Early adopters who have NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 black screen GPUs are not alone. NVIDIA is working on a fix. NVIDIA is apparently taking this issue very seriously, which is a good sign. While not all solutions are universally available right now, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Let's examine what's happening.
BIOS Updates and Driver Fixes Underway
Interestingly, some users have found success with BIOS updates from GPU manufacturers AIB partners like MSI. One Reddit user claimed a new BIOS for their MSI Gaming Trio RTX 5090 solved black screen problems and even improved performance slightly. This suggests the issue could be partially firmware-related, and AIBs are investigating.
However, NVIDIA states that BIOS modifications are not the complete solution. Their representatives indicate the RTX 50 GPU black screen issue may stem from several sources, including:
- Driver related issues: This is NVIDIA's primary focus currently.
- PCIe connection issues: The GPU's communication with the motherboard could be a factor.
Driver Update Incoming This Week
NVIDIA is set to release a brand-new GPU driver later this week to address these broad issues. The expectation is that this driver update will eliminate black screens for most affected users.
What To Do If You Are Affected
If you experience black screens with an RTX 50 GPU, here are steps to consider:
- Check for VBIOS Updates: Visit your GPU manufacturer's website (MSI, ASUS, Gigabyte) and check for a new VBIOS for your specific card model. A VBIOS update might minimize or resolve the problem for some users.
- Wait for the New Driver: If a VBIOS update doesn't help, or isn't available, wait for NVIDIA's driver release this week. It is intended to fix the black screen issue.
- PCIe Downgrade (Temporary) Considerations: As a temporary workaround, consider setting your PCIe slot to Gen 4 in your motherboard BIOS settings. PCIe 4.0 is a more established standard and might stabilize the connection. This is a temporary measure, not a permanent solution.
Fingers Crossed for a Smooth Fix
It is encouraging that NVIDIA and its partners are actively addressing early adopter issues. Hopefully, the upcoming driver update will resolve the black screen problems, allowing users to enjoy their RTX 50 series cards without interruptions. We will monitor the driver release and subsequent updates.
Source: Reddit (r/nvidia)
