Most of you are not really aware of what’s going on inside your computer while you are using it, so long as it is working perfectly.
Some things, like playing games, can actually take a toll on the machine. This is why tons of people end up with that dreaded BSOD (Blue Screen of Death).
This is not good news if you are in the middle of trying to beat your opponent or your high score.
How Hot Should Your GPU Be?
Your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) has an optimal temperature when it will perform at its best. Unfortunately, there is no one number that works on all computers, so you will need to look at the model and manufacturer of your GPU.
A good guide is to not going over 95 Degrees Celsius (203 Degrees Fahrenheit) but to maintain optimal performance, it should be lower than 85 Degrees Celsius (185 Degrees Fahrenheit).
Some brands, like the ADM Radeon Cards, can go higher because they have been built to allow for it. However, this does not ensure that your computer will work optimally.
The most important thing to do is to make sure that your computer and the important parts do not go over the upper limit temperature so that they still function well.
Otherwise, whether it has 30 or 60 degrees, there is no difference when it comes to performance.
Monitoring Your GPU’s Temperature
Finding out how hot your GPU is isn’t that complicated. You can use the Nvidia Control Panel and the AMD Catalyst Control Center. They will allow you to monitor the functions of the graphics card, which includes monitoring its temperature.
There are other utilities added by the hardware manufacturers wherein you can check the temperature like ASUS GPU Tweak, MSI Afterburner, and Gigabyte Aorus Graphics Engine.
On the other hand, there is also third-party software that works as a temperature monitor, like AIDA64 and OpenHardwareMonitor. They have tons of functions and include a free utility that makes it easy to check out how your computer is doing.
Besides being able to monitor how hot your GPU is, your computer also has some air-cooling mechanisms inside to keep it cool. There is an open-air fan that pushes air through the open heatsink and a blower fan that blows hot air out and sucks cool air in.
The latter is not as popular because it does not cool down as much, so it is really only an option if there is limited space or reduced airflow.
What Should You Do When Your Computer Is Too Hot?
Because of the built-in mechanisms to cool down the computer and the GPU, there should be a reason why it is overheating. It can either be due to a build-up of dust in the heatsink, high ambient temperatures, poor airflow inside the case or a defective power supply, cooler or GPU.
This means, when the temperatures are getting high, you need to try out several things.
Clean The Heatsink(s)
Not many people realize that their computer needs to be cleaned, too. It does not need to be done too often, but you will need to remove the dust build-up every once in a while. This should not be complicated; all you need to do is find and follow a guide to do so.
Check The Airflow
Poor airflow can lead to overheating, and this can lead to several parts of the computer heating up, like the motherboard. To correct this, you need to improve the airflow by installing a case fan, though 2 is ideal. One will suck in cool air, and the other will blow the hot air out.
Check The Ambient Temperature
Unfortunately, those living in hot climates need to watch out for their computers overheating. This is why coolers are there, so make sure they are working properly. If the coolers cannot handle the hot weather, then you just have to upgrade.
Check Your Cables
Even something as simple as your cables can lead to overheating. They can eventually block airflow in and out of the GPU and raise the temperatures eventually. Managing many cables can lead to lower temperatures and better hardware efficiency.
Have The Store Check It Out
Do not rule out that there is something defective in your computer, especially when you have checked everything and made sure you have the mechanisms to maintain a lower temperature on your computer.
When the overheating does not make any more sense, just go to the computer shop and have them check the computer out thoroughly.
Get A GPU Water Cooling System
If you find the ordinary fans insufficient in keeping your computer cool, then you should try out a water cooling system.
They might be a bit expensive, but you will end up with temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius!
Rollback To A Previous Driver
There can really be many reasons that can affect the temperatures of your GPU and computer, including factors that do not involve physical pieces of the machine.
Something as simple as a driver update has been reported to be a reason for higher GPU temperatures.
The best thing to do is to wait before updating so that you can see how it truly works. If you update and see more cases of overheating, then rollback to an earlier driver.
The same goes for when you update the graphics card drivers, as they may also lead to higher temperatures. This simple trick can already reduce the heating of the computer.
Not many people realize how important it is to monitor the temperatures of the computer and its parts, mostly because home computers have built-in fans and do not have to process as much. This changes when you decide to play games on your computer.
Overheating can be a real problem when it comes to the performance of your PC and may even affect the longevity of the machine.
This is why monitoring the temperatures is important, as well as knowing the right steps to keep the computer cooler.