A Graphics card is perhaps the most expensive component in most of the gaming PCs that people own in the modern day. A good Graphics card is what you should be looking for, especially if you are a hardcore gamer.
Although the Graphics cards have improved a lot in recent times, the one thing that a lot of people still wonder about is the lifespan these components are built to last.
Honestly speaking, a Graphics card can last you a long time, and there is no proper way to measure its lifespan because it is an electrical component after all, and electronics can fail regardless of the time.
The topic of discussion today is how to tell if your graphics card is dying, and to be honest, there are several ways one can tell that. But the main thing you need to know is that these are not hard and fast ways to tell because sometimes, your graphics card just dies out of nowhere without showing a sign.
As a side note, if you’re dead-sure that your GPU has breathed its last, you can check the list below we have compiled. These are affiliate links which means we’ll get a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.
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| ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 64-bit PCIe 3.0 DirectX 12 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card ZT-P10300A-10L | ASUS ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 5500XT Overclocked 8G GDDR6 1440p HDMI DisplayPort Gaming Graphics Card (ROG-STRIX-RX5500XT-O8G-GAMING) | MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 Super 8GB GDRR6 256-Bit HDMI/DP G-Sync Turing Architecture Overclocked Graphics Card (RTX 2060 Super VENTUS GP OC) (RTX 2060 Super Ventus GP OC) | XFX Radeon Rx 5700 XT 8GB GDDR6 3xDP HDMI, Pci-E AMD Graphics Card (RX-57XT8MFD6) | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition |
| (Ultra-cheap) | (under 250) | (Under 400) | (Midrange) | (High-End) |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Coming back to our topic, let’s not waste more time, and start looking at the warnings or signs that basically indicate that your graphics card is slowly dying.
6 Signs That Your Graphics Card Is Dying
Before I begin, I have to tell you that considering how Graphics cards are all about visuals, most of the signs of death they show are also related to the visuals, so that is certainly an important thing that one must know.
1. Lag or Stuttering
Lag or stuttering is one of the most common signs of a dying graphics card. However, it also happens to be one of the most difficult ones to troubleshoot. The reason behind that is rather simple to understand, stuttering or lagging can happen because of a lot of different reasons that could be completely unrelated to the graphics card itself.
For instance, you might be getting the stuttering in the game because of the following reasons.
- The game is not optimized.
- Your Graphics card is not powerful enough to run the game.
- There is malware.
- The RAM is not playing well with the game.
- You need to update the drivers.
In addition to the issues mentioned above, there can be several other issues as well. The simplest way to determine this is by lowering the setting of the game or simply trying a game that used to work fine but no longer does. If the game still stutters, then you need to test out a different graphics card, preferably the same one, or a model below.
If the game works fine on the test graphics card, you will know the issue.
2. Screen Glitches
Another really common issue in a dying graphics card is screen glitching.
Now keep in mind that glitching is not always a sign of a bad graphics card because it can happen because of reasons like a bad display cable, or even the drivers themselves. In addition to that, sometimes, the media you are playing, or the game you are playing might be corrupted/un-optimized.
However, if the glitching starts happening on multiple games and different videos, then it is most probably an issue with the graphics card. Just like in the previous step, you can actually test this issue out by simply opting for a different graphics card if you have one at hand, and that will clarify the situation for you.
Now another important thing that you need to know here is that the glitching could be you seeing weird lines, or Strange colors on the screen.
You might also see the colors of the characters or the environment itself shifting. Therefore, these are a few things that you must know about if you are looking for glitches.
3. Screen Artifacts
Another one of the most common issues with almost all the modern day Graphics cards is that they start showing artifacts on screen when they are nearing their final days.
I know it might sound dramatic, but this is true and I have seen it several times. When I say artifacts, they start from small colored dots appearing on the screen to some weird lines, and patterns showing up.
Do note that this will normally only happen when the GPU goes under load, so while you might not see anything when the PC is idle, but as soon as the GPU goes under load, the artifacts start appearing too. Therefore, this is one of the best ways to witness the artifacts.
4. Blue Screen of Death
There is no denying that perhaps the most infamous issues that you may have come across on PC is the blue screen of death.
The thing you need to know about this error is that it can be caused because of so many different issues that it becomes a lot more difficult for you to actually understand.
For starters, blue screen of death can be caused because of RAM, bad Windows, processor, hard drive, bad drivers, and so many other reasons. In this case, you need to see when the error occurs; for instance, if it is occurring especially when you are playing a game, or when your GPU is under load, then it is most probably an issue with your GPU.
Related: Windows 10 Optimization Guide
5. Fan Noise
While this does not tie directly into a dying GPU, fan noise can also be a determinant in some cases.
You see, if your GPU is running a lot hotter than it should, then obviously, the fans will start spinning faster in order to push more air to the GPU. While I would not advise you to make a decision, the right thing to do here is to check out the temperature of the GPU when you are gaming.
6. Crashes in the Game
This is the biggest red flag of all times when it comes to a dying Graphics card. If you are having repeated crashes in the game, then the chances are that your Graphics card is slowly dying.
However, I would still advise you to take some precautionary measure before you actually decide to declare that the GPU is beginning to die. First things first, you need to ensure that your GPU is performing the same in every game, then you need to completely uninstall the drivers, and reinstall them as well.
Conclusion
Above are some of the signs your GPU might be dying. However, it is important to know that these are not the hard and fast rules, and there are chances that you might not have a dead GPU,to begin with.
If you are going through these issues, then I would suggest that you claim your GPU’s warranty if there is any, because doing so will actually help you. I would advise against waiting a lot because if the GPU does die, you might not be able to claim it despite it having the warranty.
Besides, GPUs don’t cost a lot these days. Cryptomining apocalypse is over for the most part and you can have a decent graphics card in less than 200 bucks.