The graphics cards render images, videos, games, animations, as well as video content. Your computer’s graphics card is a vital component. It allows your central processing unit (CPU), to concentrate on other tasks. Your computer may become unusable if your graphics card fails. There are usually warning signs that your graphics card is about to fail so you have plenty of time to locate and install a new one.

GPU failure: 4 causes & fixes

The graphics processing unit (GPU), is also known as a video card, graphics card, or display card. It doesn’t matter what the name is, it can cause serious problems if it stops working. You can avoid having an unusable device by knowing what to look out for and how you can troubleshoot it.

Common reasons for video card failures

Your video card can fail for many reasons. Overheating due to dust or lint in the computer can often cause it to fail. You can also blame a faulty motherboard installation, frequent overclocking or an unexpected surge in power due to an electrical outage.

Your gpu, like all other components of your computer’s hardware, is susceptible to wear and tear. Sometimes it may take some time to find out if the gpu can be repaired or if you need to buy a new one.

Bad graphics card symptoms

Are you unsure if your computer problems are related to a graphics-card failure? These signs can be a sign of a problem with your graphics card.

1. Screen artifacts and screen glitches: Are you seeing strange colors or shapes on your screen? This could be a problem with your graphics card, especially if you are streaming movies or playing video games. This issue can be fixed by restarting, but it is possible for your video card to fail again.

2. Stuttering: If your computer screen freezes up, drops frames, or stutters, it could be a sign of card failure. This symptom could also be due to a problem with your hard drive, RAM, or malware. Other display issues related to video card failure are likely to be the cause.

3. Fan speed: If your fan is louder than usual it may be an indication that your card has overheated. Overheating can cause irreparable damage to your computer’s internals. To test if it quietens down, you can try turning it off. If this doesn’t work, it’s time to have the device checked out and cleaned to determine the cause of the heat buildup.

4. Blue or black screens: Card failures can cause your computer to freeze or even restart completely. Computer crashes can also be caused by other factors, so it’s important to check your gpu. If the black screen or crash keeps occurring while you are doing graphics-intensive tasks, it’s likely that your graphics card is to blame.

Troubleshooting graphics card issues

There are many reasons for computer problems. Faulty cables, connectors, software problems, and even your CPU or RAM can all be the culprits. If you are certain that the problem is a gpu issue you can follow these steps.

1. You should update the motherboard drivers to your chipset. You can locate the manufacturer name on a Windows computer (I.E. nvidia or intel). Device manager.

2. Next, make sure to check if your display drivers need to be updated.

3. Finally, clean your computer and check for any connectivity issues.

It’s possible that your graphics card is the root cause of your computer problems. Are you unsure if your graphics card is the problem? Computer troubleshooters are available to assist with repair and diagnostic services. Locate your tech heroes near you!