A graphics card is a crucial component of any computer. Also known as a video card, display card, or video adapter, it is responsible for the generation of images and videos to a computer monitor or other display device. If it fails, it leaves your computer unusable. That is why it is imperative that you watch out for the common warning signs of a broken graphics card so that you can get it fixed or replaced right away.
How do you know if your graphics card is starting to have issues? What causes a broken video card?
Know the Warning Signs
Many computer issues are due to a faulty component. To figure out if it is your graphics card that is causing these problems, the following are examples of a broken graphics card to watch out for:
The Screen Freezes or Stutters – A broken video card can cause visual freezing or stuttering of a computer screen. However, other faulty parts, such as a problematic hard drive and RAM, can be the source of this issue too, so you have to check what other warning signs there are before jumping to conclusions.
Getting a Blue Screen – There are many different reasons why your monitor would blue screen, such as issues with the hard drive, RAM, or other parts. If it is caused by graphics card failure, the blue screen usually occurs when you do graphics-heavy tasks, such as playing video games and watching movies.
Seeing Artifacts or Glitches on the Screen – If you start to notice some odd shapes, figures, or colors appearing on the computer screen while you are streaming a video or playing a video game, your graphics card is under a lot of stress and nearing failure.
Unusually Loud Fan Noises – Once you hear your fan making louder noises than usual, it may be a sign that your graphics card is overheating. You have to figure out what is causing the overheating issue as soon as possible to not damage the other components.
Learn about the Common Causes
There are many reasons why graphics cards fail. Below are some of the most common ones:
- Accumulation of dust, lint, and other particles
- Improper installation of the component
- Power surges, blackouts, and other electrical problems
- Overclocking
Dealing with the Problem
Now that you know what the usual warning signs and causes of graphics card problems are, you should educate yourself about the best practices to solve them. If faced with graphics card failure, below are some things you can do:
Clean your Computer – You should remove dust, lint, and other particle buildup from inside your computer to prevent overheating.
Update your Drivers – You should make sure that your motherboard drivers, display drivers, and other drivers are updated.
Use an Uninterruptible Power Supply or UPS – You can protect your graphics card and your whole computer setup from power surges and other electrical issues with a device that can serve as your temporary power source in times of outages.
Buy a New Graphics Card – You may need to get a new graphics card to replace your old one if the problem cannot be fixed.
