GPU Artifiacting occurs when your graphics card is pushed to perform above its threshold. This ultimately causes it to heat up and malfunction, leading to your screen malfunctioning.
You might face this problem when playing more graphic-intensive games. It can also pop up if your cooling system is not up-to-par, or if your video card is old.
I spend quite a lot of time gaming in my free time. I've faced GPU artifacting a couple of times before, and fixing the problem has always been easy.
I ran through all the solutions you can try, as well as some additional information that you might like.
Let's get to it.
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GPU Artifacting means that your graphics card is glitching out and not functioning as smoothly as it normally does. You will see lines, color shifts, and screen flashes, and a checkerboard pattern on your screen.
This problem appears when higher graphics settings make your GPU perform at a faster rate. This can ultimately cause it to overheat and malfunction.
It is quite common, as you can imagine, when playing more graphic-extensive games.
As mentioned, you might deal with GPU artifacting when your GPU is pushed further than its threshold.
However, there are other problems that can cause your graphics processing unit to overheat, like loose GPU cables, an inadequate PSU, faulty VRAM, and other hardware issues.
I've taken a look at all these causes and how to get rid of the artifacts on your computer screen below.
Overclocking is pretty common with gamers. It makes your processor run faster, but ultimately heats up your computer.
Your graphics system will malfunction if you regularly overclock your computer. If this is why you're experiencing GPU artifacting, fixing it is fairly easy, as you just need to watch your clock speed.
VRAM is a major part of your graphics card. It stores the rendering information on all the games that you play.
Having very little VRAM can cause your GPU to glitch, and cause GPU artifacts to appear.
You will have to free up VRAM space to fix this problem. Simply uninstall any unused games and close graphic extensive programs that are running.
Your graphics driver might be buggy and not allow your GPU to perform that well. Quite a few users have dealt with bugs if they installed an AMD graphics card.
You will have to either update your driver or roll back its driver software to fix this problem.
Follow the below steps to update your graphics card:
Hopefully you won't have to deal with any visual artifacts now.
As mentioned, artifacting occurs when your GPU overheats. Your GPU has its own fans to help it cool down. However, there might be a problem with these fans if they don't cool down properly.
You will only know if the fans are not working by opening your PC case and doing a proper inspection. Go ahead and add a new replacement if you come across any issues.
The thermal paste in your GPU might not be working properly either. It's basically a special conductor that transfers heat.
You should ideally replace the thermal paste every 6 months.
Follow these steps to replace it:
If you are using a low-qaulity PSU model, this could be the problem with the graphics card. It might not be supplying your GPU with the proper power supply to work.
You will have to install your PSU on another PC and see whether there are any issues. Get a new power supply unit installed if there are.
You might think that you're dealing with a GPU artifact, but in fact, your monitor could just be broken.
Borrow a display unit or adapter and see if they exhibit artifacts. When plugging in a new display unit, try playing games that are more graphic-extensive to give the artifacts a good chance to pop up.
If you don't see any dots or lines, your monitor was most likely the culprit.
You might be facing the problem because of physical damage. You may have either damaged it yourself, or could be dealing with a hardware defect that's just rearing its head.
Until you get a new GPU, a workaround that you can try is lowering your frame rate for games. This will exert less strain which should stop your screen from malfunctioning.
Here's how:
Answered below are some popular questions.
Faulty RAM can cause GPU artifacting. Your graphics card won't be able to load the game, so it could cause strange lines and other problems to appear on your screen.
You're advised to free up your VRAM often. I went over how you can do this above. A quick recap: clear all the programs and games that you have open.
As mentioned earlier, dust can cause your GPU to reach higher temperatures, which can ultimately result in GPU artifacts. It does this by absorbing heat and not allowing the GPU fan or heat sink to do their jobs properly.
Make sure that you routinely clean the interior of your PC. You can do this with a light brush and a compressed air can.
Here's how to check for GPU damage:
Alternatively you can do the following:
GPU artifacting occurs when your GPU temperature gets too high. It is quite easy to fix GPU artifacts, however. First try updating graphics driver. It might be outdated and and may be preventing your graphics card from working properly.
You may not have enough VRAM, so simply deleting graphics-heavy games from your operating system can help too.
Most gamers go above the stock speed. They reach a higher temperature and experiencing artifacting. Overclocking can permanently damage not only GPUS but other parts of your PC, so avoid it.
Overheating in general, even without overclocking, can be the culprit. You will need better airflow inside your PC case. You can add more fans or switch to a water cooling system if your cooling fans aren't letting your system cool enough.
You can avoid artifacts by lowering your in game settings so that they're lower and won't strain your GPU as much. Your system will be slower, as a result.
