Why do graphics cards overheat

However, if you have recently upgraded your drivers and then GPU overheating has started, then you should rollback the GPU driver upgrade. It rarely happens, but drivers can have an effect on the temperature of your GPU. Now you know how to fix GPU overheating problem as we have discussed the most common causes behind it and their solutions.

However, if none of the above solutions work for you, then you should consider installing liquid cooling for your GPU. It might cost you a little extra, but in return you will get improved GPU performance and increased lifespan for your video card. Keep in mind that graphics cards are designed to run under heavy load, but they should not exceed the temperature limits recommended by its manufacturer for extended periods of time.

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Problem retrieving the game Battlefield with RTX PC slows down when starting games. If you have not cleaned the unit for a long time, the dust buildup may impair the only function of the heat sink.

The same holds true for laptops. The internal heat sink can easily get clogged up with dust over a period of a year and maintenance is highly recommended. The whole laptop will run hotter and potentially could end up damaging something inside rendering the laptop useless.

The simple solution is to clean the heat sink. However, the actual cleaning process is not simple. You have to remove the GPU fan, unscrew the graphics processing unit to access the heat sink, and then clean the piece. For a laptop, it is recommended that you send it to a computer repair shop or your go-to technician to clean it out for you. If you are capable enough and want to do it yourself, search YouTube for a video of someone showing you how to clean out your model of laptop.

This helps better prepare yourself by thinking about everything you need and makes opening the laptop that much easier. All computers have a clock rate , also known as clock speed or processor speed measured in GHz, MHz, etc. Overclocking increases the speed of the cores and enhances the processing power of a GPU. Some manufacturers overclock GPUs per factory setting. Users often voluntarily overclock their GPU for better performance. Overclocking is among the most common causes of GPU overheating.

You must undo or reset all settings back to default. For unintentional or unrequired factory settings, here is a helpful video about how to fix a bad overclock on any video card from JayzTwoCents:.

So, check if your GPU is capable of supporting your games, applications, and graphics-intensive tasks. The easiest option is to play fewer demanding games, run fewer applications, and perform tasks that do not overload the GPU. For games, you can try to lower the display resolution or graphics details in order to lessen the load on the graphics card or GPU. Alternatively, you can upgrade your graphics card if you are using a desktop PC.

A reasonably high-quality GPU capable of supporting all your computing and gaming needs with properly functioning fans may still overheat. In addition, there could be some obstruction in the airflow inside the cabinet.

Check for any obstructions. There could be physical damage, or a loose hardware component may be causing the obstruction. Often, the real problem is as simple as vents clogged by excessive dust. So, give your entire system a complete cleaning. Another fix would be to make sure that you have the correct form factor computer case to facilitate your graphics card.

The smaller the computer case, the harder it becomes to keep components cool, especially for gaming and other strenuous computing activities. Your GPU may be too old to support the applications you are running now. The graphics card will be overloaded, and it will overheat as a result.

You have to upgrade the GPU. If you have assembled your computer or changed some of the other components, and the GPU is incompatible, then you must find a suitable alternative. You can refer to this comprehensive guide to choose a graphics card. You can obtain a graphics card slightly cheaper by purchasing it on eBay. CPUs and GPUs need thermal paste , also known as thermal gel, heat sink compound, or thermal interface material.

The thermal paste is a gel-like compound mainly comprising zinc oxide. This thermal compound stays between the heat sink and the GPU chipset. Thermal paste serves as a medium of heat transfer. It ensures there are no air pockets between the heat sink and the graphics card chipset. However, if the thermal paste is dry, worn out, or just too old, your GPU will most likely overheat. You can reapply the thermal paste.