Troubleshoot Computer Hardware Problems : Graphics Card Failures - ITU Online (2024)

FAQs

How do I troubleshoot my graphics card hardware? ›

Diagnosing the Issue

Update or reinstall drivers: Ensure you have the latest drivers for your graphics card. Monitor temperature and performance: Use diagnostic tools to check for overheating or performance irregularities. Inspect for physical damage: Look for signs of wear, damage, or dust buildup.

Depending on the type of hardware that is failing, you may observe different symptoms such as blue screen of death (BSOD) or other system errors, beeping sounds or flashing lights, overheating or fan noise, slow booting or loading, random restarts or shutdowns, distorted graphics or sound, missing or corrupted files, ...

A stress test can reveal any potential issues with your graphics card, such as overheating, throttling, crashing, or displaying errors or artifacts. To run a stress test on your graphics card, you can use software tools such as FurMark, Unigine Heaven, or 3DMark.

Press ⊞ Win + Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + B .

This is by far the easiest way to reset your graphics drivers. Simply press the Windows Key, plus Shift, Ctrl, an B at the same time. You will hear a beep and your screen will flash quickly. This indicates your graphics drivers have been reset.

Generally when the GPU is failing the graphics will begin to act abnormal on the screen, ie; discoloration, lines on the screen then momentarily clear up. This will gradually get worse until complete graphic failure accrues, at which time the screen will go black and graphics will no longer appear on the screen.

A faulty GPU can absolutely be fixed, depending on the nature and severity of the problem. Whether you're encountering poor performance, overheating, visual artifacts, or a black screen, there are some basic things you can do on your own before having to resort to taking it to a repair shop.

Understanding the Causes of Hardware Failures

Harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures can damage hardware components. Unregulated power supply of any sort can damage hardware components. This includes power surges from the regular power line or from lightning.

How do I reset my computer hardware? ›

To reset your PC, go to Start > Settings > System > Recovery . Next to Reset this PC , select Reset PC.

One of the easiest ways to troubleshoot hardware issues is to use diagnostic tools. These are software programs that can scan your system and detect any errors or malfunctions in your hardware components. Some common diagnostic tools are Windows Memory Diagnostic, Device Manager, System File Checker, and Disk Check.

Frequent system crashes: This can be a sign of an overburdened or failing CPU. Overheating: If your CPU is overheating, it can throttle performance or shut down to prevent damage. Computer not booting: A damaged or improperly seated CPU can prevent your computer from starting.

Diagnosing your GPU using the Run dialog

Use the shortcut Win + R to open the Run dialog. Type dxdiag into the command prompt and press Enter. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool will open. Click on the Display tab.

When your PC is freezing or stuttering, reset your graphics card by pressing the keyboard shortcut keys "Win+Ctrl+Shift+B." During the reset, you will see a black screen for a moment, then the screen will reappear.

Open the Start menu or the desktop search bar, start typing task manager, and select it when the option appears. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + Del on your keyboard and click Task Manager on the list that appears. On the Task Manager window, click Performance and select GPU.