If your graphics card has stopped working, you will usually notice the symptoms first. These can include graphical glitches and stutters on your computer’s monitor, a noticeable decrease in performance and frame-rates when gaming or running graphical or video-intensive programs, and sometimes a complete lack of video output on your monitor.
More detailed diagnostic tools are available to help diagnose a faulty graphics card. Many modern graphics cards include monitoring software that can measure the temperature, voltage and other performance-related metrics to determine whether the card is functioning correctly. Overheating can be an indication that the card has failed or is not receiving the proper amount of power. If a GPU is consistently running at high temperatures, or is fluctuating erratically, then this could be an indication that the card has a problem.
Another tool used to diagnose a faulty graphics card is benchmarking software. GPU benchmarks measure the performance of the card by running specific 3D scenes, testing it against known sets of standard conditions. If your GPU performs significantly worse than expected, or does not perform as well as similar cards, then it could be a sign that the card has stopped working.
If you suspect that your graphics card has stopped working, it is important to carefully inspect the card for any physical issues. Look for any damage to the card itself, its fans, or other components. It is also important to check the power and data cables to make sure they are connected correctly. Finally, make sure that you have installed the latest drivers for your graphics card.
In some instances, your graphics card may have halted working due to a driver or compatibility issue. If you suspect this is the case, you should try reinstalling the latest drivers or updating the BIOS or firmware on your motherboard.
The easiest way to tell if your graphics card has stopped working is to replace it with an identical model and see if it works. This will give you an indication of whether the fault lies with the hardware or the software. If the replacement card works, then you know it is likely a software issue causing your problems. Otherwise, the card needs to be replaced.