Posted On 11 Oct 2025

Your graphics card (GPU) plays a vital role in everything from gaming and video playback to photo editing and system performance. When it starts to fail, the signs can be subtle—but catching them early can save you from sudden crashes or costly repairs.

One of the first red flags is visual artifacts. These include strange lines, flickering pixels, or distorted colors on your screen. If you notice these anomalies during normal use or gaming, your GPU may be struggling to render graphics properly.

Another warning sign is frequent crashes or freezes, especially during graphic-intensive tasks. If your system locks up or reboots while playing games or editing videos, your graphics card could be overheating or failing under load.

Driver issues can also indicate trouble. If your GPU drivers frequently crash or fail to update, or if your system reverts to basic display settings, it may be a sign of hardware instability.

Listen for fan noise or overheating. A failing GPU may run hotter than usual, causing its fan to spin loudly or constantly. Use monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to check GPU temperatures—anything consistently above 85°C could be a concern.

Finally, watch for performance drops. If games or videos stutter, lag, or show reduced frame rates despite unchanged settings, your GPU may be losing efficiency.

To prevent total failure, keep your drivers updated, clean your system regularly, and ensure proper airflow. If problems persist, test your GPU in another system or consult a technician.

Spotting a failing graphics card early gives you time to back up data, plan a replacement, or seek repairs—avoiding sudden downtime and preserving your system’s performance. Stay alert, and your GPU will thank you.