I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but when you’re playing a really heavy game, your GPU can get pretty hot. And turns out, overheating is super bad and it can even damage other components.
This might lead you to wonder, is gpu 80 degrees while gaming too hot?
Well, 80 degrees temperature is totally normal while gaming for most GPUs, but it would be better if you could get the temperature down a little more, just to stay on the safe side.
Plus, lower temperature equals better performance.
In this article, I’ll walk you through why your gpu is hitting 80 degrees while gaming, if it’s too high and what you can do to lower it back to much cooler temperature.
What Raised My GPU Temperature To 80 Degrees?
Modern computers rely heavily on Graphics Processing Unit for a wide range of purposes including Gaming.
Your GPU needs to operate at a higher rate to meet performance expectations while gaming, especially when the graphics settings are set to high or extreme (depending on the game).
This increases the hardware temperature just like in most electronic components. In simple terms, more workload means more heat.
Few major reasons for your GPU heating to 80 degrees are,
- Gaming with high quality graphic settings
- The air flow of the casing
- GPU quality and design
- Ambient temperature
Also Read: Is 90c safe for cpu while gaming?
Is GPU 80 Degrees While Gaming Too High?
The optimal temperature for your GPU may vary depending on the brand and model of it. However, the normal gaming temperature for most GPUs is considered to be around or less than 80°C ( or 176°F).
Anything below 90°C can be considered ok if you are playing a really heavy game. So 80° while gaming is fine, but I would advise you to try and lower it more if possible.
Modern games are made with very high graphics and your GPU should work under a heavy stress to run those games smoothly. Anything higher than that can be dangerous and you should definitely check and cool it down as soon as possible.
You may have seen GPU manufacturers often mention that their GPUs can operate up to 100°C or more. That is not the recommended value but the highest ‘safe’ operating temperature level as per the manufacturer.
Also Read: PC fans too loud when gaming
The maximum temperature level of a GPU can be found in the user’s guide or online. You should always try to avoid going that much higher and keep it at least 10-15°C less than the maximum temperature.
How To Lower Your GPU Temperature Below 80°C
Although 80°C is not a temperature you should worry about the GPU, it is always better to keep it as low as possible.
The obvious thing to do is to lower your game’s graphic settings. But if you want other solutions, here are a few methods that can lower the GPU temperature.
Check The Airflow And Cooling System
Poor cooling systems are one of the main reasons for GPU heating while gaming.
Check the inside of the casing and see whether the cables or other hardware are blocking the GPU’s airflow. Also make sure your cooling fans are working properly.
If you are using your PC mainly for gaming and other high GPU consuming activities, you might want to think about adding extra fans to the casing.
If the interior of your PC is not cleaned regularly, it is highly likely to accumulate dust on the GPU and fans. This will block the airflow inside the casing, resulting in an unusually high temperature of the GPU.
You can clean the inside and remove the dust yourself easily with an air blower or a compressed air can.
Replace The Thermal Paste
GPUs thermal paste does a vital role in transferring heat from GPU chip to the cooler. This may start to degrade after 2-3 years and will decrease the effectiveness.
If you haven’t changed the thermal paste recently, unusual GPU temperature while gaming is a sign to consider doing so.
Disable Overclocking
Overclocking means tuning the GPU to work more powerfully than its normal limits to increase performance.
This requires more power to the GPU and it will increase the temperature, as we mentioned earlier in the post.
If you have already overclocked the GPU and feel like temperature is getting higher than usual, it is better to disable overclocking.
Control Ambient Temperature
As the ambient temperature will directly affect the hardware temperature, you may want to think about cooling down the room if your room temperature is high.
An air conditioner is the perfect solution but a fan and open windows can also be helpful. This is not the most ideal solution but it will help your GPU to control its temperature.
Bottom Line
GPU temperature around 80°C is quite normal while playing large and heavy games, and especially when using higher graphic settings.
But you should definitely be worried if it goes much higher all the way up to 90°C or more because continuously working with a heated GPU will affect the gaming performance and PC health.
There are several reasons for the GPU to raise the temperature such as inconsistent airflow of the casing, GPU quality, ambient temperature etc. You can try to lower the temperature by keeping the casing/GPU in good condition and disabling any hardware options that may cause the GPU to heat unusually.
And if possible, lower your game’s graphic settings!!
