You have to be very careful in removing graphics cards and make sure you do not damage other computer components.
So we made this quick guide for you to follow.
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How to remove your GPU from your PC
To start with, you should wear an antistatic wrist strap while working inside your PC case. The other end of your antistatic wrist strap will often be an alligator clip that you need to connect to an uncharged part such as the unpainted part of your computer case.
Removing a graphics card without allowing static electricity to build up is important because it can damage or destroy computer components. The antistatic wrist strap with the alligator clip will help dissipate the static electricity building up in your hands and the components.
You can easily get one at Amazon, i.e.
However, now let's go through each step to remove an old GPU without harming any hardware around it.
- First, ensure that your computer has shut down completely and unplug all its power cables.
- Remove the side panel of your PC case by undoing the screws holding the panel to the pc case. When you take the side panel off, you can access the internal components, specifically the motherboard.
- You will see that the graphics card is typically connected to a power supply through six or eight-pin PCle power cables. You need to remove the power supply PCle cables from the graphics card – push the clip on the cable down, and it comes off by gently pulling it away from the GPU.
- Although the motherboard holds down the graphics card, it will also be secured into the computer case because it is screwed down in the back of the case. You have to unfasten the screws holding the graphics card to the back of the PC case before removing it.
- When you have disconnected the graphics card from the back of the computer case, you need to also remove it from the PCle card slot on the motherboard. While you look down at the card slot, you will see a small clip that holds the card onto the motherboard. You need to push down the clip, known as the release tab, and gently pull the graphics card out.
And there you go! You have successfully removed the graphics card, and you know it is a pretty simple process.
If you still feel unsure about doing it, you can watch this video tutorial that can help further simplify the process for you.
When you should remove and replace a video card?
Now you know how to remove a graphics card. But when and why do you have to replace that old GPU with a new card? Let us give you some of the most common signs so you can spot when it is time to get a new graphics card.
Newer Games Are Almost Impossible to Play
The most obvious sign of a failing or struggling GPU is that your PC will struggle to play or even run some newer games. You may have been installing all the best ones, but there is no point if it has been over 3-5 years since you last upgraded your GPU.
Until you can replace the old graphics card, we recommend that you lower the display settings and avoid damaging the card by using graphically demanding software.
Your Graphics Card Is Dying
You might have missed the early signs and cannot run any software or even get your PC to start up. In less bad scenarios, the PC crashes frequently, you get screen glitches, and your computer tends to overheat. Either way, you can't avoid damaging the card further, and it is time to replace it.
If you like to overclock your display settings, we recommend that you not push it too far on the upgraded GPU. You will have to reset your overclock settings and deep clean your computer case and the internal components.
GPU bottlenecking
When a GPU is bottlenecking, it is limiting your CPU significantly. Every PC will face bottlenecks. However, it is a problem when it impacts the performance of other hardware on motherboards.
Your GPU or CPU is weaker than one another; you will face bottlenecking problems. Therefore, if your GPU has weakened, causing unfixable issues, you need to replace it immediately.
Frequent Blue/Black/Glitching screens
The blue screen with error codes, a blank black screen, or random glitches all over the screen – we have all seen it before, and we know how frustrating it is. There are various reasons why these screen issues occur, but one of them can be a failing graphics card.
If you want to know whether or not it's the video card, try running a GPU intensive game and see if it gets worse from there. You know your answer if the computer crashes and shows a BSOD screen with an error message.
