One of the most crucial components of your gaming PC is the graphics card, often known as a GPU. Below we have illustrated in detail how to check GPU temp. It's critical to check its temperatures regularly to preserve its longevity. The main factor impacting its degradation is temperature.
You want it to be durable, especially in today's market, where the best graphics cards are expensive. Fortunately, keeping an eye on its temps is simple and can be done in a matter of minutes with the right instruments.
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Why is it Important to Check the GPU Temperature?
1. Overclocking
If you attempt overclocking your GPU, you should monitor the temperature your graphics card produces due to the slightly higher frequency. When overclocking, it's critical to keep the GPU's temperature near the sweet zone.
Graphics card makers are now well aware of the gaming community's interest in overclocking. Consequently, they've built their graphics cards to allow for overclocking while keeping the product's integrity.
When overclocking your GPU, you need to consider whether or not you'll require additional cooling. It is crucial to maintain your GPU at a comfortable temperature. If you're having trouble with overheating, this is generally the first thing you should try to solve the problem.
2. Prevents the Computer from Overheating
Overheating can seriously harm your CPU and its components. As a result, it will begin to malfunction and shut off unexpectedly. The CPU temperature monitor can detect this temperature and allow you to take preventative measures before any damage occurs.
3. Playing Resource-Heavy Games
The GPU is taxed if you're only playing a game with higher-quality visuals for a longer amount of time. As a result, more serious issues may arise. Therefore, knowing how effectively your graphics card can manage the load is crucial.
Your GPU will meet the minimal or even recommended system requirements in many cases. However, you may still have problems running the game at higher graphical settings for more than a few hours.
Depending on how long you overlook obvious faults while playing, you could suffer varying degrees of harm, such as stuttering or beeping from inside the PC case. Fortunately, most current GPUs are designed to prevent physical harm to the graphics card by shutting it down before things get too hot.
However, this does not prevent other linked devices from malfunctioning. Furthermore, shutting down the GPU when it reaches unsafe temperatures does not totally protect it from damage. Ignoring the issue and having the GPU shut down many times can eventually destroy the card, forcing you to replace it.
How to Check GPU Temp
1. How to Check Your GPU Temperature in Windows 10
I bet you didn't know that Windows 10's Task Manager can tell you how hot your GPU is? Task Manager is a great method to monitor your GPU temps quickly without downloading anything. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to access the Performance tab and select it. Look for your GPU on the left. Your current GPU temperature should be listed here.
2. How to Check the GPU Temperature in Windows or Linux using Open
The Task Manager is a nice tip. But unfortunately, it does not always detect your GPU's temperature. It's also not a terrific tool if you're doing a completely different operation! As a result, if you're running Windows or Linux, you may use Open Hardware Monitor to check your temps. This useful third-party tool can show you the temperature range of your entire system, including your GPU.
Open Open Hardware Monitor after you've downloaded it. There are a lot of metrics to look at here, but the ones you want to look at are under GPU. Open Hardware Monitor will sometimes even give you the current temperature of each core in your GPU.
3. Using XRG to Check Your GPU Temperature on MacOS
If you use Mac operating system, you should look into XRG. It's a data powerhouse, reporting on your CPU load, battery usage, fan speeds, and network demand, as well as your GPU temperatures.
4. How to Use Manufacturer Software to Check Your GPU's Temperature
a). AMD Radeon Graphics Card
Keeping track of your GPU temperature is straightforward if you have an AMD Radeon graphics card and the latest version of the Radeon Settings app. When you call AMD's Radeon Overlay, it gives handy options for tweaking your game's graphic settings.
It also comes with a Performance Monitoring tool that shows you your GPU temperature and other important data while you're gaming. To use the tool, press Alt + R to bring up the Radeon Overlay, then select the performance elements you want to monitor under the Performance Monitoring section of the Overlay.
You may bring up the Performance Monitoring tool by hitting Crtl + Shift + 0 once it's been set up. What if you're not in the middle of a game? You may still check the Radeon graphics card temperature using the Wattman overclocking tool in Radeon Settings.
Go to Gaming > Global Settings > Global Wattman after right-clicking on the Windows desktop and selecting Radeon Settings. If you use the tool to perform a radical overclock, you'll obtain access to Wattman after swearing not to blow up your GPU. Wattman graphs GPU temperature and other vital parameters.
b). Nvidia's GeForce Experience Software
But what if you don't have a Radeon graphics card? According to the Steam hardware study, Nvidia's GeForce graphics account for 75% of all GPUs in gaming PCs. In addition, Nvidia's GeForce Experience software now includes performance overlays, including the crucial GPU temperature.
Make sure you have GeForce Experience installed to use it. Select the cog icon beside your name to access the Settings menu when it's open. Next, activate the "In-game overlay" feature. Select HUD Layout > Performance > Advanced, then select where you'd like the overlay to show on-screen in the overlay that displays after clicking the Settings button.
The overlay will appear in the desired location, displaying numerous metrics, including your GPU temperature. Press Alt + R to summon or dismiss it whenever you like once you've set up GFE's performance overlay.
c). MSI Afterburner
Many graphics card manufacturers also sell specialist software that allows you to overclock your GPU. These utilities usually provide persistent on-screen display (OSD) settings that highlight your graphics card's most crucial data.
There are many options, but the MSI Afterburner tool is good for its versatility. This long-running tool supports both Nvidia GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards, and it comes with a slew of extra features that gamers will like.
d). EVGA's Precision X1
If you prefer a more sophisticated program, the EVGA's Precision X1 s a great option. It was completely rebuilt for the launch of Nvidia's new GeForce RTX 20-series graphics cards. It's quite nice. However, EVGA's software is limited to Nvidia graphics cards.
5. Third-Party Software
a). Hardware Monitoring Software
What if you don't care about GPU temperature monitoring in-game? Then you can install hardware monitoring software that connects to the graphics card temperature sensors on your computer.
HWInfo is a great GPU monitoring program since it gives you a snapshot of the system information of your PC. Click the Sensors button to view temperatures. SpeedFan and Open Hardware Monitor are also good choices.
b). CAM Software
If you don't like the sparse, information-dense design of those enthusiast-focused tools, NZXT's excellent CAM software will do the job for you, even if you don't have any NZXT hardware on your PC. It has a simple, clean look and a useful mobile app for remote monitoring, but you'll need to register an account to utilize it.
What is the Optimal GPU Temperature?
So now you know which programs can help you monitor your GPU temperature, but the figures on a screen are meaningless without context. So what is the maximum temperature that your graphics card should operate at?
There isn't a simple solution; it differs from GPU to GPU. Your best friend is Google. Most newer driver model chips can operate at high temperatures of 85 degrees Celsius, and you'll typically find them in gaming laptops. A GPU running at 85 degrees or above on a desktop, on the other hand, is screaming for help.
Unless you have a model with a single blower-style cooler or an especially powerful GPU, graphics card temperatures shouldn't rise past 80 degrees in single-GPU systems with adequate ventilation. However, even under full load, dedicated GPUS with several fans can run in the 60s and 70s, and water-cooled GPUs can run even cooler.
Consider taking steps to assist cool down your graphics card if it was introduced within the previous five years and runs higher than 85 degrees Celsius; or if you've noticed a rapid climb in your GPU temperature over several weeks or months of monitoring it.
What if the GPU Temperatures aren't Right?
There is work to be done if your GPU runs at or above 85 degrees and its clock speed under load is lower than the claimed base clock speeds. First, double-check and ensure that your case has appropriate airflow and that the dust filters have been cleaned.
At the same time, inspect the GPU's heatsink for dust accumulation and clean it if necessary. Next, clean your PC, rebuild it, and run another test. If this doesn't fix your GPU temperature issue, there's a good probability you have a faulty contact between your GPU's cooler and the GPU's core itself.
It could be due to a bad factory install or dried-out paste from age. Thermal grease will begin to dry out and degrade after roughly two years of heavy use, and after that, it can lead to considerable performance loss after four years.
For example, a GTX 780 Ti is disassembled after being left untouched for almost four years. You will find out that the thermal paste is no longer in good working order and has to be changed. Not only does the GPU run cooler after replacement, but it also operates significantly quieter.
It is because the GPU is finally able to properly transport its heat into the heatsink for dissipation, reducing the amount of work its fan has to do. In addition, it results in a considerable performance improvement.
Remember that disassembling a GPU is a specialized technique that should only be attempted by someone who enjoys disassembling electronics. If you're not comfortable disassembling electronics and your GPU is still under warranty, you should submit it to the manufacturer for repair or take it to a local PC hardware shop.
How to Stress Test the GPU Temperature
You can download a stress test tool that puts a lot of strain on your graphics processor if you want to put it to the test. If your GPU manages to stay cool during the test without crashing, it's a good hint that it'll handle a graphically demanding video game as well.
Heaven is an example of an excellent tool in this regard. It's a 3D demo in which a camera travels through a fantasy world with some graphically intense sequences. You may fine-tune the parameters before letting the camera cruise the beautiful landscape as your GPU works hard.
In addition, you can monitor your GPU temperature while it renders and ensure it stays below safe limits. Try Furmark if you'd rather skip the lovely landscape and get right to abusing your GPU. However, don't be fooled by its simplistic aesthetics; despite appearing to be simple to create, the 'fur donut' puts your graphics card to the test.
Whichever tool you use, keep in mind that both will put a lot of strain on your GPU. Consider if you have the funds to replace a burned-out graphics card. If you don't, you should monitor the temperatures and listen for any strange or distressing noises emanating from your computer. If you're unsure, switch off the test right away!
