Re: Re: How do you know if your graphics card is dead?

[MitzKeymaster]

Did this just start happening or was it always like this. Are there any other programs running in the background, resource eaters like Norton, McAfee, maybe some anti-spyware applications. Wht you have here is a pretty nonspecific problem that might actually be a problem with the game, like, did you just apply a patch to it. Maybe try updating your graphics driver, might work, might not but it's free.I would ask what graphics card you have now but from your question I'm betting you don't know (go to My Computer > Control Panel > System and go to the Hardware tab then click Device Manager and it will be listed under display adapters) now whatever graphics card you have, go to ATi or nVidia to download the latest drivers (Catalyst Control Center for ATi and ForceWare for nVidia).If that doesn't work then it may or may not be your graphics card. But keep in mind there will be other graphical artifacts like random pixels when you aren't doing anything or your display might go out and then come back on. Yes they are easy to install but then I'm someone who's worked with computers in one form or another since he was 5 years old, it just comes naturally to me.Here are the basic steps to uninstall the one you have and install a new one. You either have a PCIe or AGP graphics card in most cases, I won't cover PCI but it's the same steps. First from Device Manager right click and select uninstall your current card, go ahead and do that. Then turn off your computer, unplug power and all connected devices, open up the case and you will see the graphics card usually sitting in the top slot, you'll either have to remove a screw or unlock the tool-less mechanism, then take the card out and set it aside, put the new card in, put the side back on your computer, plug everything back in, turn it on and install the new drivers. Done.