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How to Reset Graphics Card: 6 Easy Steps You Need to Know [Video]

Learning how to reset graphics card could be a good place to start if you’re having display problems with your computers.

The hardware causes the majority of problems with your graphics card. This does not mean that you have to buy a new card every time the old one malfunctions. In some cases, cleaning your graphics card can have a lot of impacts.

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Watch Video on How to Reset Graphics Card

The graphics card is necessary for your PC to function properly (especially if you are a gamer), yet it can also be a major source of frustration.

It is a known fact that whenever the PC shuts down while you are gaming, there is a good chance that the GPU could be the cause. You’ll learn how to reset graphics cards easily in this article.

How to Reset Graphics Card

How to Reset Graphics Card
How to Reset Graphics Card

Resetting your graphics driver is as simple as pressing the command “Win + Ctrl + Shift + B.” This command will blacken your screen for a second, but it will restart your graphics driver, which may fix any issues you’ve been experiencing.

With this keyboard shortcut, you can reset the graphics driver without closing other programs. Thus, if the problem occurs while working or playing a video game, this technique will help clear it up without compromising your progress.

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The steps described below will guide you on how to reset the drivers on your graphics card:

Step 1: Find The “Start” menu, then click on the “Control Panel.”

Open the control panel by clicking the start menu.

Step 2: Locate the Control Panel and click “System.”

From the control panel window, select the system from the scroll-down menu.

Step 3: Open “Device Manager”

Open the Device Manager by opening the search bar and typing “device manager,” or go to the Control Panel and click on “System.”

Step 4: Open “Display Drivers” In the Device Manager

Click “Display Adapters” in the Device Manager after it opens. There will be a list of all your display adapters, including your GPU.

Step 5: Uninstall the Driver

When you right-click on your GPU, it will say “Uninstall.” Confirm the uninstallation and close the Device Manager.

Step 6:  Restart your Computer

The final step on how to reset the graphics card is to restart your computer as soon as you are prompted. After Windows loads, the new graphics card will be detected, and drivers will be reinstalled automatically.

Occasionally, reinstalling your GPU drivers does not happen automatically on some PCs. Hence, having a setup of your GPU’s drivers on your hard drive/SSD may be a good idea.

Resetting Video Driver Settings

How to Reset Graphics Card
How to Reset Graphics Card

Aside from learning how to reset graphics card, it is also important that you learn how to reset the settings for your video driver.

The computer’s display of graphics and game performance can also be affected by your video card driver settings.

Below, we have listed what to do for the most common brands in the market.

AMD

Step 1: Find AMD Radeon Settings.

First, right-click on the desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings.

Step 2: Go to the Preferences Tab

Select the Preferences tab.

Step 3: Restore factory defaults.

Choose to restore factory defaults.

NVIDIA

Step 1: Choose the Nvidia Control Panel by right-clicking on your desktop.

Then go to the Nvidia Control Panel by right-clicking on your desktop.

Step 2: Select “Manage 3D Settings.”

To manage 3D settings, click Manage 3D Settings.

Step 3: Right-click on Restore Defaults and select it.

Finally, you can restore the defaults by clicking “Restore Defaults” in the upper-right corner.

INTEL

Step 1: Right-click on your desktop and select Graphics Properties.

Select Graphics Properties from the right-click menu of your desktop.

Step 2: Select 3D

Once you have opened the menu for Graphics Properties, find and click on 3D.

Step 3: Choose to Restore Defaults

To restore the defaults, click Restore Defaults.

What Happens If I Disable My Graphics Driver

Graphics Driver
How to Reset Graphics Card

An important thing worthy of note when searching for how to reset graphics card is what happens if the graphics card is disabled.

If your graphics driver is disabled, your screen will instantly go black. The reason is that the hardware sending visual data to the screen is inactive.

Regardless, the issue is solely a software problem, and it can easily be rectified by resetting the CMOS, which controls the BIOS.

As mentioned earlier, if your graphics card is disabled in Windows using the Device Manager or another app, you will need to boot into a safe mode to re-enable it.

You can start your computer in Safe Mode by holding down Shift + F8 during startup. Try re-enabling the graphics card if your screen is working, which it should be unless in cases where your graphics card has failed, or you have a faulty screen cable or screen. Make sure the drivers for your computer are updated. In addition, it can be reset to factory defaults if the problems are with the software.

You might have a severe problem if you don’t see a display when you first boot your PC (the BIOS splash screen). The operating system on your PC does not control the boot screen, so if you’ve tried everything else and still don’t see anything, you might have a faulty CPU, cable, or graphics card.

You can try several things to fix issues where the graphics card is disabled. Yet the most important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need to re-enable it the same way you disabled it. For example, if you disabled it in BIOS, re-enable it from BIOS and if you disabled it in Windows, re-enable it from Windows.

What is the difference between CMOS and BIOS?

What is the difference between CMOS and BIOS?
How to Reset Graphics Card

The common terms “BIOS” (basic input/output system) and “CMOS” (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) are often used interchangeably, but they are different, though related, components of a computer.

The BIOS is the program that starts up the computer, and the CMOS is where the BIOS stores date, time, and system configuration information it needs to start the computer.

CMOS and BIOS terms refer to components of your computer’s motherboard. Even though they work together, they are not the same thing.

CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) and BIOS (Basic Input Output System) are terms used in computer technology.

They have a lot in common since they are closely related. However, they are different. BIOS is described as software that manages computer hardware during startup.

Think of it as a primitive operating system that initializes all the resources needed by the operating system. On the other hand,  CMOS is a type of integrated circuit.

The reason why these two are so closely related is the fact that a CMOS chip stores the information necessary for the BIOS. You can switch between these settings and a menu during boot-up by pressing F2.

One of the main reasons CMOS was chosen is its low energy consumption. When the system is off, a CR-2032 battery keeps the CMOS chip powered to keep the information stored. This means that the settings are lost if the power goes out.

The BIOS, on the other hand, does not require constant power as the code is stored in non-volatile memory. It also runs for a short time before handing control over to the operating system.

CMOS and BIOS are also different in terms of importance. Even though CMOS contains data, losing it will not cause major problems for the entire system.

It can be restored by looking at the menu when the computer is powered up. The BIOS code is important because the computer cannot boot without it.

To repair the computer, the BIOS chip must be removed and reprogrammed. The BIOS is protected by safeguards, including several restrictions to prevent accidental corruption and the use of multiple chips with the same BIOS for disaster recovery.

We may summarize the above explanation as follows:

  1. While CMOS is a type of chip, BIOS is a simple operating system.
  2. The CMOS should always be powered up, but not the BIOS.
  3. In contrast to CMOS, BIOS is vital.
  4. The CMOS chip is no longer in use; the chip’s BIOS is.

Is An Old GPU Better Than Integrated?

Guide to Reset Graphics Cards
How to Reset Graphics Card

Other information that people seek out when looking for how to reset graphics card is whether or not they are better off with a dedicated graphics card or a processor with an integrated graphics chip?

The next section examines the differences between both options to help figure out which one will work best.

The term “integrated graphics” refers to when a CPU and a GPU are built into the same chip. Thus, choosing a processor with integrated graphics will handle both CPU and GPU processes.

A dedicated graphics card is independent of your CPU. The graphics card that contains the GPU is used to process graphics-related data and instructions independently from your CPU.

The majority of modern processors come with an integrated GPU that is minimized and does not affect the CPU’s performance.

However, a dedicated graphics card has PCB, memory (VRAM), and a cooling solution, so its performance is not limited.

By freeing up CPU resources, you’ll be able to utilize integrated graphics on your computer to carry out graphics-related calculations instead of a dedicated GPU.

In other words, depending on how powerful the GPU on it is, a dedicated graphics card will provide more GPU power and reduce the load on your main processor, and the computer will perform better as a result of both of those things.

Even if dedicated graphics cards improve a computer’s performance, that doesn’t mean everyone should use a computer with a dedicated GPU.

Integrated graphics are becoming a more powerful tool useful for basic computing; they offer more than enough power to satisfy the average user.

The reality is that, while dedicated graphics cards usually deliver more GPU power, some users are better off with integrated graphics if their system is capable of doing so.

This is especially true if they don’t have the budget to purchase a dedicated graphics card and if the system will only be used for tasks that do not require the extra GPU capacity that a dedicated graphics card offers.

What Does Processor Without Graphics Mean?

What Does Processor Without Graphics Mean?
How to Reset Graphics Card

Having a processor without integrated graphics means you won’t be able to boot the system unless you have a dedicated GPU installed, i.e., if your GPU fails, your PC will not be able to display anything.

A graphics card (GPU) is the most expensive component of the computer, and you can run a PC without a GPU if your CPU has integrated graphics.

A CPU with integrated graphics (APU) or Vega graphics can render graphics with more RAM. It is enough for a PC without a graphics card to perform tasks with an APU (accelerated processing unit).

Despite the absence of a graphics card, the computer runs perfectly well. As long as you know what you’re doing, you can handle all tasks properly. If you do not want to see what you are doing, you do not need a graphics card.

Conclusion

A reliable graphics driver is crucial to ensure that your system performs as expected, and your computer’s display might freeze or stutter when it is faulty. However, the solutions provided above can help you resolve the issue.

The steps on how to reset graphics card can be surprisingly easy or frighteningly easy, depending on your experience with computers and how many peripherals are in the way.

If you perform tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, or others where graphics are crucial, you should buy an external GPU instead of an integrated one. If you use your PC for tasks like writing, excel, or watching, you can skip the GPU. You should also remember that you can easily use a CPU with integrated graphics if you do not want to buy a graphics card.

 

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