It is essential for you to maintain the GPU temperature. This is vital for maintaining the performance and longevity of your graphics card, which in turn ensures tasks like 3D rendering, video editing, and gaming. Overheating is one of the serious issues that affect the performance of your GPU, and it might even lead to permanent damage if it is not resolved. This is why you are required to know everything about GPU temperature. In this blog today, you will get to explore different aspects of GPU temperature.
Why Does GPU Temperature Matter?
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) takes up an intensive workload. During the data processing, the GPU generates heat. If this goes on for a long period, then its performance can be affected, leading to permanent failure or damage. High GPU temperature can cause several things like:
- Unexpected system crashes
- The shortened lifespan of your hardware
- Thermal throttling (reduced performance)
This is why it is utmost important for you to ensure that GPU temperature does not rise much. You are required to keep track of its temperature to ensure the health of your system.
Methods to Check GPU Temperature?
To maintain the health of GPU, you are supposed to keep track of GPU temperature. There are various ways and means in which you can proceed to check out its temperature.
Using Task Manager (Windows) – Checking GPU Temperature
If you are using Windows 10 or 11 version, you have the option of checking GPU temperature via Task Manager.
- You need to open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Esc+Shift.
- Navigate to the Performance tab.
- Keep scrolling down to get to GPU. There you will get to find GPU temperature written in degree Celsius.
NVIDIA Control Panel and AMD Radeon Software – Checking GPU Temperature
GPU Manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD provide dedicated software for their graphics cards. This makes it easy for you to check out the GPU temperature.
NVIDIA Control Panel
Navigate to the Performance segment to access the GPU temperature data along with other usage statistics.
AMD Radeon Software
You should open the software and navigate to Performance segment. This is where you would be able to get your hands on real-time GPU temperature and usage data.
Third-Party Tools – Checking GPU Temperature
Apart from the above options, there are various third-party tools that allow you to monitor GPU temperature in detail. Some of the best choices for you to consider are:
Speccy
This tool lets you get a comprehensive view of the status of your system hardware and the temperature.
MSI Afterburner
This third-party tool is mainly known for GPU overlocking. With the help of this tool , you also get to have access to real-time GPU temperature and other usage details.
HWMonitor
With the help of this third-party tool, you can effectively monitor several aspects like CPU temp, GPU temp and various other components.
All these third-party tools are known to be very useful in tracking GPU temperature and other related data.
What Should Be Normal GPU Temperature?
There is no fixed temperature, which should be considered normal GPU temperature. It can vary in accordance with the model and brand of your graphics card. Some general guidelines that you should follow are:
- Under Load (Heavy processing or gaming): 60°C to 85°C
- Low Activity (Idle): 30°C to 45°C
Most of the GPUs these days need to be operated at the highest temperature, up to 90°C. But it would be ideal for you to keep the temperature under 85°C to ensure optimal longevity and performance. If you are into high-gaming, then rendering sessions can increase the temperature. If the temperature reaches 90°C, you should address the issue immediately.
What are the Factors Affecting the Temperature of GPUs?
There are plenty of factors that affect the temperature of GPU. You are required to know about these factors to track the temperature and related issues.
Cooling System
The quality and type of cooling systems, such as liquid cooling, heatsinks, and fans, are responsible for impacting the temperature of the GPU.
Usage Level
Your usage level is another essential factor affecting the GPU temperature. If you do heavy tasks like crypto mining, 3D rendering and gaming, then temp of the CPU will quickly go up.
Case Airflow
If the case of the GPU is well-ventilated, then it will effectively disperse the heat. On the other hand, a poor airflow can increase the temperature.
Ambient Room Temperature
The room temperature where your system is placed also determines the GPU temperature. It is quite an essential factor to consider.
Check the Temperature of the GPU During Gaming
If you are into gaming, then it is likely to increase the temperature. This is why you are required to constantly track the temperature while gaming. Here are some ways in which you can check out the GPU temp effectively.
Gaming Monitor Support
There are some unique gaming monitors that lets you check CPU and GPU temp with the help of some built-in tools directly on the screen.
Second Monitor or Separate Display
You also have the option of using a second monitor or a separate display to check out the temperature during the gaming.
In-Game Overlays
Various monitor tools, like NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience and MSI Afterburner, come with on-screen display option where you can check out the temperature of GPU during gaming sessions.
These are some ways by which you can keep a track of GPU temperature whenever you want. It lets you maintain the temperature.
How to Reduce and Manage GPU Temperature?
Just tracking GPU temp won’t be enough. You are also supposed to reduce and manage the temperature. Some of the useful methods that you can follow are described below:
Improve Case Airflow
It would be better for you to improve the case airflow of the GPU. This is how the ventilation will get better.
- There should be enough space between your components.
- You should arrange and organize the cables to ensure there are fewer obstructions.
- Use exhaust fans.
Optimize the Settings of Fan
Some GPUs come with the option of customising the fan speeds with the help of control panels (such as MSI Afterburner). It is ideal for you to optimize the fan speeds to ensure more heat is dispersed to bring the temperature down.
Utilize High-Quality Thermal Paste
Thermal paste is an essential aspect that helps to disperse the GPU temp to heatsink. As the time goes by, the thermal paste might dry out. This is when you are required to utilize some high-quality thermal paste to effectively manage and reduce the temperature.
Manage Room Temperature
It is also important for you to manage and control the room temperature when the system is placed. This is ideal to make the room cool with air conditioning or fans effectively which will indirectly benefit the GPU too.
Underclock the GPU
Underclocking is known to be beneficial while temperature goes up. Due to this reason, the performance can be affected a little bit, but the temperature will be under control.
How to Know Your GPU Temperature is High?
There are some signs that you should consider in order to understand that the temperature has reached too high.
Artifacting – GPU Temperature
If there are artifacts (visual glitches) or distorted visuals, then it can be a sign of your GPU having a high temperature.
Frequent Crashes – GPU Temperature
Random and frequent crashes is another sign of your system getting hot. Such things are likely to happen mostly during demanding tasks like intense-gaming sessions.
Performance Throttling – GPU Temperature
If you notice some performance throttling, then there is a high chance that your GPU is overheating. You should immediately control the temperature.
Coming across these symptoms, you can understand the GPU temp has reaches quite high and it is time to cool it down.
Advanced Cooling Techniques
Apart from the methods mentioned above, there are some advanced cooling techniques to consider.
Liquid Cooling – GPU Temperature
This method is very efficient where a fluid coolant is used to help the GPU dissipates its heat. But you need to carefully install and maintain the liquid cooling system.
Custom Fan Curves – GPU Temperature
Opting for custom fan curves is another method to ensure better cooling of your system. It would be better for you to opt for this option to improve the overall cooling system of GPU. It effectively reduces and manages the overall temperature.
Conclusion
Tracking, maintaining and reducing GPU temperature is essential to ensure the longevity and performance of your system. Doing proper research and finding the best remedies is essential in this regard. Whether you are into gaming or some other extensive works, maintaining the temperature of GPU will be useful and beneficial for you. So what are you waiting for? Utilize the right remedies to control the GPU temperature today.
FAQs
What Should Be the Ideal GPU Temp Range?
Ans: 60°C and 85°C should be a safe temperature range for GPU, while the ideal range should be from 30°C to 45°C.
How to Check Graphics Card?
Ans: If you are using a Windows system, then you should type “dxdiag” in the Run dialogue box to check out the graphics card details. Or you can simply use some third-party tool like Speccy.
Why Should You Maintain Normal GPU Temp?
Ans: If the GPU temperature rises from the normal temperature, then it might damage the various internal components.
How to Check GPU?
Ans: You should open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Esc+Shift and navigate the Performance tab. Or you can simply type ‘dxdiag’ to find the GPU details.
How to Check GPU Temp?
Ans: There are various temperature tracking and monitoring tools that you can use such as AMD/NVIDIA, HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner software.
