Computer Video Card Problems - Causes and Solutions
If you have pc video card problems
this can normally be fixed quickly and easily, and in the
process you might even get added benefits such as better
performance.
We have
compiled a list of the most common video card problems and fixes
below
This includes Pc Freezing, Has Blocks on
the Screen, Slow Video Performance, Pc Resetting, No Video or
Image Display, Jumpy or Jerky Video
Please Note: some
of the hardware graphics card problem fixes may not be feasible
for many laptop or notebook computers due to the inaccessibility
of graphics hardware.
Any pc graphics card
problem can either be caused by hardware, such as a graphics
card problem, or as in most cases software problems.
It can be very difficult to tell the
difference between many hardware and software video card
problems due to many issues portraying the same symptoms. As
many hardware checks can be performed very quickly this is where
we begin.
Hardware Video Card Problems common symptoms
(1) The first and most basic graphics card
problem fix is to power off the computer, remove all mains
power, this is important as many computers still have a current
running through them when powered off.
Next earth yourself to help prevent any
damage caused by static electricity; this is vitally important
as electronic components can easily be damaged by this.
Now open the computers case and remove the graphics card and
reseat it, sometimes it helps to wipe the contacts on the card,
for this I use cheap kitchen tissue which is rough enough,
anything more abrasive may actually damage the cards connectors.
(2) The RAM, following the above procedure remove and
reseat your computers RAM, you can also clean with the kitchen
tissue method as mentioned above.
(3) Eliminate a graphics card problem
either by replacing the video card to test or by using the
computers onboard video if you have upgraded from this.
(4) The Monitor or Video Cable – It
would not be the first time a pc video problem lies with the
monitor or cable, the only conclusive tests involve..
Replacing the video cable to test.
Checking the cable to make sure there is no visible damage to
the cable itself or to each of the connector as sometimes pins
do get buckled. Plugging the pc into another monitor, or the
monitor into another pc this will prove conclusively if there is
a problem with the monitor.
(5) If you are using an older type
monitor sometimes it can be a problem for the monitor to
detect a signal from the pc, for some reason it scans for a
video signal and if does not receive one in around 5-10 seconds
it fails to detect one altogether, so try powering off the
computer and monitor, then power on the computer and after one
or two seconds power on the monitor.
Note
If you are using an older type CRT monitor and find it has a
rainbow type effect, demagnetizing or degaussing your monitor
could fix the problem. You can degauss your monitor from the
control panel on the actual monitor itself; don’t worry if its
makes a bit of a crack sound, this is quite normal when
degaussing the monitor.
Looking for a new video card?
Checkout our computer video
cards article where we discuss the ins and outs
of a good graphics card and help to find one that’s right for
your computer.
How to find out what video
card you have – If you want a hand finding out
which video card you have in your computer read more here to
find out many ways to find what graphics card your computer has.
How to install a video card
– installing a video card is usually very straight forward if
you follow a few simple rules such as earthing yourself, more..
Find out how to get the
most from your laptop video card in terms of
performance and stability by upgrading drivers, making sure
hardware acceleration is set to maximum, more here..
Laptop video card cards
– Laptop video card upgrades may be limited but there are some
possibilities, find out what upgrade options are there
available, and what is the easiest way to improve the graphics
performance of your laptop, read the good and not so good things
about laptop graphics.
Looking for a notebook
computer? Make sure your get one with the right
video card for your requirements or you could end up having to
replace it sooner than you think, find out about graphics cards
with shared and onboard memory advantages and disadvantages.
How to reduce video stutter
– do the symptoms of your video card problems include freezing
or stuttering video? find out what are the common causes of this
and how to resolve them with our free guide.
Headaches and computer
monitors – If you have to use a computer for long
periods of time make sure its setup correctly it’s totally free
and only takes a few minutes, did you know poorly setup computer
screens are a big cause of headaches and eye strain.
Find out how to setup dual
screens on your desktop or laptop computer. The
price of computer screens is now pretty cheap meaning it’s a
great time to double your screen space cheaply and quickly, find
out what you need in terms of hardware to do this.
Connecting your computer to
your TV – Connecting your pc to your TV means you
can give your videos or games a whole new lease of life, once
you watch videos or play games on a large LCD or Plasma TV a
laptop or desktop computer screen just does not compare, find
out how to do this and how easy it can be.
Read
our second article on video card problems where we look
at common problems caused by software issues and how to fix them
The
graphics card problem find out more about miscellaneous
problems graphics card limitations and incompatibility including
a break down of how to pinpoint and resolve issues
computer adviser
video card problems article |
