How Do I Know If My Video Card (GPU) Is Dying?

Do graphics cards wear out?

There are thousands of forum posts online that claim a graphics processing unit (GPU) – also called a graphics card – is dying because you’re experiencing minor graphic glitches. That doesn’t mean the card has failed – it could be software related!

Even if you’re using a graphics card that is only a few years old, you may be experiencing hiccups with performance, and be convinced to replace the card. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a brand-new GPU or waiting months to receive your card back on its warranty, you can usually fix minor issues at home.

However, to diagnose a dying GPU, you need to do further inspection. We’ll walk you through the process, so you know exactly how to tell if your GPU is dying.

What Causes a GPU to Fail?

You might not find out that your GPU has died until your computer crashes mid-game or when smoke starts coming out of your computer case. If there’s fire, it’s probably not going to be fixable with a software issue. Most of the time, you know that your card has died when you can’t reboot your system. However, you might be able to rule out a dead card if you understand what causes them to fail in the first place.

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

• 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

To avoid most issues, you need to make sure you regularly maintain your system, both physically and digitally. You can avoid many of these issues if you keep the GPU clean and make sure the software drivers for the graphics card are up to date. Instead of waiting for your graphics card to die, why not update your drivers first?

How Long Do Graphics Cards Last Before Dying?

Today, graphics cards have several innovative features and cooling-components that protect their hardware during rigorous gaming sessions.

If crucial components inside the video card get too hot, they can fry up and cause the video card to die over time. That’s why the most recent cards include a metallic backplate, two or three cooling fans, and large heatsinks to pull heat away from the card during gameplay.

However, as with all electrical components, some of the components may die prematurely or from poor manufacturing quality. If your card has died prematurely, you can often get them replaced under warranty. Many manufacturers give you replacement fans for free if the bearings wear out, whether it’s under warranty or not.

So long as you maintain it, a brand-new graphics card should last you an average of 5 years. You may only need to replace it when you want to play new games that demand more advanced graphics. Check new game specifications for requirements before you operate them with your video card.