When your graphics card isn’t working, the problem might feel a little overwhelming at first, simply because there are so many aspects to a working graphics card.
However, figuring out the source of the problem will be simpler than you think. Certain things are likely to go wrong with graphics cards, and the chances are that one of those is the fault.
What Stops a Graphics Card from Working?
Graphics cards usually stop working for one of a few common reasons. While there are always outliers you might not expect, you may fix most graphics card issues by addressing these problems.
Whatever the problem with your card, the best thing to do is start trying to find the cause so you may fix the issue or start shopping for something new.
How Can I Fix My Graphics Card?
Always start by examining the easiest things to look at when you decide to fix your graphics card. Of course, this isn’t always easy to do – a lot of the problems a graphics card can have might make it stop working entirely.
If you may’t see your screen or access the card, there are fewer and different options for troubleshooting. Only do the ones that will work for your situation.
One of the best ways to get started is to list what’s wrong with the card. Knowing the problems can help you figure out which solutions might work. For example, a rapidly heating card might benefit from having the thermal paste reapplied.
One that is causing crashes and glitches in games but holds the temperature steadily might require software changes.
Once you have a good idea of your card’s problems, you’re ready to get started fixing them.
When using a dedicated GPU, there are ports on the back to plug your screens into. If you aren’t connected to these ports, then you aren’t able to utilize the card. (You may still be able to see images if you’re plugged into the motherboard, assuming it has onboard graphics.)
Unplug your monitor from the back of the computer, and then plug in a different display with a different cable into a different port on the GPU. If it works, there might be a problem with the cord, port, or display. That helps you skip removing the GPU or updating your software.
A couple of months ago, I thought my new GPU was broken because I couldn’t get an image on my monitor. So I plugged in another monitor with a different cable, and it worked, alerting me that my GPU was okay.
Next, I used a different HDMI cable into the original monitor, which worked. So I knew the problem was the HDMI cable, discarded the old one, and started using another.
