If an older NVIDIA graphics card causes a blank screen or hang before Windows starts—especially when using DisplayPort—NVIDIA’s DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 firmware updater may be the right fix. It checks whether the system needs the update and offers it when applicable; it is not a general fix for every black screen.
Which NVIDIA GPUs may need the DisplayPort firmware update?
NVIDIA lists these product families as potentially affected by the DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 firmware issue:
- GeForce 700, 900, and 10 series
- TITAN Maxwell, Pascal, and XP
- Quadro Maxwell and Pascal products
That list identifies potentially affected families, not cards that all require an update. NVIDIA says its DisplayPort firmware updater detects whether the firmware update is needed and presents it when applicable. Use NVIDIA’s official download and follow the tool’s on-screen instructions.
Check when the black screen occurs
Blank screen or hang before Windows loads
The DisplayPort firmware issue concerns POST or pre-operating-system boot. If the blank screen happens before Windows appears, and you are using DisplayPort, the updater may apply to your system.
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Black screen after the Windows logo
A failure that starts after the Windows logo is a different symptom. NVIDIA’s black-screen troubleshooting guidance points to Safe Mode and clean-boot steps for this case; it does not establish that the pre-boot firmware update will fix it. NVIDIA specifically directs users with GeForce 10-series and older cards to the DisplayPort firmware update in its guidance.
Run the updater if the display is blank
If the affected computer cannot show its display over DisplayPort during startup, NVIDIA recommends trying another way to get a picture long enough to run the tool. Options include HDMI or DVI, another monitor, changing UEFI/Legacy boot mode, or using integrated or secondary graphics output.
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- Download the appropriate updater from NVIDIA’s official page: DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 firmware updater.
- If necessary, connect through HDMI or DVI, try another monitor, change UEFI/Legacy boot mode, or use integrated or secondary graphics so you can see the screen.
- Close applications and make sure no operating-system update is pending.
- Run the downloaded tool and follow its on-screen instructions. It will check whether the firmware update is required.
If the tool does not recognize a partner-card model, or the card requires a board-specific VBIOS, NVIDIA’s guidance is to contact the card manufacturer or NVIDIA support rather than force an update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse this with the RTX 4080/4090 UEFI tool
NVIDIA has a separate UEFI firmware update tool for GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090. That page says it can be used with Founders Edition and partner cards. It addresses a different product group and is not the DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 updater for older GeForce, TITAN, or Quadro families.
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