Red Light On GPU When PC Is Off? Why It Happens And How To Fix

See your graphics card’s LED red light glowing at night even though your computer’s shut down?

Relax, it’s normal for some ASUS cards.

A red light on the GPU usually indicates insufficient power. ASUS allows minimal circuits to remain engaged even when powered off.

This supports features like wake-on-LAN or gradual fan shutdown.

Investigate and troubleshoot a blinking red light, though. It could signal an actual issue.

Why Does The Red Light Stay On Even When The PC Is Off?

A red light on the GPU usually means the graphics card isn’t receiving enough full power at that exact moment.

Within certain cases involving ASUS GPUs, this is considered normal.

Even in a powered-down state, some ASUS graphics cards keep minimal circuits engaged to maintain standby functions, like monitoring for wake-on-LAN events or powering down fans gradually.

Also Read: GPU Fan Making Noise

A blinking red light on the GPU is something you’ll want to investigate further and troubleshoot.

How To Stop Red Blinking Light On GPU

You don’t need to do anything if it’s just the red light, let it be. Asus will stop it in the next update.

But if the red light on your GPU is blinking when the PC is off, here are some things you can try to stop the blinking:

#1 Unplug Power Supply

One of the easiest fixes for this problem is just unplugging the power cord from your power supply unit for a few minutes.

Sometimes, a loose connection between the PSU cables and the GPU power connectors can cause an issue.

Or a temporary power delivery issue from the PSU could be the cause (this is super rare though).

All it takes is unplugging and replugging to sort both these issues.

So go ahead, unplug that power cord, wait a couple of minutes, then plug it back in and turn your PC back on.

You’d be surprised how often this simple step can stop the red light on the GPU.

Also Read: Does It Matter Which SATA Port I Use

#2 Reseat The GPU

Another fix is to reseat your graphics card.

Now, this one involves a little bit more work, but it’s still pretty straightforward.

First, you’ll need to shut down your PC completely. Once it’s off, carefully remove the GPU from the PCIe slot on your motherboard.

Look at the slot and the GPU to ensure no dust or debris could be causing a bad connection.

Then, firmly re-insert the GPU into the slot, ensuring it’s properly seated and secured.

This can sometimes resolve any power delivery issues that might be causing that red light.

#3 Disable D.O.C.P (or XMP) In BIOS

Got it! Now, this may seem a bit technical, but bear with me.

Some people have found that disabling a setting called D.O.C.P or XMP in their BIOS can help stop the blinking red light on their GPU.

These settings are related to RAM overclocking, and sometimes they can cause conflicts with power delivery to the GPU.

So, you’ll need to access your BIOS settings, find the option for D.O.C.P or XMP (depending on your motherboard), and disable it.

It’s worth a shot if you’re comfortable poking around in the BIOS.

#4 Try Using Separate PCIe Power Cables

This one is especially important if your GPU requires multiple power connectors.

Instead of using those splitter cables that branch off from a single cable, it’s recommended to use separate individual cables from your power supply for each connector on the GPU.

Those daisy-chained cables can sometimes cause power delivery issues and trigger the light.

So, if you’ve been using those splitters, try swapping them out for dedicated cables straight from your power supply to your GPU.

#5 Use GPU Tweak

The last one is a bit of a software solution.

Some GPU manufacturers like ASUS offer utility programs like GPU Tweak, and these sometimes have options to disable or turn off that red light on the GPU when your PC is off.

Also Read: What is Onsite IT Support?

It’s worth checking if your GPU maker has a similar utility and exploring the settings to see if you can find an option to just straight-up turn off that red light.

It might save you from having to try any of the other more involved fixes.

#6 Seek Professional IT Support

If you’ve tried all the above steps and are still experiencing persistent issues with your GPU or other IT components, consider reaching out to a managed IT support service for expert assistance.

Professional IT support can provide comprehensive solutions for complex hardware and software problems, ensuring your system runs smoothly.

ASUS GPU Models Known to Have Red Light When PC is Off

While this behaviour can occur in various graphics cards, it’s particularly common in recent ASUS models.

Here’s a list of ASUS GPUs frequently reported to show a red light when the PC is off:

Please note: that not all units of these models will necessarily display this information, and some users have reported similar occurrences with other ASUS GPU models not listed here.

If you own an ASUS graphics card and notice a solid red light when your PC is off, it’s likely a normal feature of your card’s standby power state.

LED Behavior Across GPU Manufacturers

While ASUS GPUs are known for their red LED light when the PC is off, other manufacturers handle this differently:

●ASUS: Many recent models, especially in the RTX 3000 and 4000 series, display a solid red LED when the PC is off. This is considered normal for these cards.

●MSI: Generally, MSI cards do not display LED lights when the PC is powered off. Some models may have configurable LEDs through their software.

●GIGABYTE: Most GIGABYTE cards turn off all LEDs when the PC is powered down. However, some users have reported occasional LED activity in standby mode.

●EVGA: While EVGA has ceased GPU production, their cards typically did not show LED activity when the PC was off. Some models allowed users to configure LED through their software.

●ZOTAC: Similar to MSI and GIGABYTE, ZOTAC cards usually do not display LEDs when the system is powered off.

Also Read: Tom's Hardware Guide On Diagnosing And Fixing Graphics Cards

Bottom Line

In conclusion, seeing a solid red light on your ASUS GPU when your PC is off is likely normal and nothing to worry about.

This is present in some ASUS models, particularly recent RTX 3000 and 4000 series cards.

It occurs because the GPU maintains minimal power draw for standby functions even in a powered-down state.

If the red light is blinking instead of solid, that could be a sign of a power delivery issue.

In that case, consider trying the troubleshooting steps mentioned in this guide, such as reseating the GPU or checking your PSU connections.

If you’re still unsure, consulting your ASUS GPU manual or contacting ASUS support is recommended.