Visual artifacts are anomalies that appear on a computer screen due to the incorrect rendering of data. These can range from small distortions to more serious issues that obscure much of the display. Visual artifacts in Windows may be caused by a number of factors, but one of the most likely culprits is an out-of-date or underperforming graphics card. If your graphics card is causing visual artifacts in Windows, there are several steps you can take to try to rectify the issue.
1. Check your display’s resolution: If the display resolution is set too high, it can put too much strain on your graphics card and cause visual artifacts. Try reducing the resolution of your display in Windows and see if that resolves the issue.
2. Update your graphics driver: A graphics component’s driver is what instructs your operating system on how to interact with the component. Outdated drivers can cause visual artifacts and other errors. To keep your graphics card up to date, visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer and download the latest driver for your model.
3. Reinstall your graphics card: Sometimes visual artifacts may be caused by corrupted files in the graphics card’s software, which can usually be resolved by reinstalling the graphics card. Uninstall your graphics card from your device manager, restart your computer, and then reinstall the correct driver from the manufacturer’s website.
4. Disable onboard graphics: Some computers may have multiple graphics cards installed, such as an onboard chip as well as a dedicated graphics card. If this is the case, you may want to try disabling the onboard chip and seeing if this resolves the issue. In order to do this, you will need to enter your BIOS settings (usually by pressing the F2 key during startup).
5. Overclock your graphics card: Overclocking involves running your graphics card at higher settings than it was designed to run, which may help to resolve some visual artifact issues. Be aware that overclocking can reduce the life of your graphics card, so it’s important to proceed with caution when attempting this.
6. Replace your graphics card: If none of the above solutions work, it may be time to replace your graphics card with a newer model. As technology advances, outdated components become more and more impractical. Replacing your graphics card may also be beneficial if you’re looking to upgrade to a more powerful component.
By taking these steps, you can help to ensure that your graphics card is not causing any visual artifacts in Windows. It’s important to remember that if the issue persists, it may be indicative of a more serious problem. If none of the above solutions work, you may want to consider consulting a computer technician for additional help.