The five signs
- Frame rates dropping well below what a game officially recommends for your resolution
- Stuttering that gets worse specifically when graphics settings are turned up
- Visual artifacts, strange flickering shapes or coloured lines on screen
- A GPU running unusually hot or loud even in menus, not just gameplay
- New game releases refusing to launch or defaulting to lowest settings automatically
Ruling out other causes first
An outdated GPU driver, an underpowered PSU not delivering enough power, or a CPU bottleneck can all mimic GPU problems, worth a quick diagnostic before spending on a new card.
Choosing the right upgrade
The right GPU depends on your monitor’s resolution and refresh rate, your CPU’s ability to keep up, and your case’s physical space and cooling, not just the biggest number in a benchmark chart.