GPUs produce heat naturally when under heavy load.
At that, graphically intensive games can push the graphics card to its limit.
But what is the ideal or considerably good temperature while you game?
Well, this number can differ due to the brand & SKU variations.
Interestingly, all of them have a common ground to keep the GPU safe from heat damage.
In this article, Im going to answer that question for you.
Without further ado, lets jump in, shall we?
What Is A Normal GPU Temp While Gaming?
A GPU stays within 65-75C under a typical gaming load.
FYI, on the Fahrenheit scale, normal GPU temperature translates to 149 to 185F.
It can climb up rapidly and hit 90C within a few minutes after launching a game.
Though, gaming-focused laptops ship with thick chassis housing hefty coolers with dense fin stack.
Interestingly, modern laptop coolers also come with a vapor chamber to battle high temperatures.
Coming back to desktop GPUs, bare-bones models are quite inefficient and loud, keeping the temperature in check.
Conversely,GPU hotspot temperaturecan go beyond the GPU core.
GPU Temperature: How Hot is Too Hot?
The scorching hot temperature for a GPU ranges from90Cto100C.
Such heat can significantly shorten the lifespan of your GPU.
Not to mention the issues it creates, such as thermal throttling and random crashes.
As a result, fps drop and stutters are all over the place.
So, I highly recommend maintaining GPU temp under90Cno matter what.
In all fairness, the question is, how do you know whether your GPU is overheating?
Well, hop on to the next section to get a hold of GPU temperature monitoring.
This could also mean that theCPU is overheating.
But were talking about GPU overheating here, right?
Dont forget to installMSI afterburnerand turn on the in-game overlay to view GPU temperature readings.
Overheating GPU, But Why?
It generates heat when you put your box hardware to work, such as the GPU.
It is basic physics.
But when the thermal output breaks the safe threshold, it is considered overheating.
That said, sometimes, the GPU fans are the ones to blame for overheating.
They can fail after prolonged usage.
Even if they spin, they lose the capability to move hot air out.
In such cases, replacing the fans can effectively revise GPU overheating.
Lets discuss this in the later section.
Install Case Fans to Ensure Airflow
Case airflow unthinkably affects GPU and CPU temperature.
You must have enough clearance inside the PC tower for the GPU to avoid any sort of air suffocation.
There should be enough fans to take out hot air generated by the GPU and CPU.
By design, the fans on the graphics card push hot air out of the fins opening.
If this scalding air traps inside, the entire chassis turns into a furnace.
Hence, the rise in GPU temperature.
This should dramatically decrease the overall GPU temp.
This result, however, is subject to change due to case design.
So your temperature readings will be different.
Over time, they grow vigorously and block the air vents of the cooler by blocking fins.
So hot air can no longer escape, thus shooting up the thermals to the sky.
So, what to do?
Yes, you guessed it correctly; you need toclean the GPUproperly to ensure nothing obstructs airflow.
Use a blower, brush, and air duster to clean every nook and cranny of the video card.
Your GPU should now function perfectly fine with optimal temperature.
Before concluding, know that GPU manufacturers sometimes incorporate conservative fan profiles to improve the noise.
By conservative, I mean the fans dont ramp up as they should minimize thermal output.
To play up to this issue,download MSI Afterburnerand set a custom fan curve for each temperature range.
This will drastically bring down the temperature quite a bit.
Now, run games, and youll notice the new fan profile effectively lowers the GPU temp.
Repaste the GPU Die
Older GPUs often suffer from a used-up thermal compound and resulting in increasing the temp.
Theres one way to fix this, and that is re-apply thermal paste on the GPU die.
This involves dissembling the entire graphics card.
So, if you are not confident enough to perform it by yourself, get professional help.
Undervolt GPU
With great power comes great responsibility, and modern GPUs resemble this famous line perfectly.
As they deliver insane performance, power usage has increased significantly through the years.
So, overheating is apparent, especially on laptops.
Luckily, a small trick can solve the heating issue along with a performance uplift as well.
It is known as undervolting.
Sounds familiar, right?
If everything seems stable, lower the voltage further down and spin up the test again.
Repeat the process until you face any GPU crash.
For a detailed guide on GPU undervolting, follow our extended article onhow to undervolt GPU.
FAQs
What is the normal GPU temperature at idle?
At idle, the GPU temperature should hover around 30-40 degrees celsius.
Though, some laptop GPUs can be in the high 40s or 50s while the GPU has no load.
Is 70C too hot for a GPU?
No, 70C is not too hot for a GPU.
Its perfectly fine and within the safe limit.
Theres no possibility of thermal throttling at this temperature for a GPU.
Can GPU Overheat Without Gaming?
No, the GPU should not overheat without gaming.
However, plenty of 3D workloads may cause the graphics card to generate too much heat.
Except for these scenarios, GPU overheating is not normal, and it requires special attention.
Ending Remarks
Excessive GPU temperature throws it into a different set of issues.
Worst is the possibility of permanent damage.
