Checking your graphics card. What do I need to know?

All sorts of problems can often occur when using a PC. For example, someone buys a used PC at a discounted price. And in this case, there is always the possibility that there are problems inside. So how do you check it out? Often it is the video card that is in question, especially when it comes to a gaming computer. So you need to know how to check everything.

What do I do before I test it?

Before the test itself you should:

1. Close all programs that are irrelevant at the time of the test. This may be a browser or text editor, torrent and so on. You should also pause antivirus.
2. Check the video card temperature at idle. If it is less than 50 degrees, you can start checking, otherwise the components may get burnt out. But also the result will not be correct.

It is also worth considering that the video card might just be a little dusty, and this point should be taken into account.

Checking for proper operation

The first thing you should do is perform a visual inspection. If defects and damage are visible to the naked eye, there is no need to even carry out the test. It is best to have good lighting and be able to see everything clearly. What needs to be taken into consideration?

1. Whether the radiators are spinning. If new heatsinks are fitted, it is highly probable that the component has been repaired. This is a drawback.
2. You need to look for knocked down or burned out elements, or cracks, soldering and so on. If there is at least one defect it is better to discard the video card. 

Testing with software

Today there is a lot of software which is really good at testing video cards. Among the most popular and widely used are:

1. GPU-Z.
2. OCCT.
3. FurMark.
4. AIDA64.
5. 3dmark.

Almost all of the programs on the list have a Russian interface, so there will be no problem to put the device to test. And based on the results, you should make a decision.

Signs of incorrect operation of the video card

Defective graphics card may at least give out stripes or artifacts, and this is the cause of system failure in the game. In fact, there are many signs that there is a problem with your graphics card:

1. System shutdown.
2. Computer freezes.
3. Slow playback of dynamic content.

If your PC has 2 video adapters, you should remove the card from the case and connect the monitor to the motherboard socket in case of frequent failures and breakdowns or poor picture quality.  And if the problem disappears, the gap is in the discrete video card.

 It’s also worth considering the fact that numerous signs, such as rebooting or shutting down on its own, may not be the video card’s problem. So a diagnosis of the entire PC will be required.

And there’s no need to try and fix the graphics card, especially if it’s more than 5 years old. Soldering won’t help, so it’s better to buy a new adapter.