Symptoms
- Colorful garbled shapes, lines, or flickering textures appear on screen
- Artifacts appear mostly during gaming or graphically demanding tasks
- Problem happens even on the desktop or in the BIOS screen
- Artifacts get worse the longer the PC has been running
Likely causes
- CommonOutdated, corrupted, or conflicting graphics driverA clean driver reinstall resolves a large share of artifact issues.
- CommonGPU overheating due to dust or failing coolingHeat-related artifacts often worsen the longer a demanding game or task runs.
- PossibleOverclocked GPU or memory running unstable settingsArtifacts are a classic sign of an unstable overclock.
- PossibleFailing GPU memory (VRAM) or other hardware degradationThis shows up in the BIOS screen too, not just in Windows or games.
- PossibleInsufficient power delivery to the cardA marginal power supply can cause instability that looks like artifacts.
What to do
- Update to the latest graphics driver from the manufacturer's website, using a clean install option if available.
- If artifacts appear even in BIOS or before Windows loads, this points more toward hardware than software.
- Check the GPU's temperature under load with monitoring software; artifacts above about 85–90C suggest a heat problem.
- Clean dust from the GPU's fans and heatsink with compressed air.
- If the GPU or memory is overclocked, reset to default clock speeds and see if artifacts stop.
- Test the card in a different computer, or a different card in this one, to isolate whether it's the GPU or something else.
Tools and parts
- Compressed air
- GPU temperature monitoring software
When to call a pro
If artifacts persist after a clean driver install, resetting overclocks, and confirming temperatures are normal, the GPU likely has a hardware fault and should be tested or replaced.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.