There are several factors that impact the performance of any computer, including a gaming computer, and one of the most important here is hardware temperatures. Keeping parts in an optimal temperature range, and specifically avoiding risks of overheating important components, plays a major role in optimal operations and speed, plus has a direct impact on long-term machine lifespan.
At Xidax, we provide high-quality custom gaming laptops, gaming computers and other computing solutions that are designed to maintain optimal temperature ranges during all normal operations. What are some of the basic important factors here, including CPU and GPU temperature ranges your system should stay within, how to track your current machine temperatures, and some methods to help cool down your setup if you’re dealing with overheating concerns.
As most gamers are well aware, high-powered gaming computers and related devices tend to run at higher temperatures than other standard computers. Gaming applies plenty of overall strain to a computer’s components, and this strain is often transferred into heat.
Generally speaking, there are a fairly wide range of temperatures your CPU processor may run at – the most important factor is ensuring they don’t exceed certain maximum thresholds. This threshold today is usually considered to be 176 degrees Fahrenheit, or 80 degrees Celsius; your machine should not exceed these at any point. From an average standpoint, ideal gaming computers will run at between 167-176 degrees Fahrenheit.
In today’s day and age, modern games and computing devices tend to pull the vast majority of their performance demands from the GPU rather than the CPU. This is for a few reasons, but the fact that GPUs are specifically designed for high-res images and video displays, while CPUs handle a larger range of device tasks, plays a big role. However, this means the demand for quality cooling for GPUs has increased significantly in recent years.
GPU manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD have found several solutions for limiting temperature, but there is a pretty wide range of average temperatures depending on your exact GPU. Most are capped at a max temperature of 203 degrees Fahrenheit, or 95 Celsius, but optimal temperatures are closer to the 185-degree range. Temperature in the GPU may be impacted by several factors, including the game itself, the GPU’s cooling design, room temperature, fan presence and a few others.
Here are some basics on how to track your device temperatures using built-in tools from industry leaders like NVIDIA, Intel, AMD and others:
In addition, you might consider additional monitoring tools. Options like SpeedFan or OpenHardwareMonitor are free and simple to use, and there are many others you can download if you use a different graphics card that isn’t compatible with one of the above programs. Our pros will also be happy to recommend specific testing products or programs if you’re in need.
Are you experiencing high temperatures in your CPU or GPU and trying to get to the bottom of what’s causing them? Here are several of the most common causes, plus general approaches for dealing with them:
If you know you’re dealing specifically with GPU temperature issues, there are a couple specific fan methods that are typically used to deal with these:
For more on how to deal with temperature issues in your gaming computer, or to learn about any of our custom gaming PCs, speak to the staff at Xidax today.
Graphics Card Fan Noise Culprits and Solutions says:
[…] the fan control feature will include a curve with set points, adjusting the fan speed depending on GPU temperature. You can make tweaks to this curve as-needed, eventually locating the ideal balance between […]