GPU Overheating: Learn How To Fix It Using Different Methods

The GPU overheating occurs if the temperature of the system crosses 194°F (90°C). As informed by the software company, NVIDIA, GPUs have a standard operating temperature of 104°F to 194°F, which is 40°C to 90°C.

GPUs will normally feel hot while operating because the room temperature is 20°C.

Keep reading to learn more about this issue and how to fix it!

How To Fix GPUs Overheating Problem?

1. Clean the fan and cooling system.
2. Reset the GPUs clock speed so it doesn’t overclock.
3. Check the airflow system of the computer and the condition of the thermal paste.
4. Check the GPUs driver issues if it’s a new or old version.

How Do GPU Overheat and How to Control It

GPUs are designed in a way that they can perform heavy-loaded tasks. Their running period is long and nonstop for hours, without heating the GPU temperature and still performing its 100 percent. But in case the graphics cards are not high-performance cards, then the heating problems will occur because they’re not designed for heavy work.

These are the following reasons why GPU or graphics cards overheat.

– The Problem in Cooling System

It is found to be one of the most common reasons for the disturbance occurring in GPU temperatures. Overheating of graphics card happens because the GPU fan speed is slow or there is insufficient ventilation area or the GPU fans are not working properly. Additionally, there might also be an absence of appropriate air cooling systems that help to keep the graphic processors cooled.

– Heatsink Is Dusty

Temperature control of GPUs is done by the heatsink. If it’s dusty, it slows down the ventilation process. Thus, causing the graphics card overheating problem to arise. The heatsink has a metal piece that absorbs the heat from GPUs and cools them down.

Nonetheless, if the dust clocks the area, the whole computer can heat up and can damage other parts of the computer, making it entirely useless.

– GPUs Overclocked

Each computer has clock speeds known as clock rates or the speed at which the processor processes the video cards. Overclocking increases the speed of the processor to make the GPU work faster and give better performance. However, this causes an increase in the temperature of the graphics card and gradually it overheats the GPU. However if overheating occurs, the user must undo all the settings to default.

– Overworked GPU

Another most common reason a graphics card gets overheated is that it is put under a lot of workloads. Since there is an excessive workload on the GPUs, they require more power to work effectively. Therefore, they generate more heat and end up burning up or overheating themselves, which causes the processor to slow down.

Therefore, always check if your GPU is capable of handling more than two graphics-intensive tasks together.

– Blockage of Airflow

As stated above, dust can cause the blockage of airflow. But that is not the only case every time. Sometimes, blockage occurs due to a loose hardware item or physical damage to the airflow system. This disturbs the airflow system causing the GPU to overheat.

– Old or Outdated GPUs

When the GPU is three to five years old, the user should change it, otherwise, the applications will run slow while the GPU will have to generate more power to work. It can overheat the graphics card.

The same happens if the user is using an outdated GPU on their computers. Due to incompatibility the GPU temperature will increase and overheating will occur repetitively.

– Dried Thermal Paste

It is a gel-type material used in the heatsink to keep the GPUs cool. This gel works as a thermal interference between GPUs and the heat. The gel contains Zinc Oxide which absorbs the heat and lowers the rising temperature. This is used in between the heatsink and the GPUs chips. 

Therefore, if the gel is dried, it will overheat the GPU and slow down the processing speed.

– Installing New GPU Driver

When a user changes the GPU driver to a new one, the old graphics card can be vulnerable to it. This new GPU drive but the old graphics card can cause the GPU to overheat. 

The new driver that the user installed may be compatible with their GPU but it can still have some bugs installed with the new driver which can become a reason to affect the user’s GPU model and cause it to heat up.

– Problems With Software and GPU Overheating

Software problems with the installation of a new GPU can cause software conflicts which can overheat the GPU. Incompatible software can make the graphics cards overwork consistently, due to which overheating occurs. If the problem is not solved in time, it may cause the GPU to fail and burn, which can damage other components around the GPU and GPU drive. 

Therefore, make sure you are not overloading the graphics card or using old versions of software and hardware.

– Problems With Hardware

A GPU can get damaged during installation if it gets exposed to moisture. It can become a cause of static overload as well. Hardware can get damaged by piled-up dust as well. Electrical components in the computer can get affected by dust as it does not conduct electricity. 

Constant interference by moisture or dust in the electric flow passing through the GPU can lead to hardware failure. The user’s GPU, in this case, will stop working.

– Power Shortage

Power shortage affects the GPUs because it tries to generate more power to work effectively which can make the GPUs hot faster. Insufficient power not only causes overheating GPUs problems to arise but many other malfunctions too, which can harm the hardware of the computer.

This may arise when the user hasn’t installed or upgraded the power supply from the get-go after upgrading their GPUs or other hardware.

How Do Other Factors Impact the GPU’s Thermals?

Like any other hardware component inside the PC, GPU also gets affected by a few internal and external variables of the environment. Let’s talk about how other variants can affect our GPU’s temperature.

– The Temperature Where PC Is Stored

The ambient temperature where the PC is stored can affect the thermal productivity of the graphic card directly.

The heat generated from the GPUs must be passed through a process to make the temperature fall. Thus, if the room temperature is already higher than the standard room temperature, it can hinder the heat transfer process and affect the thermal process.

Be careful where you place your PC so that your GPUs don’t get overheated or burn, in worse-case scenarios.

– Case Cooling

The case on the cooling system itself has a temperature and if that case gets too hot then it fluctuates the overall temperature of the GPUs as well. The internal airflow system should be designed in such a way that the air produced from the blowers can effectively carry out the hot air away and out of the case. If this is not functioning properly, the cooling case will get hot causing the GPUs to overheat. Thus, keep a check on your cooling cases as well.

FAQs

Following are the questions people ask frequently.

1. How Do I Check GPU Overheating Issue?

Operating systems like Windows and Mac have features that enable a user to keep a track of their GPU temperature. Windows 10 allows you to check overheating problems through “Task Manager”. Mac allows you to check overheating issues through “Activity Monitor”. Additionally, You can also call the software company for help.

2. What Will Happen if My GPUIs Overheated?

When the GPU is overheating, it doesn’t limit its damage to the core of the GPU but also damages the other components of the user’s computer. Try to avoid the temperature increment in the GPUs, otherwise, the user’s whole computer can become useless.

3. Will My GPU Shut Off if It Gets Too Hot?

At a certain degree of temperature, the GPU will automatically shut down or the system will underclock the GPU.

If this is happening frequently, it will damage the GPU as well as the cooling system. It may end up overheating the systems.

4. Can We Use Toothpaste Instead of Thermal Paste?

No! It may be better than nothing but still, not every toothpaste is suitable to replace the thermal gel. It can cause more harm than solving a problem. The ingredients in the toothpaste can harm the user’s CPU if it comes in contact with it.

5. What Happens if You Remove Thermal Paste?

The thermal gel is used to prevent the heating from passing over the borders of the heatsink and harming other computer components. If the thermal gel is removed, there will be no contact between the heatsink and the surface of the CPU lid. It can cause permanent damage to the user’s computer and they may have to buy a new one.

6. Can PSU Cause GPU Overheat?

The power Supply Unit controls all the power-related controls; including how much power to provide to certain components on the Motherboard. GPUs can only get affected by a PSU if it gets too hot and if they are closely located to each other.

7. Should GPU Feel Hot To Touch?

You should avoid touching the GPU even if it’s on its normal heat temperature.

Yes, the GPU will feel hot once you touch it, however, it should not feel extremely hot that it stings your finger because if that happens it means the GPU is overheating.

8. Why Are My CPU and GPU Overheating Frequently When I Play Games on the Computer?

Your computer overheats frequently due to multiple reasons like dust in the GPU drive or fan blockage or when the user is running multiple applications at once, it can make the fan go into overdrive condition, and if that happens frequently, the fan may stop working causing the CPU and GPU to heat up when you play games. Games are already very heavy, if other applications are working at the same and the user’s GPU is outdated, then it will keep heating the user’s CPU and GPU.

9. PC Started To Overheat and Reboot. Is This a Problem in the Graphic Card or the Heatsink?

The problem can be caused by multiple reasons, but if it overheats and the computer rebooted itself, the problem may have arisen due to a fault in the CPU/GPU or PSU. If PSU becomes overheated, it can directly damage the CPU, and if the CPU gets overheated, all the hardware and software of the computer can stop working due to which GPU also stops working. 

This causes the PC to reboot itself. Thus, it can be both the graphic card and the heatsink that is causing the problem.

10. How To Clean a Heatsink?

To clean the heatsink, we should use a cotton swab and dip it in alcohol. Remove the excess liquid and use it to remove the dirt between the small metal fins of the heatsink, be careful with the thermal gel around it.

11. How Do I Install a Heatsink?

To install or attach the heatsink to Motherboard, we need to follow the following steps;

1. Start with cleaning the CPU’s top surface and based on the thermal gel, we remove the previous heatsink’s cover, which protects the surface of the heatsink, and cleans the base of it.
2. AMD and heatsink have a black plate with them. Attach that plate to the rear of the motherboard near the CPU socket.
3. Place the heatsink on the plate and attach the bracket to the socket to secure it. It will be closed after a twisting motion.
4. There, our heatsink is securely installed!

12. How To Solve GPU Overheating Problem?

In case you are unable to solve the GPU problem regarding overheating, you should call the company or computer experts to solve the issue for you. Changing or upgrading your GPUs and GPU drives can be dangerous if you’re doing it for the first time.

Conclusion

We now know what is the reason behind our GPU getting overheated and how we can solve this issue or install the new heatsink and cooling system, using the information that we have provided in our article.

Following is the recap of the main points:

• We learned that the GPU’s standard operating temperature is 104°F to 194°F and 40°C to 90°C.
• We must check the computer’s cooling system and heatsink issue.
• We can also clean the dust from your GPU’s cooling system and fan.
• Lastly, we can check the condition of your thermal gel. Change it if required.

Feel free to come back if you get stuck. We also have other tutorials in our blogs sections. Thanks for reading!