How to Tell If Your Graphics Card is Dying?

 A graphics card is an essential part of your computer, and that should be something you would need for displaying your computer data on your screen. If you find the screen and the images on it appear to be distorted or having some issues, it can be one of the possible indications to show that your graphics card is dying. 

While it may be one of the prime reasons to indicate that your graphics card failure is imminent, there are several other ways to assist you in how to tell if your graphics card is dying. A graphic card distortion can cause severe issues with the proper working of your computer. It would make your PC or laptop unusable. The only solution would perhaps be to replace your graphics card. 

However, before you can replace your graphics card, it would be practical to give serious thought to check out your graphics card to find if it is indeed dying. The right option to opt for here is the graphics card failure test. 

How to Tell if Your Graphics Card is Dying?

Well, there are a few key factors that can be helpful enough in letting you find if your graphics card on the verge of dying. If you are really looking to find out how to tell if your graphics card is fried, checking out a few key indicators can prove to be quite handy enough. 

A graphics card can perhaps last a lifetime, but sadly enough, there is no way you would be able to find the actual lifespan of your card. After all, it is an electronic component, and you can never arrive at the exact lifespan of the component. 

Here are a few options and signs that would indicate that your graphics card is dying. Let us check out a few signs that would let you opt for a graphics card failure test. 

1. Stuttering

Also called lag, a sign such as stuttering can be a clear indicator to say that your graphics card is dying. However, you may need to check if stuttering is actually caused by the bad graphics card because it can also indicate any other issues in your PC apart from just being an issue with your graphics card. 

Stuttering can be caused even because of a damaged hard drive or even a dying RAM. It can also be a result of a wide range of other issues that may include the presence of malware can also cause such severe issues. So, if your PC is stuttering, you should check out your Graphics card as well. It may or may not be the reason. You may need to check other signs of graphics card failure along with stuttering to ensure that it is actually a graphics card failure. 

2. Screen Glitches

Screen glitches refer to the screen tearing while watching a video or playing a game. Screen tearing is indicated through the weird colors appearing on all over the screen. It can indicate that the graphics card is dying. Once again, it may be essential to notice that screen glitches can happen as a result of a variety of other reasons apart from the issues in your graphics card. 

You would need to check out a few other factors if you really want to understand how to tell if your graphics card is dying. Screen glitches can be a result of the issues with the drivers or even a display cable. In fact, it can even be a result of a bad video or game that may not be properly optimised. You can be assured that it is the graphic card issue if you are witnessing the screen glitches with almost every game, application, or any other content you have been playing on your computer. 

3. Blue Screen of Death

This can be one of the most dreaded cases you would come across when using your computer. Of course, the Blue Screen of Death can be a result of a wide range of issues, and it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact causes that could have caused it. A dying graphics card can be one of the major causes. 

It can be caused by a wide range of issues in your PC, and they would include RAM issues, bad Windows installation or corrupted system files, processors, hard drives, damaged drivers, and a wide range of other issues. You would need to analyse the exact instances when the Blue Screen of Death occurs. If it tends to happen when you are doing something that the GPU is under the load, that would be a clear indication to prove that the graphics card is dying. In simpler words, if the Blue Screen shows only when you are doing some graphic intensive work, then it is more likely that the graphic card has some issue or it is dying.

4. An increased fan sound

Well, this may not have anything to do with the actual graphics card failure test. However, increased fan noise can be an indication to find if your graphics card is working fine. It can act as a determinant in certain cases. 

When a graphics card is dying, it would work hard and thus is likely to experience an increased heat. Since the heat may increase beyond the normal limits, you may end up getting your fan overworking. This is likely to give out more noise, and thus you may want to conclude that your graphics card is fried. 

5. Screen Artifacts

Yet another common issue you would come across if your graphics card is dying can be the appearance of screen artifacts. The new age graphics cards are likely to produce the artifacts on screen. This would be more of a possibility when the graphics card is nearing its end of life. 

No, we are not referring to unique designs or things of that nature. By screen artifacts, we refer to the occasional small dots, lines or even other random symbols that may appear on your screen from time to time. You may also happen to find a few weird patterns on your screen. How to tell if your graphics card is dying just by looking at the artifacts on your screen? Well, you can follow the pattern and check when they come up. If you find them appearing at times when your graphics card is under load conditions and not when your PC is running idle, that can be a clear indication to prove that your graphics card is dying. 

Well, those were a few options and signs that would help you in finding how to check if your graphics card is working on Windows 10. 

How to fix Graphics Card?

Well, now that we are aware of how to tell if your graphics card is dying by following a few key parameters or signs, how about checking out a few options on how to fix the graphics card. 

1. Update your Graphics driver

The issues you may be facing with your graphics card may not necessarily be due to a failing GPU under all circumstances. It may also be because of a faulty driver. If the driver is old, the new driver may be incompatible with the graphics card, and you may need to roll it back. You may also need to find if you have any new driver that may need an upgrade. Opt for either a rollback or updating the driver for ensuring a better degree of success. 

2. Cool it off

One of the prime reasons that a graphics card may go dead or non-working can be because of the issue of overheating. If you have been using any of the apps or services that make heavy use of graphics card, it may be necessary to cool it down so that it would get back to normal functioning. If you can remove the card, it would be a good idea to use compressed air for cooling off the graphics card. 

3. Check Video Cable

The graphics card may not be the issue a such. The issue may be due to the video cable as well. It would be worthwhile to consider if the video cable is an issue. If the connection between your graphics card and the computer is affected, it can give rise to unexpected and weird appearances on your computer. Make sure that the cable is securely connected at both ends. 

If everything fails, it may be a good idea to find the options to replace your graphics card. 

The Bottom Line

Well, these are a few signs to indicate if the graphics card on your system is dying or malfunctioning. Of course, it may not be easy and simple enough how to tell if your graphics card is dying, but you can check out a few signs outlined here for arriving at the possibility of a dying graphics card. 

Check out the best tips featured here and find the right options for understanding the malfunctioning graphics card and fixing it up. Check those tips out and arrive at the best options ever.