The GPU (graphics processing unit) handles the visuals of your PC. Like any other component in your build, overclocking your computer can result in a constant strain on your GPU. Key indicators that your GPU is failing are unstable visual artifacts, high temperatures, and loud noises coming from the GPU. Although there are many different scenarios, here are a few of the most common GPU issues:
When I am running my game/program, my screen will lock up and at some points, my screen will go black. I also get some stuttering audio in the background. What should I do?
- Make sure the latest versions of your display drivers and game/programs are installed so there are no conflicts.
- To check if your GPU drivers are fully updated. Open up the "Geforce Experience" application by searching for it on your computer.
- Then, navigate to your "Drivers" tab.
- From here, you will want to click on "Check for Updates" on the right side.
- The application will check to see if you have any updates, if you do, please use "Express Installation" to get these all downloaded.
- To check if your GPU drivers are fully updated. Open up the "Geforce Experience" application by searching for it on your computer.
- Check the temperature of your GPU through CAM. Safe ranges for temperatures should be 30-45C on idle and 65-85C on load. The user should watch out for anything over 90C. You can use CAM Software to check for high temperatures. If you are experiencing high temperatures, please refer to our “Troubleshooting high CPU or GPU temps” FAQ.
- If you experience audio stuttering, please open "Device Manager" and click on the dropdown for "Audio inputs and outputs".
- See if you have any symbols that look like this besides any of your audio devices.
- If you do, please right-click on that device and update that driver, if the update fails you may need to locate that specific audio driver on the product page for that device.
When I am running my game/program, I am getting visual artifacts while that game/program is open. What should I do?
- If this happens, please turn off the game/program and try a different game/program after a few hours to see if the visual artifacts occur again. Sometimes when the GPU has been running for long periods it can overheat and cause issues like this.
- If the visual artifacts still show up, contact our Customer Support Team for assistance. You will want to include any additional details of what you have already tried as well as any photos of the problem.
- If you happen to see the error 'Code 43' in Device Manager, this is an indicative error code for GPU artifacting and possible defects.
- Most of the time, visual anomalies are an indication that the GPU is failing.
- Here are a few examples of what visual artifacts looks like:
Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve any of these issues:
1. Reseat your GPU.
- Make sure that your computer is powered off, the power cable is unplugged, and your power supply is switched to the "O" position. You should also hold your power button down for a few seconds to discharge any electricity.
- Now, remove your glass panel, and unplug the two PCIe cables that are connected to your GPU, you may need to press to release the clip holding the GPU onto the motherboard.
- Using a correct-sized Phillips screwdriver, unscrew any screws holding the GPU onto the back of the case chassis, this will be towards the left backside of the GPU.
- After unscrewing those, use two hands to evenly pull the GPU outward from the motherboard, it should unseat with a bit of force.
- From here, you will want to reinstall the GPU back into the motherboard, using even pressure to ensure that there is a 100 percent connection.
- Screw-in the GPU back onto the case chassis, and then plug both PCIe cables back into your GPU.
2. Reseat your GPU into a lower PCIe slot.
- Make sure that your computer is powered off, the power cable is unplugged, and your power supply is switched to the "O" position for off. You should also hold your power button down for a few seconds to discharge any electricity.
- Now, remove your glass panel, and unplug the two PCIe cables that are connected to your GPU, you may need to press to release the clip holding those into the card.
- Using a correct-sized Phillips screwdriver, unscrew any screws holding the GPU onto the back of the case chassis, this will be towards the left backside of the GPU.
- After unscrewing those and undoing the mermaid clip that holds the GPU into the motherboard, use two hands to evenly pull the GPU outward from the motherboard, it should unseat with a bit of force.
- From here, you will want to unscrew the PCIe slot covers that are blocking the lower PCIe slot and install the GPU on that slot. Screw-in the GPU to the case chassis, and plug both PCIe cables back into the GPU.
- If you can get a display from this lower PCIe slot, it appears there is an issue with your motherboard, which would require it to be RMA'd from our Customer Service Team.
3. Ensure that your GPU is properly connected to your Power Supply Unit.
- Make sure that your computer is powered off, the power cable is unplugged, and your power supply is switched to the "O" position for off. You should also hold your power button down for a few seconds to discharge any electricity.
- Oftentimes, if you aren't able to get a display from your GPU, or it is having visual artifacting problems, this could be due to a connection issue.
- Remove your solid right panel (opposite from the glass panel), to reveal the backside of your motherboard and your PSU.
- Follow the PCIe cables from your GPU to your PSU to make sure that they are fully connected to your Power Supply Unit. You may also want to disconnect and reconnect them.
4. Remove the GPU entirely and try getting a display from your Motherboard (Intel CPUs only).
- Make sure that your computer is powered off, the power cable is unplugged, and your power supply is switched to the "O" position for off. You should also hold your power button down for a few seconds to discharge any electricity.
- Now, remove your glass panel, and unplug the two PCIe cables that are connected to your GPU, you may need to press to release the clip holding those into the card.
- Using a correct-sized Phillips screwdriver, unscrew any screws holding the GPU onto the back of the case chassis, this will be towards the left backside of the GPU.
- After unscrewing those, use two hands to evenly pull the GPU outward from the motherboard, it should unseat with a bit of force.
- Once the GPU is removed from the motherboard. Plug your display cable into the top motherboard I/O HDMI or DP ports (these ports will be vertical near the top left side of the back of your case).
- Power on the PC after you connect this cable. If you can get a display from the onboard CPU graphics, this likely means that your GPU is defective in some way.
5. If you can get into Windows, fully uninstall your GPU driver.
Nvidia GPUs:
- Please first locate your correct GPU driver on Nvidia's website (you will want to download the game ready Windows Driver) and have them ready to install on your desktop:
https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx - Next, download and install DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) and boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode.
https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html - To boot Windows 10 into safe mode, please follow this Microsoft Article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode - Once you are booted into Safe Mode, run the DDU application, select 'GPU' under device type and 'Nvidia' as the GPU type.
- You will then need to click on the 'Clean and Restart' option, which will completely remove every single old or related GPU driver and will restart your PC out of safe mode.
- Once your PC restarts, please locate the 'Game Ready' driver and get this installed.
- After this, if Geforce Experience Application does not redownload, please redownload it with this link: https://us.download.nvidia.com/GFE/GFEClient/3.20.1.57/GeForce_Experience_v3.20.1.57.exe
- Once you have fully installed both drivers, run Geforce Experience to ensure that those drivers are fully updated, and check gameplay or display for any kind of performance issues or artifacting.
- If these steps do not help, you will want to contact our Customer Support Team with as much information as you can provide (photos, troubleshooting you've tried, BLD order information).
AMD GPUs:
- Please first locate your correct GPU driver on AMD's website here:
https://www.amd.com/en/support - Next, download and install DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) and boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode.
https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html - To boot Windows 10 into safe mode, please follow this Microsoft Article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode - Once you are booted into Safe Mode, run the DDU application, select 'GPU' under device type and 'AMD' as the GPU type.
- You will then need to click on the 'Clean and Restart' option, which will completely remove every single old or related GPU driver and will restart your PC out of safe mode.
- Once your PC restarts, please locate your driver that you had previously downloaded and run this .exe file as an administrator to install it.
- After this, your GPU driver should be updated.
- If these steps do not help, you will want to contact our Customer Support Team with as much information as you can provide (photos, troubleshooting you've tried, BLD order information).
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