Driver issues first
Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in Safe Mode to fully remove all GPU drivers. Reboot and install the latest driver from the manufacturer site directly.
Artifacts and visual glitches
Random pixels, flickering, or colored dots during gaming suggest GPU memory or core failure. Run FurMark for 10 minutes — if artifacts appear, the GPU is failing.
Check thermals
GPU fans sometimes stop spinning due to dead bearings. Monitor temps with GPU-Z under load — above 95°C is dangerous. Replace thermal pads and paste on older cards.
Reseat the card
Power off, unplug, remove the GPU, clean the PCIe slot contacts, and reseat firmly until the latch clicks. Check PCIe power connectors are fully inserted.
Test in another system
The fastest way to confirm hardware failure is testing the GPU in another machine and trying a known-good GPU in the suspect machine.