High temperatures degrade GPU performance and may even cause your system to shut down. There are several methods for monitoring the temperature of your GPU; learn more about some of them here.
Why should GPU temperature be monitored?
Heat is generated by your GPU when it is working. If it gets too hot, your GPU may undergo thermal throttling, which may significantly impair your performance. A heated GPU puts extra strain on the fans in your GPU cooler, making them more prone to failure. If a GPU reaches a threshold temperature, it may even shut down to protect itself from further harm.
Fortunately, a GPU that is overheating is frequently repairable. The cure might be as easy as cleaning your computer thoroughly or determining what cooling and airflow design are best for your PC, but you must first identify the problem. Monitor your GPU temps to ensure that they remain below safe limits.
Windows Task Manager
Windows 11 has the ability to monitor the temperature of your GPU, and Windows 10 has had it since the May 2020 update. Task Manager contains the temperature monitor.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience
NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience program monitors the temperature of your GPU. To begin, launch it from your Start menu.
By selecting the gear icon in the bottom right, you may change how this information is displayed. It also offers an option for an in-app overlay, so you can monitor your temps while gaming.
AMD Radeon Software
Radeon Software is AMD’s monitoring utility for your GPU. You may access it via the Start menu.
AMD’s monitoring program allows you to save data about your GPU to a CSV file. It is a useful tool if you want to monitor your GPU temperature over time or analyze how other GPU parameters, such as GPU usage, correlate to GPU temperature.
Third-Party GPU Temperature Monitoring Tools
MSI Afterburner
Because it works with practically all GPUs and allows for overclocking and other customization, MSI Afterburner is a popular option among enthusiasts for monitoring GPU performance. It, like the NVIDIA and AMD tools, may display information while you’re in-game. It also, like AMD’s Radeon Software, allows you to log performance information.
The temperature gauge is located right on the main page.
EVGA Precision X1
The Precision X1 from EVGA provides the same fundamental functions as Afterburner and Radeon Software, with the exception that it only supports NVIDIA GPUs. The temperature meter, like Afterburner, appears in the center of the first page and permits logging temperature data to a file.
HWiNFO64
HWiNFO64 goes above and beyond monitoring your GPU’s temperature, and has a different design from Precision X1 or Afterburner. It provides data about every component in your system in real-time, and supports logging any metrics it can display. When you launch the program, you’ll be asked if you want to run “Summary-only” or “Sensors-only.” Click “Sensors-only” and then hit run.
Look for a section labeled “GPU[#]:” — the name of your GPU should be listed to the right. Your GPU temperature will be shown immediately underneath that. If you have a CPU with integrated graphics (such as an AMD APU or an Intel CPU with an iGPU) and a separate GPU, several GPUs may be shown.
These are only a handful of the possibilities. All AIB GPU manufacturers have their own software, similar to EVGA’s Precision X1 and MSI’s Afterburner. Many other firms that create gaming gear also sell monitoring software that can track the temperature of your GPU.
Most of these solutions provide the same set of capabilities, so choose the one that you find the simplest to use and that you enjoy the most.