The most common cause of a graphics card failure is overheating. A graphics card can become too hot due to a number of factors such as inadequate cooling, overclocking, or wear and tear caused by age and/or extended use.
When a graphics card becomes overheated, it can experience a number of symptoms including crashing, distorted images, artifacts on-screen, black screens, and system lock-ups. Overheating can also cause permanent damage to the card, which can lead to failure.
Inadequate cooling is an issue seen with both laptops and desktops and is one of the most common causes of a graphics card failure. When the cooling system of a computer cannot keep up with the amount of heat produced by the graphics card, it may overheat. This is typically caused by inadequate airflow within the computer’s case, poor ventilation, or inadequate fans or cooling systems for the specific graphics card.
Overclocking can also cause a graphics card to fail. Overclocking raises the clock speed and voltage of the card beyond its designed settings, increasing the power draw and temperature. If the card is not cooled properly or the increased voltage is too great, it can cause permanent damage to the card and result in failure.
In addition, wear and tear caused by age and extended use can also be a factor in graphics card failure. Electronic components can degrade over time due to physical wear and heat exposure. When combined with inadequate cooling, this can cause a graphics card to fail as its components are no longer able to operate at their intended levels.
There are a number of other potential causes of graphics card failure such as faulty components, faulty display settings, incompatible drivers, and static electricity. However, overheating caused by inadequate cooling, overclocking, or wear and tear is the most common cause of a graphics card failure.