5 signs that it's time to upgrade your graphics card

1. Can't play the latest games

One of the most obvious signs that you need a GPU upgrade is that your PC is having trouble playing the latest games. You can clearly see this if you bought a graphics card more than 3 years ago.

If you find that your computer crashes whenever you try to play the latest AAA games, it's time to upgrade your graphics card or at least reduce the game settings to a lower level.

If even at lower preset settings your PC is still having trouble playing those games, it could be a sign that your graphics card is 'outdated' and you need to upgrade your GPU right away. if you want to keep playing the latest games.

2. Graphics card is about to fail

You may not even notice that your graphics card is about to fail. Faulty GPU has many manifestations, the most obvious is that the PC begins to frequently have problems loading or playing games.

Another sign of a faulty GPU is a malfunctioning screen or weird displays when playing games or watching YouTube videos.

These glitches can be caused by many things, including GPU failure, overheating chip, GPU core about to fail, poor VRAM, or poor or faulty GPU overclock.

In case of a bad GPU overclock, you have the option to reset the overclock settings and start over. If it overheats, it's time to clean the computer and remove accumulated dust. Other than that, the only solution is to upgrade the GPU.

3. GPU bottleneck

GPU bottlenecks occur when the GPU creates constraints on the CPU. Every PC has bottlenecks, but these become a serious problem when they have a huge impact on performance and need to be addressed.

If you pair a weak GPU with a powerful CPU, bottlenecks will occur and your computer will not run properly. Similarly, as the GPU weakens over time, it begins to create unresolvable problems and then the GPU needs to be replaced.

4. Frequent blue screen of death error

You've probably experienced blue screen of death errors, because they're so common.

But did you know that there can be many reasons for these errors? Bad RAM modules, faulty hard drives, and many other parts of your PC can cause blue screen of death errors - including a faulty graphics card.

To find out for sure, try running a game that requires GPU and see if your PC gives you the blue screen of death error. If an error occurs, then the problem lies here. When the computer crashes, it displays an error message on the BSOD screen. Make sure to copy the error message as you can use it to find out what's going on on your computer.

Then save money gradually because you are going to have to buy a new graphics card!

5. Can't play games on high settings

It's not always a problem with a bad GPU. If you can play new AAA games but can't run them at the highest settings, it may be time to upgrade your GPU to a more powerful option.

Hopefully you don't find any indication that your GPU needs an upgrade, but if it does, the guide above from TipsMake.com will help you make an informed decision.

While it's not possible to upgrade a laptop's GPU, there are a few ways you can improve your laptop's gaming performance.