GPU Repair · Sacramento

GPU NOT WORKING?
WE’LL TELL YOU
WHY.

Dead card, artifacts, crashes, fan failure? We diagnose what's actually wrong in our Elk Grove shop, then replace the card or do the board-level work in-house, and tell you up front whether it's worth fixing.

“I brought in my custom built gaming pc because all my games kept crashing and I had no idea what was wrong. Hammad was able to narrow the issue down to the graphics card and had it fixed promptly.”
Verified Google review
Call (916) 627-1818

8145 Elk Grove Blvd, Suite 12, Elk Grove, CA 95758 | Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-3

Elk Grove, CA

8145 Elk Grove Blvd

Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-3

Shop hours

Work done in-house

By our own technicians at our Elk Grove shop

(916) 627-1818

Call or request a callback

Common GPU Symptoms

Sound like your card?

Most 'my GPU isn't working' situations fall into one of these patterns. We diagnose what's actually failing, then tell you whether it's worth replacing, or whether it needs board-level work, which we also handle in-house.

GPU repair is part of our computer repair service in Elk Grove.

Dead, no display at all

Computer powers on, fans spin, but the monitor stays black? Could be GPU, PSU, RAM, or motherboard. We narrow it down before you replace anything.

Visual artifacts / weird colors

Pink/green pixels, glitched textures, scrambled desktop, random lines? Classic GPU-failure signature, almost always means replacement.

Games crash / blue screens

Specific games crashing, BSODs under load, driver TDR errors? Could be GPU, PSU undersized, or driver conflict. We diagnose which before you spend on a new card.

Fan stopped spinning

Card's fan(s) dead or rattling? Cooling failure leads to thermal shutdowns and permanent damage. Sometimes a fan swap fixes it; sometimes the card is done.

Old GPU is dying slowly

Stuttering that wasn't there before, fps drops at low settings, occasional driver crashes? GPUs degrade, we benchmark to confirm and tell you when it's time.

Driver crashes after update

Drivers crashing after a Windows or Nvidia/AMD update? Sometimes a clean DDU + reinstall fixes it. Sometimes the card was already on the edge and the update exposed it.

Replacing a dead GPU

Card confirmed bad, need a replacement installed? We size the new card to your PSU, case, and CPU, and benchmark before you take it home.

PSU undersized for new card

New card calls for a 750W+ power supply and yours is a 550W unit? We check actual headroom under load. Skimping here causes random crashes that look like GPU failure.

New card might not fit

Modern GPUs are huge, some don't fit older cases or block other components. We measure before you finalize the purchase.

CPU bottleneck check

Pairing a flagship GPU with an old CPU means the CPU caps your performance. We verify the pairing makes sense before you spend.

4K / high-refresh upgrade

Moving to a 4K or 240Hz display and need the GPU to keep up? We benchmark your existing card and recommend what'll actually feel like an upgrade.

Board-level GPU repair needed

Bad VRAM, blown capacitors, dead VRM phase? That's board-level microsoldering work, we diagnose it and handle the repair in-house when it makes economic sense.

Brands & Tiers

Every GPU, every use case.

Nvidia, AMD, Intel Arc, current and previous generations. From budget cards for casual gaming to flagship cards for 4K and creator work.

Nvidia RTX 50 series

RTX 5060, 5070, 5080, 5090, current Nvidia generation.

Nvidia RTX 40 / 30 series

RTX 4060 to 4090 and 3060 to 3090, strong value tiers still.

AMD Radeon RX 9000

RX 9060 XT, 9070, 9070 XT, current AMD generation.

AMD Radeon RX 7000

RX 7600, 7700 XT, 7800 XT, 7900 XT/XTX, last-gen AMD, still strong.

Intel Arc

Arc A380, A580, A750, A770, Intel's entry into the GPU market.

Budget / casual

GTX 1660, RX 6500, used market cards for esports and 1080p gaming.

Creator / pro

Nvidia Studio drivers, AMD Radeon Pro, VRAM-heavy cards for 3D and video.

GPU + PSU combo

When the new GPU needs a new PSU, we handle both in one install.

How it works

Four steps. Properly installed.

Most GPU installation guides skip the parts that matter: PSU validation, case fit, thermal headroom, clean driver install. We don't.

1

Tell us your build

Call or bring the PC in with the new GPU box. We check your existing build (PSU wattage, case dimensions, CPU pairing) before the install.

2

Compatibility check

Verify PSU has the wattage and right connectors, case has the clearance, motherboard slot supports the card. Flag anything that needs to change first.

3

Quote labor + extras

Every repair is quoted after inspection, before any work starts. If your PSU or cooling needs to be upgraded alongside, we quote that separately so you can decide.

4

Install, drivers, benchmark

Clean old drivers (DDU), install new card, install new drivers, then run 3DMark stress tests and gaming benchmarks. We compare your scores against identical-spec builds.

Why iGeek

Done properly vs. plugged in and hoped.

Anyone can plug a GPU into a PCIe slot. The difference is whether the PSU survives, the drivers play nice, and the card actually delivers the performance you paid for.

iGeek (Elk Grove)

  • PSU + case validation

    Yes, measured

  • Clean driver install (DDU)

    Yes

  • Stress test + benchmark

    Yes: 3DMark, scored vs. identical builds

  • Honest about CPU bottleneck

    We'll tell you

  • Bundles with PSU/cooling if needed

    Yes

Big-box / Best Buy

  • PSU + case validation

    Usually skipped

  • Clean driver install (DDU)

    Sometimes

  • Stress test + benchmark

    Boot check only

  • Honest about CPU bottleneck

    Will sell anyway

  • Bundles with PSU/cooling if needed

    Per-job fees

DIY install

  • PSU + case validation

    YouTube and luck

  • Clean driver install (DDU)

    If you remember

  • Stress test + benchmark

    Find out under load

  • Honest about CPU bottleneck

    Forum opinions

  • Bundles with PSU/cooling if needed

    All your time

Real GPU Stories

What customers say after a GPU install.

“I brought in my custom built gaming pc because all my games kept crashing and I had no idea what was wrong. Hammad was able to narrow the issue down to the graphics card and had it fixed promptly. Will definitely be coming back if I ever have any more issues.”

Gaming PC owner

PC repair | GPU diagnosis | 2024 | Verified Google review

Review 1 of 6Read our reviews on Google

Two paths for a bad GPU

Replace, or board-level repair.

GPU 'repair' splits into two categories. Most failures we resolve by replacing the card (a real GPU is rarely worth fixing at the board level for under the cost of a new card). A small share of cases, pristine flagship cards with localized board damage, are candidates for board-level work, which we handle in-house.

In-house at iGeek

Diagnose + replace

We diagnose the failure, source a replacement card sized to your PSU/case/CPU, and install it properly: DDU clean drivers, thermal verification, benchmark before pickup.

  • Dead cards, no display
  • Visual artifacts / glitched textures
  • TDR errors and driver crashes under load
  • Fan failures (when card itself is otherwise fine, we can sometimes fan-swap)
  • PSU + case + CPU compatibility check for the replacement
  • Clean DDU driver removal + fresh install
  • 3DMark stress test + benchmark scored against identical-spec builds before pickup
Board-level, in-house

Board-level GPU repair

Bad VRAM, blown capacitors, dead VRM phase. This is rare microsoldering work that almost never makes sense vs. replacement, unless the card is a flagship and parts are scarce. We diagnose and do the board-level work in-house.

  • Bad VRAM (memory junction errors, specific pixel-area corruption)
  • Blown VRM capacitors or shorted MOSFETs
  • Card detected but no output (rare, usually replacement is cheaper)
  • Flagship cards (RTX 5090 / 4090 class) where replacement cost > board-repair cost

We diagnose the failure in-shop and tell you up front whether replacement or board work makes more economic sense. Every repair is quoted after inspection, before any work starts.

See our motherboard-repair page for more on our board-level work

Mail-in GPU repair

Not near Sacramento? Mail it in.

Outside the Sacramento area? We also take graphics cards by mail at our Elk Grove shop. Available. Call (916) 627-1818 for details.

Mail-in repair details Call (916) 627-1818

On Pricing

What GPU repair actually costs.

Every GPU repair starts with a diagnostic. Diagnostic fee quoted at check-in and applied to your repair if you proceed. After we know what’s actually failing, we quote the work: replacement labor plus the card you choose, or a quote for board-level repair, which we do in-house.

For replacements, you bring the card or have us source it for you. If your PSU or cooling needs upgrading alongside, that’s a separate line we’ll quote up front. If your CPU will bottleneck the replacement card significantly, we’ll tell you before you spend.

Board-level work varies by card and damage type. Every repair is quoted after inspection, before any work starts.

Frequently Asked

The questions we get most.

Can you actually repair a broken GPU?
For most failures, the honest answer is: the “repair” is replacement. Modern GPUs are dense multi-layer boards with BGA-soldered chips. Component-level work (bad VRAM, blown caps, dead VRM phases) is real but rarely pencils out vs. a new mid-tier card. We diagnose what failed, then tell you whether it’s worth replacing or repairing at the board level, and when board work makes sense, we do it in-house. See our motherboard-repair page for more on our board-level work.
Is GPU repair worth it, or should I just buy a new card?
Almost always replace. The main cases where board-level repair makes economic sense are flagship cards (RTX 5090 / 4090 class) where replacement prices sit well above the repair cost. For anything mid-tier or older, a new card is usually faster and cheaper. We’ll do the math with you up front.
My GPU is making weird noises. What’s wrong?
Whining/coil-whine under load is usually harmless (electrical, not mechanical). Rattling, clicking, or grinding is fan-bearing failure. If the rest of the card is healthy, we can sometimes fan-swap. If the fan failure already caused thermal damage, the card is usually done.
Will my PSU work with the new GPU?
Depends on the wattage and the connectors. Modern flagship GPUs (RTX 5090 / 5080 class) want 850W to 1000W power supply units with specific connectors (12VHPWR / 12V-2x6, multiple 8-pin). Mid-tier cards usually work with 650-750W. We check both wattage AND connectors before installing.
Will the card fit in my case?
Some cards are huge. We measure your case clearance (length, height, width) against the card spec before you commit. If the card won’t fit, we’ll either recommend a different card or a case upgrade.
Will my CPU bottleneck the new GPU?
Possibly, depends on which GPU and which CPU. A 5-year-old CPU paired with an RTX 5090 will cap performance below the card’s potential. We’ll tell you honestly whether the pairing makes sense before you buy.
How much faster will my games actually be?
Depends on what you’re upgrading from. Going from a GTX 1060 to an RTX 5070 will more than triple your frame rates in most modern games. Going from an RTX 4080 to a 5080 is a smaller jump. We’ll set expectations based on your specific upgrade, and back them up with 3DMark scores against identical-spec builds.
Do you sell GPUs?
We don’t maintain GPU inventory because pricing changes weekly and we’d be stuck holding overpriced stock. You buy the card (we’ll recommend specific models), we install it.
Will my games crash if it's not installed right?
Yes, that’s the most common GPU install mistake. Drivers conflicting with the old card’s leftovers, undersized PSU sagging under load, or thermal throttling cause the “works fine in browser, crashes in games” pattern. We do clean driver install (DDU) and stress test before handing it back.
Can you install a GPU in a prebuilt PC (Dell, HP, etc.)?
Usually yes, but prebuilts often have proprietary PSUs and limited case clearance. We assess what your specific machine can take. Some prebuilts can accept a mid-tier GPU upgrade easily; others need a PSU swap that may or may not work.
What about external GPU (eGPU) setups?
For Macs and ultrabooks without a discrete GPU, eGPU via Thunderbolt is an option. We can set up enclosures and configure the drivers. Performance is somewhat below a desktop install of the same card, but it’s real.
How long does the install take?
Ask about turnaround when you check in; it depends on the repair and parts availability.

Ready when you are

Let's get that GPU installed right.

Bring your PC and the new card to our Elk Grove shop. We check PSU and case first, install properly, and benchmark before you take it home.

Call (916) 627-1818

8145 Elk Grove Blvd, Suite 12, Elk Grove, CA 95758 | Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-3

Quoted before we start

Every repair is quoted after inspection, before any work starts. Diagnostic fee quoted at check-in and applied to your repair if you proceed.

Your choice of parts

We'll explain your part options before you decide.

Local, in-house repairs

Repairs are done at our Elk Grove shop by our own technicians. Ask about turnaround when you check in; it depends on the repair and parts availability.

After the repair

Ask about our repair warranty; terms are printed on your repair ticket.

Get a callback

Drop your name and number. A technician at our Elk Grove shop will reach out.