How to figure if i have a dead gpu and how to fix if its fixable

Question

I have a rx 550 and I3-9100F. I just turned on my pc and at first my mouse and keyboard wasnt working and thought it was just a glitch so I restarted my computer and my mouse and keyboard was back and opened a game Valorant then it showed that I needed directx runtime to run valorant and thought that was weird because just last night everything was fine and working.

so I decided to try open opera to install directx runtime, but my resolution went lower than 1920 x 1080 and I checked my resolution it said it was the recommended resolution.

then I checked my task manager and clicked at the performance tab and noticed my gpu was gone, then my computer froze I force restarted it now my monitor doesnt receive signal from the gpu..

I saw the fan of the gpu was still working so I was hoping that my gpu is fixable but I don't exactly know how and is it broken?

Answer 1

1

Remove the power cable from your laptop.

Press and hold the power button on the case of your laptop for 30 seconds.

Wait 30 minutes

Reconnect the power cable and start your laptop, is there an image on the screen and if so, does it boot into Windows?

2

If there is still no image on the screen, start your system and wait until you think Windows has completely started, then connect an external screen to every available video output port to check if you can get an image on the screen.

Answer 2

Based on the symptoms (game suddenly requiring DirectX runtime, resolution dropping, GPU disappearing from Task Manager, system freezing, and then no signal from the GPU on reboot), the problem is most likely with the graphics driver or the GPU hardware. To determine whether the GPU is actually dead and whether it is fixable, follow these steps on Windows 10:

1. Check if Windows still detects the GPU
   1. Connect the monitor to the motherboard’s video output (if available) so the system can boot using integrated graphics. If the CPU has no integrated graphics, test the RX 550 in another known‑working PC if possible.
   2. Press and hold (or right‑click) the Start button and select Device Manager.
   3. Expand Display adapters and Other devices.
      • If the RX 550 appears with a yellow exclamation mark or as an unknown device, the driver is likely corrupted or missing rather than the card being completely dead.
      • If it does not appear at all in any category, and you are sure the card is properly seated and powered, that strongly suggests a hardware failure.
2. Try updating or reinstalling the display driver If the card appears in Device Manager:
   1. In Device Manager, press and hold (or right‑click) the RX 550 entry and select Properties.
   2. Go to the Driver tab and select Update Driver.
   3. Select Search automatically for updated driver software and let Windows search and install.
      • If Windows finds and installs a driver, restart and test again (check Task Manager → Performance to see if the GPU shows up, and test a game or app).
   4. If Windows does not find a driver, download the latest driver from the GPU manufacturer’s site on a working browser and install it, then restart and test.
   This aligns with the standard guidance for error code 43 and general GPU driver issues, where updating or reinstalling the driver often resolves problems when the hardware is still functional.
3. Roll back the driver if the issue started after an update If the problem started right after a Windows or driver update and the GPU still appears in Device Manager:
   1. In Device Manager, press and hold (or right‑click) the RX 550 → Properties → Driver.
   2. Select Roll Back Driver to return to the previous version.
   3. Restart and test again.
4. Check for TDR‑type symptoms (freezes/black screen under load) The freeze while opening a game and the GPU disappearing can be related to Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) issues, where the GPU takes too long to respond and Windows resets it. Common causes include:
   • Outdated or faulty display drivers.
   • Over‑clocked or unstable hardware.
   • Insufficient power or cooling.
   To address these:
   • Ensure the RX 550 is not over‑clocked in any tuning software.
   • Check that the power supply cables are firmly connected and the PSU is adequate for the system.
   • Make sure fans and heatsinks are clean and the case has proper airflow.
   • Install the latest graphics driver and ensure Windows is fully updated.
5. Boot into Safe Mode to isolate driver issues If normal boot freezes or shows a black screen when the GPU is installed, but Safe Mode works:
   1. Go to Settings → Update & Security → Recovery.
   2. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
   3. On the menu, choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
   4. After restart, select option 4, 5, or 6 to boot into Safe Mode.
   5. In Safe Mode, use Device Manager to uninstall the display driver, then reinstall the correct driver after reboot.
   Safe Mode loads only minimal drivers and services, which helps confirm whether the issue is driver‑related versus a complete hardware failure.
6. Check for hardware faults If after driver reinstall/rollback and Safe Mode tests the RX 550 still:
   • Does not appear in Device Manager at all, and
   • Produces no signal on any output (HDMI/DP/DVI) even though the fan spins,
   then the card is likely suffering from a hardware failure (for example, defective GPU or memory). Fan spinning only proves that power is reaching the fan, not that the GPU core and VRAM are healthy. Additional checks:
   • Reseat the card: power off, unplug, remove the RX 550, clean the PCIe contacts gently, and firmly reseat it.
   • Try a different PCIe slot if available.
   • Test the RX 550 in another PC, or test a different known‑good GPU in the current PC. If another GPU works fine in the same slot and PSU, that strongly confirms the RX 550 is faulty.
7. When it is likely not fixable at home If the card is not detected in any system, on any slot, with known‑good power and drivers, and only the fan spins, the failure is almost certainly on the card’s PCB (GPU chip, VRAM, power delivery). That type of failure is not realistically fixable with software or normal home troubleshooting. At that point, replacement is the practical solution.

In summary: use Device Manager, Safe Mode, and driver reinstall/rollback to rule out software and configuration issues. If the RX 550 is not detected at all after these steps and in another system, it is effectively “dead” and not fixable via normal Windows tools.

---

References:

• Fix graphics device problems with error code 43
• Bug Check 0x116: VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE
• Bug Check 0x117: VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED
• Use DRED to diagnose GPU faults
• Stuck on Choose an Option when booting to safe mode - Microsoft Q&A
• how to update display drivers - Microsoft Q&A