How to Test a Used Graphics Card

FPS Exchange, updated Sep 30, 2026

Whether you’re selling a card or buying one, a 30-minute check tells you if it’s healthy. This is close to what we do with every card we buy.

1. Look it over

Check for bent or broken fan blades, cracked plastic, missing screws, and burn marks or melting on the power connectors. Look at the PCIe gold contacts: they should be clean and unscratched. Note any “warranty void” stickers that have been disturbed, since that usually means the card has been opened.

2. Confirm what it is

Install the card and open GPU-Z. Make sure the model and memory size match what it’s supposed to be. Fake cards, usually a cheaper chip with a modified name, show up here right away.

3. Stress test it for 15 to 30 minutes

Run a heavy load with a tool like FurMark, OCCT or 3DMark’s stress test while HWiNFO or GPU-Z watches the temperatures. A healthy card stays stable with no crashes, black screens or driver resets. Watch for colored dots, lines or flickering on screen. Those are called artifacts, and they usually point to failing video memory or a failing chip.

4. Check the temperatures

Most modern cards run their core somewhere between 65 and 85 °C under a heavy load, depending on the cooler. Some cards also report a “hotspot” and a memory temperature, which run warmer. If a card climbs past about 90 °C on the core, or the fans roar at full speed right away, it likely needs new thermal paste or pads. That’s fixable, but it affects the price.

5. Test the video memory

OCCT includes a video memory test. Run it for at least 10 minutes. Any errors mean the card has a memory problem, even if games seem fine for now.

6. Check fans and ports

Every fan should spin smoothly and quietly, without rattling or clicking. Plug a monitor into each display output to make sure they all work.

What if something fails?

Cards with problems still have value, often for parts or repair. On our site, choose “Has a problem” in the offer tool and tell us what’s wrong. We’ll reply with a hand-written quote.