Graphics card repair: when you need help and how to restore your graphics card
The computer is noisy, colored lines appear on the screen, and games crash?
Most often, the graphics card is to blame. In this article, we explain in simple terms why it can fail, what symptoms even non-tech users can notice, and how to restore your computers performance without buying a new, expensive graphics card.
What is a graphics card - and why does it start acting up?
The graphics card (GPU) is responsible for everything you see on the screen - from office spreadsheets to 3D games. It contains:
- the graphics chip (the processing core)
- memory (for images and textures)
- power delivery components and cooling system
- video outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C - which transmit both image and sound
Over time, components wear out, dust clogs the heatsinks, and thermal paste loses its effectiveness. The result is overheating, loud fans, reduced performance, driver errors, and visual glitches on your monitor or TV.
5 cases when your graphics card needs urgent help
1. Constant overheating and loud fan noise
You may notice: graphics cards temperature quickly rises above 85 °C even under light load (like watching YouTube), the fans are very loud, the computer case feels hot, and the PC may shut down on its own.
Why it is dangerous: overheating speeds up chip and memory wear, causes thermal paste to dry out, and leads to microcracks under the chip.
Main causes: dusty heatsink, dried thermal paste, worn-out fans, poor airflow inside the case.
Solution: disassemble the GPU, clean with compressed air or ultrasound, replace thermal paste and thermal pads, check and replace fans if needed, adjust fan curves in BIOS or with tools like MSI Afterburner, Nvidia App, or GeForce Experience.
2. No signal or image/sound disappears via HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C
You may notice: your monitor shows "No Signal", the image flickers or disappears, and the sound is distorted or missing.
Why it is dangerous: a damaged or oxidized port can cause a short circuit, damaging the output circuits or other components in the PC.
Main causes: loose contacts, moisture inside the port, damaged cable, overheated controller.
Solution: inspect the port and replace it if needed, test the signal at different resolutions (1080p/4K), check audio output, and update the GPU drivers to the latest version.
3. Visual artifacts, lines, and driver errors
You may notice: colored squares or static on the screen, system crashes with video-related error messages, games freeze when changing the camera angle or resolution.
Why it is dangerous: memory or power issues may permanently damage the VRAM or the GPU itself.
Main causes: memory overheating, microcracks under the chips due to heat, unstable VRM power.
Solution: check graphics cards power delivery, replace or re-solder memory chips if needed, repair or reinforce VRM section, flash a working BIOS.
4. The PC doesn't detect the graphics card at all
You may notice: BIOS shows “No VGA detected,” and the GPU fans run at 100%.
Why it is dangerous: a failed GPU power circuit may also damage the motherboard.
Main causes: short circuit in the power phases, damaged PCI Express connector, failed BIOS update.
Solution: inspect power lines, replace faulty transistors and drivers, repair or replace the PCIe connector, reflash the BIOS, and test the GPU with other components on a test bench.
5. Sudden performance drop and lag with no clear reason
You may notice: FPS drops noticeably, games lag, and the fans may spin slowly.
Why it is dangerous: prolonged overheating melts thermal pads and damages soldering.
Main causes: degraded thermal pads, dried-out thermal paste, overheated power circuits, driver conflicts, or malware in the system.
Solution: measure temperatures of individual components, replace thermal paste and pads with correct thickness, run stress tests (FurMark or 3DMark), reinstall or roll back drivers, and scan the system for viruses.
Tips to extend your graphics cards lifespan
Even though the graphics card is one of the most expensive and important components in a computer, many problems can be avoided by following a few simple rules.
Clean your PC case every 6–12 months
Dust is the enemy of all electronics - it blocks airflow, clogs heatsinks, slows down fans, and holds moisture.
- Turn off and unplug your PC
- Remove the side panels for access to fans and heatsinks
- Use compressed air to blow out dust (hold the fan blades to prevent them from spinning)
- If your case has dust filters, vacuum or rinse them, let them dry, and reinstall
Replace thermal paste at least once every 2 years
Thermal paste dries out over time and no longer transfers heat efficiently.
- Remove the cooler
- Loosen screws in a criss-cross pattern, clean off old paste with alcohol and cotton swabs
- Apply a small dot of fresh paste to the center of the chip
- Replace old thermal pads with new ones of the correct thickness for your card
- Tighten screws in a criss-cross pattern
- Run a stress test to make sure temperatures are lower
⚠️ Replacing GPU thermal paste requires precision - it is easy to damage fan cables, lose small screws, or use the wrong pad thickness. If you're unsure, better take it to a service center.
Leave space around the PC case
Good airflow is as important as a clean heatsink. Space around the case helps hot air escape and reduces overall system heat.
- Don't place your PC in a closed cabinet
- Don't cover it with blankets or fabric
- Keep cables away from front fan areas
- Avoid placing the PC directly on a carpet, or make sure there's at least 5 cm clearance underneath
- Don't place the case next to a heater
- In summer, increase fan speeds or add an extra fan if needed
Monitor temperatures using software
Tools like MSI Afterburner or HWInfo let you check temperatures in realtime - helping you spot overheating early.
- Under load: up to 85 °C is normal
- When idle: below 50 °C
Keep your drivers up to date
The right driver improves stability and performance, but a bad installation can cause crashes. Only download from official Nvidia and AMD website sources:
- Create a system restore point before updating
- Avoid beta drivers unless absolutely necessary
If you take care of your graphics card, it will last longer, run quieter, and your games will perform better!