The Ideal GPU Temperature Range For Gaming: How Hot Is Too Hot?
The acceptable temperature range for GPUs varies based on a few important factors. Firstly, some cards are rated for higher temperatures, whereas others can’t reach those same numbers without malfunctioning. It’s best to check with your manufacturer to see what is acceptable for your graphics card. That said, generally speaking, around 85 degrees Celsius is when issues start to occur on most GPUs. Exceeding your recommended temperature can not only cause damage to your card over time but can also result in throttling, making your games run slower.
Ideally, your graphics card will be anywhere from 65 to 85 degrees Celsius during gaming. Just because your GPU can run fine up to a certain number does not mean it should sit at that temperature all day. If you are not running intensive programs that require GPU rendering, your temperatures should be much lower. If it is not, there may be an issue with the card.
A GPU running excessively hot can be due to several things, including your room temperature, GPU placement, and airflow. But before you start opening up your computer to mess around with stuff, check your GPU temperature in and out of gameplay to see if you are overheating.
How to monitor an Nvidia GPU’s temps
Nvidia has a useful tool that lets its customers check their temps in-game. To use it, make sure you have yourNvidia graphics driversup to date. You can update your drivers via the officialNvidia site. The site also has a handy automatic installer if you are unsure what GPU you have. Here’s how to turn on and use GPU temp monitoring on an Nvidia card:
Once the Performance overlay is up and running, it can be toggled using Alt + R. If that key does not work for you, you can adjust your keyboard shortcuts in the In-Game Overlay Settings menu.
How to monitor an AMD GPU’s temps
Make sure you have the latest AMD GPU software installed. The drivers can be found on theAMD download page. You will also find an auto-installer can also be found on the site.
Here’s how to enable the overlay:
To enable the In-game metrics, follow these steps:
You can also set a key bind for toggling the overlay on and off in the Hotkeys tab under Performance. Just ensure that Hotkeys are set to enabled on the same page.
Third-party option for monitoring GPU temps
One of the most popular ways to monitor your GPU temperature in-game is to use MSI Afterburner. This program will work for all graphics cards, no matter your manufacturer. To get started, download and install the program from theofficial website. Make sure you check the box RivaTuner Statistics Server when prompted in the installation window. Here’s how to start monitoring your temperatures:
If the overlay does not show up, try pressing one of the hotkeys you set up earlier.
Tips for reducing your GPU temperature
There are a few different ways to keep your GPU temperatures down. The most common reason a GPU is running hot is because there is dust or debris in your fans. This is unavoidable, so clean your GPU fans every few months.Cleaning your GPUcan be done in many ways, from using compressed air to rubbing alcohol and coffee filters.
If that still doesn’t help, you can try to manually adjust your fan speeds using programs like the aforementioned MSI Afterburner to cool the device down. This can help if the internal sensors are messed up, causing the automatic fan speeds to not run as fast as they should.
Not only can a dusty GPU cause hot temperatures, but your entire PC can, too. Consider cleaning out your PC if you notice dust or debris. You can also try optimizing your airflow by securing cables out of the way or installing more fans in your case.
If all else fails, you may try underclocking your GPU or running games on lower settings to minimize the performance impact. Although these aren’t permanent solutions, they can keep your temperatures down for the time being.
