The Basics: How To Test Your Graphics Card
In this context, benchmarking means running a series of software operations to determine how long it takes a given hardware configuration to complete those operations, or what kind of results it can generate in a given span of time. You see benchmark results in a broad array of hardware-component reviews, and PC enthusiasts, in particular, hoover up benchmark results as a means to compare products. Some users even enjoy benchmarking their hardware for bragging rights, especially when it comes to overclocking.
For our purposes, benchmarking can serve both for comparisons between graphics cards , and as a method for telling if a graphics card’s performance is a problem over time. One of the best and most widely recognized of the graphics-testing tools is UL’s 3DMark.
The Basic Edition of 3DMark is free, while the Advanced Editionâwhich includes many more tests and toolsânormally sells for $29.99. You can learn more from the Advanced Edition, but even the free software will give you an overall score, a graphics score for each test, and a frame-per-second result for each test.
3DMark Basic Edition is downloadable only through Steam and is called 3DMark Demo. It’s super-easy to run you install the suite, choose your subtest, and click Run. When you’re ready to benchmark, you should reboot, close any open programs, and not mess with the PC while it’s testing.
Got your new card in hand? Good. Let’s get you accelerated!
How To Automatically Upgrade Your Graphics Drivers
As well see below, manually upgrading graphics cards can be quite complicated. Plus, with new driver releases every month, its hard to keep up with all the latest software.
Even the most tech savvy among us can get tired of constantly hunting for the latest release. Thats why we developed a straightforward, automated solution.
Avast Driver Updater goes way beyond just keeping your graphics driver updated. It also checks for outdated sound, network, printer, and scanner drivers and automatically installs them for you. Thats one less thing to worry about, and its especially useful if youre building your own PC.
Download a free trial of Avast Driver Updater and update your drivers today.
Why Should I Upgrade My Graphics Drivers
Updating video display drivers is crucial on any computer. Its key to getting top performance and the best possible visual experience. Heres what regularly updating your GPU driver gives you:
-
Full resolution and color depths: Without an updated GPU driver, you might be limited to extremely low resolutions , a reduced color palette, or visible stutter when browsing the web. You dont want your eyes strained like that.
-
Smooth game performance: We all want our computers to run as fast as possible especially if were building our own gaming PC! Every time a blockbuster game comes out, you can expect that the companies that make graphics drivers will specifically optimize their hardware to take advantage of the new game.
The latest graphics drivers offer enhancements for newly released games. In some cases, games wont even run properly without these optimized drivers.
-
Support for external displays: Many laptops wont connect to an external display without a proper driver installed. If you work with a second monitor, then an up-to-date driver is mandatory.
Updating your drivers manually can be a chore. After all, you want to work or game with your PC, not hunt for drivers every month. An automatic driver updater is likely your best bet going forward.
Read Also: What Kind Of Hp Laptop Do I Have
How Can I Find Out Which Graphics Card I Have In My Pc
SketchUp is a graphics-heavy program. Knowing your graphics card can help you troubleshoot odd visual behaviors or recommend a good-performing card to other users. The easiest way to find your graphics card is to run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool:
If you’re experiencing odd visual behavior in SketchUp, our Blurring/distorted images article may help you understand and resolve the problem.
Why Should You Update Your Graphics Driver
Updating your graphics driver allows you to benefit from your GPU manufacturer’s latest performance improvements. AMD and Nvidia keep pushing new updates that include performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features.
Intel’s update for its integrated GPUs may not be as substantial due to the significant difference between a dedicated and integrated GPU. However, new laptops with integrated graphics usually don’t have up-to-date display drivers, resulting in lower resolution output. Missing updates for integrated graphics can also result in errors during gameplay.
Fortunately, for Intel UHD or Xe graphics users, Microsoft bundles a newer version of its display drivers with Windows updates. After setting up your new PC, make sure to install pending Windows updates to fix issues with a lower resolution display or integrated graphics failing to work.
To summarize, if you play games on your PC, perform graphics-intensive tasks, or experience lower FPS in games, installing the latest graphics drivers for your GPU can help you make the most out of your resources and improve the overall graphics performance.
Don’t Miss: How To Hardwire Laptop To Modem
What Can Cause A Graphics Card To Fail
Numerous errors can cause your graphics or video card to fail. Here’s a summary of what leads to a broken graphics card:
- Poor ventilation
- Outdated drivers
- Insufficient power supply to GPU
The causes of graphics card failure are numerous, but those listed above are usually the case. Generally, overheating and power supply issues are the major causes. The effects of overheating can be severe and immediate . Your graphics card is an electronic device made of tiny electronic components such as resistors and capacitors an increase in temperature beyond your card’s limit can result in these components physically damaged.
Your GPU requires a constant and sufficient power supply, especially when playing games that heavily utilize your GPU.
Can You Change The Graphics Card In A Laptop
If you are looking for possible ways to change the graphics of your laptop, then you are in the right place.
In todays article, I am going to explain how you can change the graphics card in a laptop. We will also look at what laptops allows you to change their graphics card.
Why dont you have a look at one of our previous articles that relates to our article, explaining the best gaming laptop GPU for 4k Gaming and recommended Gaming Laptop GPUs for 4k Gaming?
In most cases, people will tell you that it is not possible for you to change the graphics card they are right somehow because most of the laptops do not allow you to upgrade the graphics card.
Now, this is not a final verdict and do not be disappointed. There are various methods to change the graphics card as discussed below in the article. Let me divide this into two categories to make it simple.
You May Like: Gaming Laptop Vs Ps4
How Long Do Graphics Cards Last
In normal circumstances, graphics cards will not get damaged. It is most likely going to last as long as your device works. However, with poor maintenance âpoor ventilation leading to overheating , do not expect your graphics card to last longer the period of a very few years, depending on how much ventilation you deprive it.
Which Two Main Components Make Up A Cpu
Principal components of a CPU include the arithmetic logic unit that performs arithmetic and logic operations, processor registers that supply operands to the ALU and store the results of ALU operations, and a control unit that orchestrates the fetching and execution of instructions by directing the
Recommended Reading: How To Screen Record On An Hp Laptop
Main Types Of Graphics Card For A Laptop
There are various types of graphics cards for laptops, ranging from different capabilities for gaming or multimedia. Graphics cards work with the CPU and GPU of a system, although some graphics cards have their own VRAM for higher performance.
Integrated graphics cards are attached to the laptops motherboard and work well enough for watching YouTube videos and sometimes light gaming without 3D, like Among Us. While dedicated graphics cards, or discrete, are more powerful and more high-end. These cards are best for heavy gaming.
| Company | |
| Iris Xe | Low end |
AMD, Intel and NVIDIA produce the most graphics cards for laptops in the market today. The best graphics cards are from NVIDIA and AMD. In particular, the NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon series are amongst the best. Intel tends to create integrated graphics cards, but they are not in the same class as NVIDIA and AMD.
Can I Upgrade My Laptops Gpu/graphics Card
Youre likely wondering if you can upgrade your laptops GPU for better gaming performance. Graphics Cards/GPUs are a super prominent specification now due to the rise in popularity with graphically intensive applications such as Gaming, Video Editing, and Deep Learning.
Back in the day, laptops didnt have decent graphics, they just had a simple integrated graphics unit for simple image rendering. Now laptops with dedicated graphics are becoming widespread, you can find a laptop with the latest RTX technology effortlessly.
Contents
You May Like: How To Hard Reset Hp Laptop Without Password
How To Upgrade A Gpu On A Laptop
When youre looking for a laptop GPU upgrade, it is the same as replacing a graphics card on a laptop. Its a job recommended to be completed by an expert and requires buying a laptop GPU upgrade kit.
General steps include:
- Find a compatible upgrade GPU for your laptop via MXM module compatibility.
- Purchase a kit to upgrade the GPU or take your new GPU to a computer shop
- Uninstall old GPU via BIOS
- Open your laptop by removing all of the screws.
- Use a static bracelet to avoid being shocked.
- Have your thermal paste ready and remove the GPU by removing the heatsink and heat pipes gently
- Detach the GPU and install the new GPU, and renew the thermal paste
- Close the laptop by re-screwing
- Boot up the computer
This process only works for select laptops with a professional in mind, with the appropriate hardware. More than likely, most GPUs embedded on the motherboard cannot be upgraded, changed or replaced. External GPUs are available via USB port as the last option, which works effectively.
How To Update Amd Drivers
In much the same way as Nvidia’s drivers, AMD graphics drivers are supposed to automatically check for updates in the background and give you an alert when anything is available. Here’s how to check for an update manually:
If an update is available, you’ll see all the available versions. AMD sometimes releases optional updates for those who want the latest and greatest, but most people should stick to the ‘Recommended’ drivers. Click ‘Recommended,’ then select ‘Express upgrade.’
If you can’t get the Radeon Settings to appear at all, something may be corrupted with your drivers. To fix that, just head to AMD’s support website and download the appropriate drivers for your graphics card. A fresh install should sort out any issues you may be experiencing.
Again, clean install may be a better choice if you experience any weirdness or reduced performance . And DDU is always there if you need to pull out the sledgehammer.
Recommended Reading: How To Hard Reset Hp Laptop Without Password
Update Drivers In Windows 10
- Make sure that your device is connected to the internet.
- Right click on select .
- Expand
- Right click on the graphic device under Display adapters, click on .
- Select
- It is connecting to Microsoft server to search the available drivers
- Driver installation complete, you may close this window.
This answer is useful?
Fix : Update Your Graphics Driver
When youre facing the issue of your laptop not using a dedicated GPU, updating the graphics driver should be your go-to option since a faulty or outdated graphics driver can cause many problems. So always make sure you have the latest correct graphics driver for your operating system at all times.
There are two ways you can try to update your graphics driver: manually and automatically.
Option 1: Update your graphics driver manually
You need to find the model of your graphics card and visit the manufacturers website. Be sure to choose only drivers that are compatible with your Windows version. This needs some computer skills.
Option 2: Update your graphics driver automatically
If you dont have the time, patience or computer skills to update your graphics driver manually, you can, instead, do it automatically with Driver Easy. Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for your exact graphics, and your Windows version, and it will download and install them correctly.
The Pro version of Driver Easyfull technical supportDriver Easys support team.
Also Check: Screen Record On Hp
Do I Need To Update My Graphics Card Driver
Yes, you are! Especially, for game players, it is essential to have an up-to-date graphics card driver for increasing their game performance. There are many advantages of upgrading graphics card:
- Improve PCs capability, reliability, and security.
- Ensure the smooth function of software like MiniTool Partition Wizard.
- Gain the best performance out of the hardware.
- Maximize game performance.
- Enable full resolution and increase color depths.
- Support external displays.
- Fix bugs, errors and issues.
Instead, if your current graphics card is out-of-date, you may encounter these problems:
- Blurry screen
How To Fix Corrupted Videos After Graphics Card Errors
Wondershare Repairit Video Repair is easy to use and understand. The video repair tool is capable and very efficient when it comes to corrupt videos playing on chrome.
To fix your video file with the Wondershare Repairit, follow the steps below. Download and install this software if you do not have it installed on your system.
Step 1: Add Corrupted Video
Open the folder/location where you have the corrupt video. Next, you drag and drop the corrupt file on the “Add videos and start repairing” panel. Alternatively, you can also click the “Add” button located on the software’s interface’s bottom-left corner.
Step 2: Repair Video
Do you see that blue “Repair” button to the bottom-right of the software? Click it. When the repair process is complete, a window will pop up and ask you to save and preview the video you repaired. Click on the “OK” button to save the video to a location.
Step 3: Preview the Repaired Video
Look to the edge of the software on the right. There’s a little black button that looks like a traditional “play” button. Click on it to preview the video. This is optional, but it is advised because it enables you to confirm if the repair process was a success or not before saving it. But don’t worry, be rest assured that your video file will probably work fine.
Step 4: Add Sample Video
The Advanced Repair mode can take the sample video’s information and use it to repair the corrupt video. You have to admit, that’s quite innovative, no?
Step 5: Save Video
You May Like: Dell Docking Station Compatible Laptops
Manually Update Graphics Card Drivers
To update your graphics card drivers, first, got to your Device Manager. To do so, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously and type devmgmt.msc in the search tab.
When the Device Manager opens, scroll down to Display adapters and click on the arrow next to it. Select your graphics card from the list.
Finally, right-click om it and choose to Update driver.
Follow the instructions and your graphics card drivers will be updated shortly.Image:
How To Update Graphics Card Drivers
A graphics card is required when using heavy graphics functions such as playing video games. If you encounter problems with graphics while gaming or using video-intensive applications, maybe you need to change the graphics card or simply update the graphics card drivers on your computer to solve the problem. In this article, you will learn how to update your graphics card drivers automatically and manually.
Recommended Reading: Sell Hp Laptop
How To Update An Amd Graphics Driver
Today computers are not only to work but also to play games and so many people even look out for the configuration of graphics card before buying a laptop or PC. This shows the importance of Graphic cards for computers and when we talk about quality and give real feel no one can be better than an AMD graphics card. People who are looking for high performance and affordable graphics card would find AMD best in every manner. But as the developers go on updating driver for graphics cad you too are in need to update drivers in your computer to enjoy some latest features. So, here are some of the easiest ways by which you can update AMD graphics drivers in Windows 10.
Fix : Update Your Bios
If none of the fixes above help, you may need to take into account updating your BIOS. By updating your BIOS, your motherboard will provide support for new hardware, like your dedicated GPU.
You can update your BIOS by going to the motherboard manufacturers website and downloading the latest BIOS version.
Please note: An incorrect BIOS update might cause serious problems. For detailed instructions on how to update your BIOS, you can take a look at our handy guide or check your motherboard manual.
Thats all about how to fix your laptop not using GPU. Hopefully, this post helped. If you have any other suggestions or questions, please feel free to post them in the comments section below.
Recommended Reading: How To Connect Canon Mg2922 Printer To Computer