Device diagnostics hub
See the full set of checks for screens, ports, heat, water damage and slow devices.
⚡ Free tool — no login required · Use before booking
🔧 Free Diagnostic Tool
Screen vs GPU Check — Is Your Display Problem the Screen or the Graphics Card?
🔍 Interactive Tool
Answer the questions to get your result
No personal information is collected. All processing is local to your browser.
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Next steps
After You Get Your Result
What To Do Next
What Your Result Means — Next Steps
Your result points to either a manageable issue you can address yourself, or a fault that needs professional attention before it gets worse.
Key Questions
Hardware or Software? Worth Fixing? Can It Get Worse?
Hardware or software? Connect to an external monitor via HDMI. If the external display shows the same corruption — GPU hardware fault. If the external is clean but the laptop screen is corrupted — screen or cable fault. If issues disappear in Safe Mode — driver (software) fault.
Can it get worse? GPU hardware faults are progressive — they tend to get worse over time, not better. Driver faults can sometimes be resolved permanently with a clean driver installation.
Is it worth repairing? Screen replacement: yes, usually. GPU repair on a laptop: often not economical. GPU fault on a desktop: yes, GPU replacement is typically cost-effective. Use our Repair or Replace Calculator.
🚨 Urgency note: If you're relying on this device for work, GPU failure will progressively worsen. Back up your data now regardless of repair decision.
Related Tools
Other Useful Diagnostic Tools
Root Causes
What's Actually Causing This?
Understanding why a problem happens helps you make better decisions — and helps us fix it faster.
Physical Panel Damage
Visible cracks or impact damage — the display itself needs replacement regardless of other symptoms.
GPU Failure
Artefacts, random colours, or distortion visible on an external monitor confirm a GPU fault rather than the screen.
Driver / Software Issues
Display problems that appear only in Windows (not the BIOS) and disappear in Safe Mode are usually driver-related.
Backlight or Cable Issue
Dim display or image only visible with torch = backlight. Works at certain hinge angles = cable. Both cheaper than a full screen replacement.
Professional Help
Do You Need a Professional Repair?
✅ You can DIY if:
You can try: connecting to an external monitor via HDMI to isolate whether the fault is in the screen or GPU; booting into Safe Mode to rule out drivers; rolling back GPU drivers in Device Manager.
🔧 You need professional repair if:
You need professional repair if: the external monitor shows the same corruption (GPU hardware fault); the screen has physical damage; or driver reinstalls haven't resolved the issue after a clean install.
⚠️ What happens if you ignore this: GPU hardware faults are progressive — artefacts and distortion worsen over time. A device used through a failing GPU risks complete display loss and, in some cases, data-corrupting crashes. Back up data immediately and address the fault promptly.
Common questions
Screen vs GPU Check — FAQs
Connect to an external monitor. Normal external = screen fault. Distorted external = GPU fault.
Overheating, thermal cycling crack of solder joints, or electrical surge damage — more common in older gaming laptops.
GPU repair (reballing) costs $200–$350 and success varies. Only worth it for otherwise excellent, relatively new laptops.
Yes — a loose cable can cause flickering or lines, and is much cheaper to fix than a screen or GPU replacement.
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