Computers are complicated. There are a lot of parts working together and a lot of reasons for things to not work properly. One of the most annoying problems that computer users find with their computers is the graphics card (“GPU”) not performing as promised.
There can be a lot of reasons for this happening, and in this article, I go over the 9 most common reasons why your graphics card is performing poorly.
Some of these problems are easier to fix than others, but they aren’t ordered in any manner for this list. I also go over some of the things you can do to improve your GPU performance.
1. Your GPU Is Wearing Out
GPUs get wear-and-tear with time when you’re using them. If glitches and weird artifacts present themselves in games where they haven’t before, it’s a sign that your GPU is wearing out. There are a lot of potential reasons why a GPU can do this.
One of the reasons has to do with components in the GPU being faulty when manufactured, causing a more rapid deterioration of your GPU. This isn’t particularly common, however. Improper installation of your graphics card can also be a reason why your GPU is failing.
2. Your GPU Is Too Hot
Overheating can cause your GPU to underperform as well. If your computer is loud when playing certain games, for example, there’s a good chance that your GPU is too hot. I strongly recommend that you check how hot your GPU is.
I recommend using GPU Temp for this. 150 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit are the best temperature ranges for GPUs. There are many reasons why a GPU can overheat. Overclocking is a common reason, and insufficient thermal paste is another.
An easy tip to keep your computer from overheating is to clean it regularly. Dust buildup is bound to happen with all computers, and if there’s too much dust on your components, your computer will overheat causing performance issues.
Finally, make sure that objects or walls don’t block your computer fans and ventilation spaces. Proper ventilation is vital for computers so that they can maintain reasonable temperatures.
3. Virus Or Other Malware
Malware is software designed to hurt your computer in different ways. Some malware can cause your graphics card to underperform. You should make sure your computer is safe from these things. Consider investing in an antivirus to save your computer from dangerous software.
You can make a basic malware check with Windows own antivirus software, Windows Defender. If you haven’t clicked any strange links or downloaded anything fishy, then you’re probably safe from malware. However, it’s important to cover all bases here so it’s definitely worth a mention.
4. Suboptimal Performance Settings
Performance plans in Windows are pretty important to decide how much power is dedicated to your components. With a power-saving power plan, your computer will try to save power where it can and as a result, your GPU will underperform.
To check what power plan your computer is running, simply head to power plans in the settings menu and check if your computer is running a power-saving power plan.
I recommend getting the ultimate performance power plan if you want your computer to run games the best it can. To do this, follow the simple steps below.
- Head into your command prompt by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar then clicking the black icon
- Copy and paste the following: “powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02 -d5df -448d -aa00 -03f14749eb61”
- After this, press the Windows key + I
- Go into “System”
- Go into “Power and sleep” options
- Go into “Additional power settings”
- Select the Ultimate performance power plan
5. Old Drivers
Having updated graphics drivers is very important for your graphics card. This means having old drivers can make your GPU underperform when playing games, especially new ones that have newly dedicated driver releases.
Therefore, make sure that you have updated your graphics drivers. I recommend downloading them manually from your manufacturer’s website. Most people have Nvidia graphics cards, and you can find drivers for their cards here. Make sure you fill in the correct details for your graphics card.
6. Improperly Seated Graphics Card
If your graphics card has loosened even somewhat from its place inside your computer, it can mean a loss in performance and also further deterioration of your GPU. If you’re unsure of how to reseat your GPU I would suggest looking up a guide on the matter. Don’t wing it.
7. Manufacturing Defect
Defects in your GPU components can make it overheat and furthermore cause performance issues for you. The chance of this being the case is quite small as graphics cards usually don’t come with these defects, but as I mentioned earlier, we’re covering all bases.
If your GPU is new then the chance of your problem being manufacturing-related is bigger. I’d suggest returning it and getting a new one for your warranty.
8. Your GPU Is Bottlenecked By CPU
If your GPU is drastically better than your CPU then your GPU won’t perform as promised, as it will get bottlenecked by your CPU. Your CPU simply does not keep up with the GPU, and this will mean that your GPU is limited to a point where the CPU can keep up.
There are no simple fixes for this other than buying a new processor with better performance, unfortunately.
9. Power Supply Issue
A bad PSU can damage your GPU over time and cause issues that we’ve discussed earlier here. For example, it can cause the GPU to overheat.
The PSU can also be too weak to power your GPU, in which case your computer will start crashing randomly because of the PSU not being able to handle the power transferred to it, and when it’s not crashing it’ll make your GPU underperform.
So, how can you know if your PSU is having an issue? Well, if your computer randomly crashes or gives you blue screens of death, that’s a pretty good sign. Also, your computer may be very hot, give off a lot of sounds, and in the worst case smell kind of funny.
If you notice an unusual, smoky smell coming from your computer, turn it off and replace your power supply. Don’t start the computer until you have.
Can You Improve a Graphics Card’s Performance?
Some of the reasons for a bad GPU that I’ve listed can be easily fixed, and are sometimes self-explanatory. For example, if you have old drivers, you should update them. However, there are tips and tricks which can make your GPU run more optimally.
Below, I’m going to go over how you can improve a graphics card’s performance without having to buy a new one. These are for the most part easy measures that will make your GPU run better.
Turn Off Fullscreen Optimization
Windows automatically uses a setting when you play games called “full-screen optimization”. It’s a setting designed to improve your games depending on what mode you’re using (windowed, borderless, etc) but for the most part, gamers experience performance issues and lag with this setting activated.
Therefore, I would strongly suggest turning this setting off to see if you get more out of your games. To do this, you need to find your game’s “.exe” file and right-click it. Then, go into “properties”. After this, select the tab at the top called “compatibility” and uncheck the fullscreen optimization option.
Turn Off Gamemode In Windows
Another setting in Windows that’s automatically turned on is “Gamemode”. If you’re experiencing performance issues, I’d recommend turning this setting off as it’s known to not improve the gameplay experience but to worsen it.
To turn off this mode, follow the instructions below.
- Press your Windows Key + I
- Go into “Gaming”
- Go into “Game mode”
- Uncheck it
Lower Your Settings To Increase VRAM Space
Some settings in games reserve more VRAM than others. If you’re using too much of your GPUs VRAM, then performance will suffer. Therefore, you should lower settings that use a lot of VRAM. These aren’t necessarily settings that drastically change the look of the game either.
For example, a lot of games’ fps can be improved by lowering shadow settings. Do some research on what settings are optimal for your game!
Adjust Settings In Windows
Finally, I would recommend adjusting games’ performance preferences in Windows. This will let Windows know how much resources it should dedicate to that game when you’re running it.
To do this, follow the steps below.
- Right-click on your desktop
- Select “Display settings”
- Scroll down and click “Graphics settings”
- Click “Browse” then find your game’s “.exe” file
- Click it in the graphics settings menu and choose “High performance”