Are cheap multimeters fine when it comes to diagnosing GPUs?

AccDossNumber15 · May 26

The ones under the 15 USD range or should I be looking for some specific feature?

porina · May 26

As long as it works at all and you understand how to use it and any limitations they can be fine. My main one at home cost something like $5 equivalent off ebay and for what I do it is fine. Which isn't much more than check voltages and continuity. It is manual range, and auto range would be a small QoL feature from a nicer model.

If you think you'll be using one a lot in future, do consider getting something nicer.

RONOTHAN## · May 26

If you know the limitations, it's fine. The main thing would be that some GPUs require a lot of precision when trying to find short circuits, as some GPUs have some really low default resistances (1080Tis for instance have a default core resistance of 0.008 Ω, and most multimeters only have a precision of .01Ω, so unless you have a rather high end multimeter it always looks like there's a short circuit on the VCore power rail).

Personally, if you're going to buy a multimeter for specifically GPU repair, I'd at least try to get one with auto ranging capability as they're not that much more expensive and a pretty good quality of life upgrade, but you can get by just fine with the cheapest multimeter you can find.

SavageNeo · May 26

Cheap multimeters are cost-effective and offer basic functionality. buut their accurace and reliability are often pretty ass. Depends how accurate readings you need.