Question:

What could be causing my main monitor to briefly turn black when playing or closing videos?

I have a second-hand PC with the following specifications:

• Motherboard: ASRock Z490 Extreme4
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
• CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10600K 4.10GHz
• RAM: 32 GB Dual-Channel DDR4
• OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

I have three monitors connected to my PC:

• Main monitor: Fujitsu SL3260W (The one that blacks out)
• Secondary monitor: DELL U2410
• Third monitor (drawing tablet): Gaomon PD2200

The problem occurs randomly when I start or close a video in my browser, a video file on my PC, or Steam’s big picture mode. Sometimes it also happens when I hover over an image or gif on my browser with an extension that enlarges them. The main monitor turns black for about 4 seconds and then returns to normal. The other two monitors are unaffected. This does not happen when I play videos or gifs on the Discord app.

I

have updated my graphics drivers and reinstalled Windows 10 when I got the PC in November 2021, but the problem persists. I have not found any solutions online that match my issue. I would appreciate any advice on how to fix this.

Answer:

This is a common issue that many PC users face, especially when they have multiple monitors with different resolutions, refresh rates, or connections. There are several possible causes and solutions for this problem, depending on your hardware and software configuration. Here are some of the most likely scenarios and how to fix them:

• Mismatched refresh rates: If your main monitor has a higher refresh rate than your other monitors, such as 144Hz vs 60Hz, it may cause your main monitor to flicker or go black when playing or closing videos. This is because your GPU may try to sync the refresh rates of all your monitors, which can result in a temporary loss of signal. To fix this, you can try to set the refresh rate of your main monitor to match the lowest refresh rate of your other monitors, or disable the refresh rate sync option in your GPU settings. Alternatively, you can try to use a different connection type for your main monitor, such as DisplayPort instead of HDMI, which may support higher refresh rates without issues.
• Faulty or outdated drivers: If your graphics drivers are faulty or outdated, they may cause your main monitor to go black when playing or closing videos. This is because your drivers may not be compatible with the latest updates of your OS, browser, video player, or game. To fix this, you can try to uninstall and reinstall your graphics drivers, or update them to the latest version from the manufacturer’s website. You can also check for any Windows updates that may affect your drivers and install them if available.
• Corrupted or incompatible video files: If your main monitor goes black when playing or closing certain video files on your PC, such as mp4, avi, or mkv, it may be because the video files are corrupted or incompatible with your video player or codec. This can cause your video player to crash or freeze, which may affect your main monitor’s signal. To fix this, you can try to use a different video player, such as VLC or MPC-HC, which may support more video formats and codecs. You can also try to convert your video files to a different format, such as mp4, using a video converter software, such as HandBrake or FFmpeg.
• Conflicting browser extensions: If your main monitor goes black when playing or closing videos in your browser, or when hovering over images or gifs with an extension that enlarges them, it may be because the browser extensions are conflicting with each other or with your browser’s settings. This can cause your browser to malfunction or crash, which may affect your main monitor’s signal. To fix this, you can try to disable or uninstall any browser extensions that may interfere with your video playback or image viewing, such as ad blockers, pop-up blockers, video downloaders, or image zoomers. You can also try to clear your browser’s cache and cookies, or use a different browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, which may have fewer issues with video playback or image viewing.

These

are some of the most common causes and solutions for your main monitor going black when playing or closing videos. However, there may be other factors that may contribute to this problem, such as faulty cables, ports, or monitors, or malware or viruses on your PC. Therefore, it is recommended that you check your hardware and software for any errors or damages, and scan your PC for any malicious programs that may affect your performance. If none of the above solutions work, you may need to contact a professional technician or your PC manufacturer for further assistance.