Understanding the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Card

The digital world is increasingly visual. From the high-definition video games that render lifelike experiences to the sophisticated simulations that engineers use, the ability to process visual information quickly and efficiently is essential. Enter the Graphics Processing Unit or GPU card – an indispensable piece of hardware that has reshaped the boundaries of visual computing.

What is a GPU Card?

A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is a chip or electronic circuit capable of rendering graphics for display on an electronic device. The GPU was introduced to the wider market in 1999 and is best known for its use in providing the smooth graphics that consumers expect in modern videos and games.

It operates independently of a computer’s central processing unit (CPU), freeing the CPU to perform other tasks while the GPU card focuses on graphical computation.

Evolution of the GPU

In 1999, Nvidia introduced the Geforce 256, the first widely available GPU. Nvidia defined a GPU as a “single-chip processor with integrated transform, lighting, triangle setup/clipping, and rendering engines that is capable of processing a minimum of 10 million polygons per second.” The GeForce 256 improved on the technology by other processors by optimizing 3D gaming performance.

The first GPUs were basic. Over the years, their use has been extended into new industries thanks to the advent of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies. GPUs have also played a role in establishing wider access to higher-quality virtual reality gaming.

Architecture and Performance

GPUs have lots of tiny cores built into them. These cores are meant to do many tasks at the same time. On the other hand, a CPU might have just a few cores that do tasks one after the other. While a CPU might have up to 32 cores, a GPU can have thousands of cores!

Because GPUs can do so many things at once, they’re great for jobs that need a lot of calculations done at the same time, like making images for games or helping computers learn things.

What Can Cause a GPU 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:

Graphics cards can stop working for many reasons. However, the most common problems come from them getting too hot or not getting the right amount of power. If your card gets too hot, it can break right away. This is often why you might see a “video card error 43.” If it gets hotter than it should, small parts insides of a graphics card like resistors and capacitors can break.

Your GPU requires a constant power supply, especially when playing games that heavily utilize your GPU.

Repair a GPU

A graphics card repair should be performed ONLY by a professional technician in Singapore.

Usually technician will replace the video chip. It is a BGA component and using hot air or infrared BGA Rework Station to replace. To proceed with this, they disassemble the laptop completely and prepare for motherboard’s graphics chip replacement.

You need to be careful with labs that offer a “temporary fix” and take a lot of money. A “temporary fix” means heating the video chip to about 150 degrees which revives the graphics card and the computer will continue to work for a short time (a week to a few months). Then the problem will return. In addition, if you don’t replace the faulty chip by a genuine NEW video chip the chances that the problem will return are high.

At LetUsRepair, we are very experienced in repairing GPU cards and very responsible for what we do. Graphics card repair will be done FAST, usually within one day if there is a graphics chip in stock, otherwise it will take some days. Contact us now!

Conclusion

GPUs started as tools for making simple computer pictures. Now, they are a big part of today’s computers. If you play games, do research, or watch clear videos, you’re using the strong power of the GPU.