Technology forces us to make tough decisions sometimes.
And the throttling technology is one of those.
And turning off the safety technology can burn your graphics card.
Thats why understanding the throttling mechanism is crucial for every PC gamer.
This post explores GPU thermal throttling, how it works, and its effects on your setup.
What Does GPU Thermal Throttling Mean?
The thermal throttling technology of your GPU adjusts your graphics card speed according to the temperature.
This technique prevents your component from overheating, which protects your graphics card from burning up.
The safety feature automatically activates when the room temp gets too hot.
Manufacturers implemented this feature to limit your hardwares capabilities when it gets too hot.
When you do graphics-intensive work like gaming or video editing, your GPU runs at a faster clock speed.
But like our body, a faster-running GPU generates more heat.
Also, this safety feature will shut down your PC if your GPU reaches the TJ max.
This technology keeps your Graphics processor from burning.
So I recommend you try other methods to control your PC temperature before disabling this safety feature.
Read more onwhat is GCN in GPU.
Can Your Graphics Card Thermal Throttle at a Low Temperature?
No, it usually doesnt happen in a normal case.
Also, your GPUs power consumption limit can cause it.
But it usually happens in laptop GPUs.
About three and a half years ago, user BluMtnDew faced this problem with hisNvidia RTX 2080 Ticard.
Companies recently set different power limits for the same graphics card while assembling their all-in-one PCs or laptops.
Your GPU will start throttling on those machines long before reaching TJ Max.
To see the difference, Ive comparedAcer Nitro 5, Lenovo Legion 5i, and ASUS TUF A15.
Here the throttling temperature difference is quietly visible on These three laptops because they have matching hardware configurations.
But those GPUs will throttle at different temperatures during the stress test in the same environment.
So, your GPU throttles at a low temperature when manufacturers set a low power limit.
Also, the severity of thermal throttling can vary depending on their design and cooling solutions.
Also, read more on how toLower GPU Temperature.
What Causes Thermal Throttling in Your Graphics Card?
Thermal throttling goes line by line with the overheating issue of your graphics card.
Because when your graphics cards temperature reaches a certain threshold, it starts throttling.
Usually, overclocking error or dried-up thermal paste mainly causes thermal throttling in your GPU.
Different graphics card throttles in different temperatures based on their ideal temperature.
So you must know theidle temp of your GPUto understand the throttling issue better.
It loses its connectivity when it dries out.
Thats why the temperature rises quickly toward the throttling threshold when your GPU Thermal Paste dries out.
However, your card starts throttling when you overclock your GPU but cant remove the excessive heat.
Choked Airflow
If your PC doesnt have proper airflow, the ambient temperature rises quickly.
This increasing ambient temperature also increases your GPU heat which causes the throttling issue.
Fan issue
A defective fan or cooling system of your GPU thermal throttles the component.
Also, the stock cooling system cant control an overclocked GPUs temperature.
So you’re gonna wanna monitor the fan condition of your graphics card.
Dust
When your PC clogs with dust or other debris, it impedes airflow and increases temperatures.
The situation ultimately leads to GPU thermal throttling.
So your GPU starts throttling long before reaching the temperature limit.
Here is an important post aboutdo I need to uninstall Nvidia Drivers?
Does GPU Thermal Throttling Affect Gaming?
And these issues dont make your gaming experience any better.
Additionally, if a graphics processing unit frequently thermal throttles, doing any gaming activity becomes impossible.
Usually, gamers like us overclock a GPU to increase performance.
But overclocking also increases the risk of thermal throttling because you face extra heat generation.
Initially, I got a steady 65+ FPS with a GPU temperature from 73C to 75C.
And it was impossible to play the game in that case.
So its clear as water that GPU thermal throttling can make any game unplayable.
But monitoring temperatures during gaming and ensuring proper cooling can prevent thermal throttling in your graphics card.
Also, check out the easiest way toenable RTX Nvidia GPU.
Is GPU Thermal Throttling Good Or Bad?
The thermal throttling in your GPU can both be good and bad, depending on the circumstances.
Thermal throttling is a protective mechanism built into modern GPUs to prevent damage from overheating.
This technology is generally good, but it reduces the performance of the GPU.
It is very harmful during competitive gaming or heavy graphics-intensive work.
Thermal throttling also increases file rendering time and drops graphics-intensive games FPS.
However, thermal throttling is terrible sometimes because it makes your graphics card run slower.
So, thermal throttling is bad for graphics-intensive work and heavy-duty gaming users.
Still, for general users, it increases your hardwares lifespan.
You just need to play a GPU-intensive game and monitor the GPU performance limit in HWinfo.
And you will see the thermal throttling results in the popup window.
If the GPU Performance limiter-thermal option changes to Yes, your graphics card has a thermal throttling issue.
it’s possible for you to also turn off the throttling technology if you want.
But I dont recommend you to do so.
But if you are confident enough, follow the process to turn off the throttling technology.
Go through our on of the easiest way to useAMD CPU with Nvidia GPU?
If you follow them correctly, GPU throttling wont bother you in the future.
FAQs
Does thermal throttling damage your GPU?
No, thermal throttling doesnt damage your GPU; it protects your PC from thermal damage.
Thermal throttling is a safety technology that limits your GPUs performance during high temperatures.
What temp could the GPU be before throttling?
Usually, any mid to top-end GPU can go upto 95C before it starts throttling.
But the throttling temperature can vary depending on your power supply.
What happens if you disable thermal throttling?
When you disable thermal throttling, you may not face any performance issues.
But the risk of GPU burning increases when you disable GPU thermal throttling.
While thermal throttling prevents hardware damage, it can also cause a reduction in GPU performance.
So it can be both good and bad for your PC.
After reading the article, Im sure you have all the necessary knowledge about GPU thermal throttling.
Comment if you have any other questions regarding this issue.
And for everything else, stick with 10 Scopes.
