Symptoms of a broken graphics card vary depending on the type of damage and can range from complete failure to no display to graphical artifacts.
No Display: If your graphics card is not working properly, it could cause a variety of symptoms, the most common of which is no display output. When this occurs, the monitor will typically remain blank or black, and you may see an error message on the screen or hear a beep code during the boot sequence. This often indicates that the graphics card has failed or is not functioning correctly.
Glitches, Visual Artifacts, Distortion, and Lines: Visual artifacts are any distortions or abnormalities that appear on your display. These can range from random glitches or blocky shapes to lines across the screen. They can also include distorted images or video and objects that appear incorrectly.
Low Refresh Rate: If the graphics card is not functioning properly, it can cause issues with the refresh rate, which is the speed at which the display updates its image. If the refresh rate is too low, the display can appear slow, choppy, or laggy, and the mouse cursor may move in jumps instead of smoothly across the screen.
Incompatibility With New Software/Games: If the graphics card is not functioning correctly, then it may not be able to handle newer software or games. This can lead to visual errors, slow frame rates, or even crashes.
Overheating: Overheating can be caused by a variety of factors, but a faulty or underperforming graphics card can contribute to it. If the graphics card is running too hot, it may throttle down its performance in order to prevent damage. This can lead to reduced performance or even system crashes.
Noise: If the cooling fan of the graphics card is not working properly, it can cause the card to become excessively hot, which can lead to loud fan noises.
Frequent Crashes: If the graphics card is not working properly, it can cause frequent crashes and system instability.
Driver Errors: If the graphics card drivers are not up to date, they can cause various issues, such as display corruption, stuttering, or freezing.
Malfunctioning Ports or Connectors: If the ports or connectors on the graphics card are not functioning properly, they may produce intermittent or no display output. Additionally, if the card is not connected securely, it can cause display issues.
Power Supply Issues: If the power supply is not powerful enough for the graphics card, it may cause display errors or the system may become unstable.
OS Issues: If the graphics card is not compatible with the operating system, it may cause display issues or the system may become unstable.
It is important to note that each of these symptoms could indicate other issues as well, so it is best to consult with a technician when diagnosing the cause of the problem.