Digitec Galaxus AG is the largest Swiss online retailer covering all corners of the tech and electronics sector. Over the weekend, some new data (via @TechEpiphany) relating to failure rates for graphics cards (GPUs) and the RMA process measured in the time between a warranty claim being made and a working unit being back in the hands of a customer appeared online.
Average GPU defect rate and Warranty claim times, image credit: Digitec Galaxus AG.
VIEW GALLERY - 2 IMAGES
Like all PC hardware, GPUs can fail - regardless of brand, model, or price point. This makes a company's warranty and claim process, and the timely and helpful manner in dealing with customers and issues, something to consider before any purchase. The data coming from a single retailer in a single market is not representative of the entire global market. In addition, without sales figures for each brand listed, it's more of an indication of what to expect versus a tier list of the best GPU manufacturers in 2023.
That said, the data covers brands that have sold over 300 GPUs over the last two years - and based on the wide range of products on offer by Digitec Galaxus AG could also include workstation graphics cards in addition to those built for PC gaming in the desktop space.
According to the Warranty score, which covers a percentage of products from a company with a recorded defect within the first 24 months, Gainward leads the charge with a 0.4% defect rate, followed by Lenovo at 0.7% and Palit and PNY at 0.8%. Rounding out the top five is Inno3D, with a respectable 0.9%.
Of course, with any chart like this, you'll immediately go to the lower-end to see which GPU brand features the most defects. According to the data (and again, this is from a single market and a single retailer), the worst offenders are Sapphire with a 2.5% defect rate, followed by ASRock at 2.1%, XFX at 2%, GIGABYTE at 1.9%, and EVGA and Zotac at 1.8%.
The defect rate only tells one part of the story as the data also includes figures for Warranty case duration, so even though Inno3D has one of the lowest defect rates, its 14-day claim duration sits on the high-end, behind GIGABYTE at 17 days. According to the data, ASRock and Palit offer the best Warranty claim service, with products back in customers' hands within 2 days.
The two biggest brands in the GPU space, ASUS and MSI, are included in the list, with both sitting somewhere in the middle across both charts, tied with a 1.4% defect rate.
FAQs
According to the data, ASRock and Palit offer the best Warranty claim service, with products back in customers' hands within 2 days. The two biggest brands in the GPU space, ASUS and MSI, are included in the list, with both sitting somewhere in the middle across both charts, tied with a 1.4% defect rate.
How often do GPUs fail? ›
Most graphics cards have a functional lifespan ranging from 3-5 years on average before needing an upgrade. However, aspects like usage frequency, cooling solutions, maintenance, and the specific model all impact how long your GPU can last before showing its age.
What is the most common GPU failure? ›
1. Overheating & Thermal Throttling. First off, an issue that will ultimately affect all GPU owners sooner or later and one of the most common GPU problems. We're talking, of course, about overheating and its immediate consequence, thermal throttling.
What is the lowest defective GPU rate? ›
The charts reveal that Gainward has the lowest number of defective graphics cards, with a 0.4% RMA rate. Gainward, which has belonged to Palit since 2005, is largely unknown outside the European market. Meanwhile, Palit is in third place on the chart with 0.8%.
How do I know if my GPU failed? ›
Signs Your GPU is Dying
Your screen freezes or goes black. You experience lags or frame rate drops. Your screen glitches. You see strange artifacts, like dots, lines, and patterns.
How long will an RTX 3080 last? ›
So saying that the 3080 should last another 3-5 years minimum. How long will it be relevant? With DLSS/FSR we're looking at at minimum another 6-7 years of it being able to play current gen games at 60fps so long as resolution and settings can be bumped down a bit.
What is the lifespan of a Nvidia GPU? ›
Graphics cards can last 5-10 years if you take care of them (dusting, good airflow). However, they get outdated faster (3-4 years) for gaming as new games get more demanding. So you might upgrade for performance before it dies.
What GPU brands have the best warranty? ›
According to the data, ASRock and Palit offer the best Warranty claim service, with products back in customers' hands within 2 days. The two biggest brands in the GPU space, ASUS and MSI, are included in the list, with both sitting somewhere in the middle across both charts, tied with a 1.4% defect rate.
What killed my GPU? ›
Here are a few reasons a GPU can completely die: GPU components failing prematurely due to faulty manufacturing. Incompatible installation of the graphics card. Static overload while installing the graphics card.
What is the failure rate of Nvidia GPU? ›
There were 148 GPU failures (0.90% failure rate) and 72 HBM3 failures (. 44%) for a total H100 failure rate of 1.34%.
Without question, at the moment we wrote this, Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4090 is the single fastest graphics card that money can buy. Nothing else even comes close, with today's second-place cards trailing it by 30% to 40% in many benchmarks.
What causes GPU to fail? ›
Overheating: Excessive heat can damage the GPU and other card components. Driver issues: Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause performance problems. Physical damage: Mishandling or impacts can damage the card. Power supply issues: Inadequate power can affect graphics card performance.
What is the weakest GPU ever? ›
8 worst GPUs of all time
- 1 AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT.
- 2 Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB.
- 3 AMD Radeon R9 FURY X 4 GB.
- 4 Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 DDR4.
- 5 Nvidia GeForce FX 5800.
- 6 AMD Radeon VII.
- 7 Nvidia Titan Z.
- 8 Nvidia GeForce GTX 480.
- Graphical Glitches Gradually Worsening. This is one of the most obvious signs a graphics card is reaching the end of its lifespan. ...
- Strange Fan Noises. A second, less obvious sign of a dying GPU is when its fans stop behaving properly. ...
- Crashes Galore. ...
- Significant Frame Drops. ...
- Blue Screen of Death.
Popular tools include FurMark, MSI Afterburner, and GPU-Z3. Use DirectX Diagnostic Tool: Windows 10 includes a built-in tool that can help you assess the GPU. Open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool by pressing the Windows key + R, then typing dxdiag and Enter.
Can a faulty graphics card stop computer booting? ›
A faulty GPU can prevent your PC from completing the post function and booting. This error will generally be noted by the motherboard either by a series of beeps < only audible if a speaker has been installed to the motherboard > or in the case of more premium boards an error code light.
What causes a GPU to fail? ›
Moisture buildup on the card causing component damage. Overheating caused by too much dirt or debris stuck on the cooling-components. Overheating caused by broken or worn bearings on the cooling fans. Running the graphics card on games with incompatible software drivers.
How easily do GPUs break? ›
The materials and components used in the composition of GPU cards aren't magical: The more you use them, the faster the parts degrade, and the more likely they will fail completely.
Why does my GPU fail randomly? ›
Power supply issues: If your power supply is faulty, it may not be providing enough power to your GPU, causing it to shut down. Make sure that your power supply is providing enough power to your GPU and that all the cables are properly connected.
