Gpu Temprature Rising What Can I Do – What Can I Do!
If your GPU temperature is rising, clean your PC, improve airflow, reapply thermal paste, increase fan speeds, undervolt, or upgrade cooling.
This guide will walk you through the best practices to manage your GPU temperature, keep your system running smoothly, and protect your hardware.
Why Does GPU Temperature Rise?
Before we get into solutions, it’s essential to understand why your GPU temperature might be rising. Several factors can contribute to increased GPU heat, including:
- Heavy Workload: When you’re gaming, video editing, or running complex tasks like 3D rendering, your GPU works harder, generating more heat.
- Poor Cooling System: If your computer doesn’t have enough airflow or an efficient cooling system, the heat from the GPU has nowhere to go.
- Dust and Dirt: Over time, dust can build up inside your computer case, blocking airflow and causing components to overheat.
- High Ambient Temperature: If you are in a warm environment, your GPU may struggle to stay cool.
- Outdated Drivers: Sometimes, the problem might not be physical; it could be related to outdated or malfunctioning drivers that cause your GPU to work harder than it needs to.
Now that we understand the reasons, let’s look at ways to solve the issue of rising GPU temperature.
Is 90 degrees safe for the GPU?
A GPU temperature of 90°C is generally considered on the high side but not necessarily dangerous in the short term. Most modern GPUs can handle temperatures up to around 85-90°C, but sustained high temperatures can lead to reduced lifespan and potential performance throttling. To ensure optimal longevity and performance, it’s ideal to keep the temperature below 85°C. If your GPU regularly hits 90°C, consider improving airflow, cleaning the fans, or adjusting your cooling solution.
How to Check Your GPU Temperature:
Before taking action, it’s important to know how hot your GPU is running. You can monitor GPU temperature using various software tools that display real-time data about your system’s performance. Some of the most popular ones include:
- MSI Afterburner: A well-known tool that provides detailed information about your GPU, including temperature, usage, and fan speeds.
- GPU-Z: A lightweight program that shows comprehensive data about your GPU, including temperature, clock speeds, and power usage.
- HWMonitor: This software can monitor multiple hardware components in your computer, including the GPU temperature.
Generally, a safe temperature for most GPUs is between 60°C to 80°C under load (such as gaming or rendering). Temperatures above 90°C can be dangerous and may cause the GPU to throttle performance or, in extreme cases, damage the hardware.
Also read: What Is Gpu Service Logging – A Simple Guide For Beginners!
What Can You Do to Reduce GPU Temperature?
If your GPU temperature is rising and you want to take action, here are several steps you can follow to improve cooling and keep the temperature within safe limits.
Clean the Inside of Your PC:
Dust and dirt can easily build up inside your computer, especially around the GPU and cooling fans. This dust can block airflow and prevent the GPU from cooling properly. Cleaning your PC regularly is an easy and effective way to reduce temperature.
How to clean your PC:
- Power off your computer and unplug it from the wall.
- Use a can of compressed air to blow dust out of the case, especially near the GPU, CPU, and fans.
- Make sure you don’t touch any internal components directly to avoid static damage.
- Clean the fans and vents regularly to ensure optimal airflow.
Improve Airflow in Your Case:
Good airflow is crucial to keeping your GPU cool. If the air cannot flow freely through your PC case, the heat will build up. Adding more fans or rearranging existing ones can make a big difference in reducing GPU temperature.
Ways to improve airflow:
- Add extra case fans: Ensure you have at least one fan for intake (bringing in cool air) and one for exhaust (expelling hot air). Some cases support additional fans for better airflow.
- Rearrange existing fans: Ensure that the fans are oriented in the correct direction. Intake fans should pull air into the case, while exhaust fans should push hot air out.
- Consider fan size: Larger fans (120mm or 140mm) can move more air with less noise compared to smaller fans.
Apply New Thermal Paste:
Thermal paste is a compound applied between the GPU chip and its heatsink to improve heat transfer. Over time, thermal paste can degrade and dry out, reducing its ability to transfer heat effectively. Reapplying new thermal paste can help improve cooling.
How to apply thermal paste:
- Power off the system and remove the GPU from the motherboard.
- Clean off the old thermal paste using isopropyl alcohol (preferably 99%).
- Apply a small pea-sized amount of fresh thermal paste on the center of the GPU chip.
- Carefully reattach the heatsink and the GPU to the motherboard.
Increase Fan Speeds:
If you notice your GPU temperatures are too high, you can try increasing the fan speed using software like MSI Afterburner. This will make the fans spin faster and help cool the GPU more effectively.
How to increase fan speed:
- Open MSI Afterburner (or any similar software).
- Increase the fan speed slider to a higher percentage. You may want to set a custom fan curve based on the temperature readings.
- Be mindful that higher fan speeds will result in more noise, so try to balance cooling with noise levels.
Also read: Amd Can Discord Crash My Gpu – Here’s Everything You Need To Know!
Undervolt Your GPU:
Undervolting is the process of reducing the voltage supplied to your GPU. This can help lower the temperature and reduce power consumption without significantly affecting performance. This is a more advanced technique and should be done carefully to avoid system instability.
How to undervolt your GPU:
- Use MSI Afterburner or a similar tool to reduce the GPU voltage slightly.
- Test stability using benchmarking software or stress tests to ensure your system remains stable after undervolting.
- Gradually reduce the voltage in small increments, testing after each change.
Upgrade Your Cooling System:
If you have tried all of the above methods and your GPU temperature is still rising, it may be time to upgrade your cooling system. There are several options available:
- Aftermarket GPU coolers: Some companies offer enhanced cooling solutions specifically designed for GPUs. These coolers often have larger heatsinks and more powerful fans than the stock cooling solutions.
- Liquid cooling: Liquid cooling systems are more effective than air cooling and are especially helpful for high-end GPUs. You can either install an all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler or use custom liquid cooling loops to cool your GPU.
- Better case cooling: Investing in a case with better airflow or support for larger fans can also help lower overall system temperatures.
Lower Your GPU Load:
If your GPU temperature is rising due to heavy use, consider lowering the load by adjusting in-game settings or the resolution.
How to reduce GPU load:
- Lower in-game graphics settings: Reduce settings like resolution, anti-aliasing, shadows, and textures to decrease the load on the GPU.
- Use V-Sync or frame rate limiters: If you’re gaming, use V-Sync or a frame rate limiter to cap the frame rate. This prevents the GPU from rendering unnecessary frames, reducing its workload and temperature.
- Close unnecessary background applications: Ensure no other applications are running in the background, using your GPU unnecessarily.
Monitor Your GPU Regularly:
Regularly monitor your GPU temperature to ensure it stays within safe limits, especially during gaming or heavy tasks. Overheating can cause performance issues and, in extreme cases, permanent hardware damage. Use software tools to track your GPU’s temperature and load, and take action if it consistently exceeds recommended limits. If temperatures keep rising, check for issues like poor airflow or dust buildup in the case. Catching the problem early can prevent costly repairs or replacements.
FAQ’S
1. Is it safe for my GPU to reach 90°C?
A temperature of 90°C is on the high side and can cause performance throttling or reduce the GPU’s lifespan. It’s ideal to keep temperatures below 85°C.
2. How do I check my GPU temperature?
You can use tools like MSI Afterburner, GPU-Z, or HWMonitor to monitor your GPU’s temperature in real-time.
3. How can I clean the dust from my PC?
Turn off your PC, use compressed air to blow out dust from the fans and vents, and clean the inside carefully without touching any components directly.
4. Should I increase my GPU fan speed?
Yes, increasing the fan speed can help cool your GPU more effectively, but it may increase noise. Use software like MSI Afterburner to adjust the fan speed.
5. Can undervolting my GPU reduce temperature?
Yes, undervolting can reduce the temperature by lowering the voltage, which helps decrease power consumption without significantly impacting performance.
6. What is the ideal temperature for a GPU?
The ideal temperature for a GPU is typically between 60°C to 75°C under load, ensuring optimal performance without overheating or causing damage.
7. What temperature is considered too high for a GPU?
Temperatures above 85°C are considered too high for a GPU. Prolonged exposure to such heat can damage components and cause performance issues or crashes.
8. How can I prevent my GPU from overheating?
Ensure proper airflow, clean the dust from fans regularly, use cooling pads, and monitor temperatures with software like MSI Afterburner to keep the GPU cool.
Conclusion
In conclusion, managing GPU temperature is essential to maintain performance and prolong the lifespan of your hardware. Regular cleaning, improving airflow, and upgrading your cooling system can significantly help in reducing high temperatures. If temperatures continue to rise, consider advanced solutions like undervolting or using more powerful cooling systems to keep your GPU running safely.
