Question:

“I’m seeking expert advice regarding a persistent screen freezing issue that occurs during gaming sessions on my desktop, which is equipped with an AMD RX 6800 XT GPU and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU. The problem manifests as a complete screen freeze while the game audio continues to play, and it can be temporarily resolved by alt-tabbing out and back into the game. This issue predominantly arises when navigating menus in Cyberpunk 2077, but has also occurred in Baldur’s Gate 3 and Rocket League. Despite attempts to disable hardware acceleration and Freesync, as well as ensuring my GPU drivers are up to date, the problem persists. Notably, my system maintains good temperature levels and typical GPU usage. Could this be a known issue among AMD users, and do you have any insights or solutions to address this frustrating problem?”

Answer:

Dear gaming enthusiast,

Your experience with screen freezing, particularly with an AMD RX 6800 XT GPU, is indeed a perplexing one, especially given the high caliber of your gaming setup. The issue you’re facing, where the screen freezes during gameplay while audio continues, is not entirely uncommon and can be attributed to several factors.

Firstly, it’s important to note that while your hardware seems more than capable of handling intensive gaming sessions, software conflicts or settings could be causing these interruptions. Since you’ve already ruled out overheating and driver issues, we can look into other potential causes.

1.

Software Conflicts:

Sometimes, background applications can interfere with your games. You mentioned using Discord and Chrome; try closing these applications completely to see if the issue persists.

2.

Game Settings:

Although you’ve capped your FPS and disabled Freesync, there might be other in-game settings that could be tweaked. For instance, reducing graphic settings temporarily can help determine if the issue is related to rendering.

3.

System Settings:

The Windows Game Mode, when enabled, can sometimes cause issues. Disabling it might improve your situation.

4.

Corrupted Game Files:

Verify the integrity of game files through the respective game launcher (Steam, GOG, etc.) to ensure all files are in order and not corrupted.

5.

Power Settings:

High-performance PCs require adequate power settings. Ensure your power plan is set to ‘High performance’ or ‘Ultimate performance’.

6.

Hardware Acceleration:

While you’ve disabled hardware acceleration in some applications, ensure that it’s also turned off in any other software that might be running in the background.

7.

Known AMD Issues:

While there have been reports of similar issues among AMD users, it’s not necessarily a widespread problem. However, keeping an eye on forums and AMD’s official announcements can provide insights into any known bugs.

8.

BIOS Update:

Ensure your motherboard’s BIOS is up to date. Sometimes, stability improvements are provided through BIOS updates.

If none of these solutions resolve the issue, it may be worth reaching out to the game developers or AMD support for further assistance. They might have more specific solutions or could be working on a patch if it’s a known issue.

In conclusion, while screen freezing can be a frustrating hurdle in your gaming experience, a systematic approach to troubleshooting can often lead to a resolution. Keep your system updated, monitor for software conflicts, and don’t hesitate to seek support from the community or official channels.

Wishing you an uninterrupted gaming adventure ahead,

[Your Gaming Tech Advisor]