Everything in the world has an expiry date. No component can run forever and it compulsorily fails one day. Even if you maintain them with the utmost care, they will lose their integrity.
Computer components are also prone to such failures eventually. High-performance components such as the CPU, GPU, motherboard, etc. work under cyclic voltage loads.
So, one day they will be dead and you must know how to find out before they fail. Here is a guide to finding out whether your graphics card is dead or normal.
How to know if your Graphics Card is dead?
If your GPU is dead, you will not be able to find anything on the display. It just displays a black screen or the boot goes into a loop until you take the system into safe mode. But there are many signs which show whether your GPU is going to die.
Here are the symptoms you should look out for if you suspect a problem with your graphics card.
Screen Stuttering or Low Frame Rate
This is a common recurring problem if your video card is going to die. You will often find your videos or games skipping frames.
You will also find your games to be slow, lagging, and causing a delay in the appearance of the gameplay. Even in normal videos, you can find this stuttering quite often.
When this starts to manifest in your screen without any other reason, it is a sign of video card death.
Glitches
Sometimes you can find unwanted colors on your screen appearing and disappearing frequently. These are called glitches.
They also occur along with screen tearing during gameplay. Usually, they don’t stay for long and go away soon after appearance.
If you find this to occur too many times, especially during normal gameplays, then you can be sure about the condition of your GPU.
Artifacting
This happens specifically in games, where you will find images disappear and the texture doesn’t render properly. This phenomenon is known as GPU artifacting.
At certain times, a simple restart will solve the problem. But if your GPU is on the verge of death, then the problem will persist.
Articulating is one of the easiest and earliest signs of GPU death. If you find it often while playing intense games, it might be due to GPU death.
Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD)
While BSOD has many reasons, incompatible or faulty hardware is also one of them. When there are frequent sessions of BSOD, it might be caused due to the inability of the GPU.
If other symptoms occur along with BSOD, it is for sure that your GPU might need a replacement or upgrade.
Sometimes, the error code shown during the BSOD will tell you where the problem is and what kind of issue caused this to happen.
(Read: Can power supply cause blue screen?)
Frequent Crashes
A weak GPU cannot handle even the simplest task like displaying the desktop screen. So when you perform certain intensive tasks, you might find your PC crashing.
If there are no apparent issues with the CPU, then you must check your video card for any kind of fault. Because it is one of the major reasons for this to occur periodically.
Especially if you find the PC crashing while loading games, then it is definitely a GPU problem.
Heavy Noise from Fan
This is also a classic sign of dying GPU. Since it is weak, it struggles to function properly. This enables the fan to run at crazy RPMs and starts to produce a lot of noise.
Even if you tweak the fan settings, it will either work for some time or become inactive completely. This is an apparent sign of the video card approaching death bed.
When the fans become inactive, the graphics card will become very hot and eventually fail at some point.
Can you fix a dead graphics card?
No, it is not possible to fix a dead graphics card. But some have found baking the video card in a heating oven to be reviving the card.
In reality, it is not a professional method and if you have any warranty, it will be void. Also, there is no assurance that your GPU will work again normally.
If you want to experiment with your dead GPU, remove all the screws that are holding the heat sink of your video card. Then remove the connectors from the PCB. Now you have your GPU exposed.
Using rubbing alcohol and tissue, wipe away all the thermal paste gently from both the heatsink and GPU. You may also look for any issues with capacitors and transistors. If they are faulty then you have to fix them.
While cleaning, preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and set the time for 10 minutes. Using some aluminum foils, create a stand for the GPU to be placed inside the oven.
When the oven is heated, place the GPU inside for 10 minutes and remove it. Let it cool in the air completely. Now fix the GPU back with the heatsink and install it. If it works, it is your luck!
Most of the time, you have to get it replaced if there is warranty coverage or else you need to buy a new one.
What is the average cost to repair a graphics Card?
The cost of repairing the GPU will depend on the defect it has. Minimum it will cost around 150$ and it may take much more if the problem is severe.
If there is no way of repairing the GPU, then you have to buy a new one and nowadays it will cost a lot more even for a low-end model.
Can dead graphics card damage motherboard?
It is possible, but it depends on the motherboard. Some motherboards are made to be more tolerant of dead graphics cards than others.
Most motherboards have some sort of protection built-in that prevents damage when a graphics card dies and the power supply goes out. This protection can be software, firmware or hardware.
Motherboard manufacturers usually provide a list of compatible motherboards with their products to avoid any compatibility issues with newly released products or specifications.
What is the average lifespan of a Graphics card?
The average lifespan of a Graphics card is around 3-5 years. However, some cards can last up to 8 years.
Graphics cards are the most important components of gaming PCs. They are responsible for the graphics and color that we see on our screens when we play games.
The lifespan of Graphics cards has been a long-debated topic among gamers and tech enthusiasts. Some people believe that it is not possible to know the lifespan of a Graphics card, while others think that it is possible to estimate it based on how many hours they have played or how much they have overclocked their PC.
Also read, What is the difference between integrated and dedicated graphics cards?
Tips to maintain a graphics card from damage
Graphics cards are the lifeblood of a computer, so it is important to take good care of them. This section has some tips on how to maintain your graphics card and prolong its lifespan.
- Avoid using compressed air or other volatile substances near your graphics card. These substances may damage the components on it and shorten its lifespan.
- Do not use distilled water or any other type of water for cleaning purposes. Use only clean, filtered water in case you need to clean out your graphics card with it.
- If you have an older graphics card that has a fan, make sure that the fan is running at all times when you are gaming or playing videos. This will help keep the heat down and prevent damage from overheating.
- Don’t leave your graphics card in a hot place for too long, like near a heater. It will cause the card to overheat and die prematurely.
(Read: How to Increase Performance of Graphics Card?)
Conclusion
With effective cooling and proper maintenance of the PC, hardware components will work for a long. But even after such maintenance, they might fail and it is better to know when it is going to fail. The above symptoms will help you to find out the condition of your GPU and repair it before it fails completely.
