installation;
• Faulty motherboard.

How to fix a black screen right after you install a new video card

Once you've determined what might be the cause of a black screen immediately after inserting a new GPU, it's time to start troubleshooting. We’ve prepared some effective solutions to help you resolve the problem so that you can enjoy much better graphics and system performance as quickly as possible, especially if you’re looking forward to playing your favorite video game with max settings. The repairing options range from simple to more complex, so try out the methods one after another.

Provide sufficient power to your GPU

Carefully study the specifications of your video card before installing it. Pay attention to the power requirements and compare them to the wattage capabilities of your power supply. If the difference is large enough, purchase a new PSU that meets the wattage requirements of your GPU.

Clean the dust

Dusty particles often interfere with the transmission of electrical signals, thus preventing the normal operation of PC hardware. To deal with the problem, look into the computer case and inspect the video card. Found dust or dirt? Hands off the vacuum cleaner! Otherwise, you may cause damage to the internal parts of your machine. It's best to opt for a compressed air can.

Check GPU connector and cables

If you use the wrong type of connector, power won’t reach your GPU. In this case, replace the connector with a new one (3-, 4-, 6-, or 8-Pin). In addition, check the cables' condition to rule out damage. Please note that some power supply units have several cables. Maybe you’ve just failed to connect one.

Change the video card slot

This is one of the principal reasons for a black screen right after you install a new video card. The fact is that there are several GPU slots on the motherboard. To determine whether you have inserted the card as needed and whether the slot isn’t broken at all, turn on the computer and watch if the GPU fans are performing their work well and spinning. If they stand still, try inserting the unit into a different slot.

Rule out motherboard damage

Installing a video card is a very delicate process that requires the utmost carefulness. If you aren’t experienced enough in PC building, you might have damaged some pins, ports, or other components of the board. But the issue is easy to check – insert the previous video card and start the computer. If everything works, try out the next step.

Install new or update the existing drivers

If you encounter a black screen right after you install a new video card, you’ll need to install the drivers through Safe Mode. Here's how to get there:

1. Turn on the computer, and while the OS isn’t loaded, press F8 until you see the Windows menu.
2. First, hit Troubleshoot, proceed to Advanced Options, hit Start-up Settings, and tap Restart.
3. Run Safe Mode with Networking by holding F5 and wait for the system to boot up.

Now you can make all the necessary manipulations with the GPU drivers. To install them, go to the brand website of your video card and download new drivers. Then do the following:

1. Go to Device Manager.
2. Open the Action tab.
3. Hit "Add Legacy Hardware".

And these are the steps to update the drivers:

1. Head to Device Manager.
2. Pay attention to the Display Adapters and look through the list of options by clicking on the arrow.
3. Click on the driver with the right mouse key and hit Update. Then choose one of the proposed options or both in turn.
4. Return to the Start Menu and use the “msconfig” command to close the Safe Mode.

Now you know what might cause a black screen immediately after you install a new GPU and how to fix the problem. If the presented methods don’t help, there’s a chance that your GPU is broken.