The most common signs of an overheating graphics card are:
1. System Freezes or Crashes: A graphical card that is overheating will often lead to system freezes or even system crashes. If your computer suddenly freezes or crashes while using a graphic intensive application or game, it could be due to an overheating GPU.
2. Visual Artifacts on Screen: Another sign of an overheating graphics card is visual artifacts appearing on the screen. This can show up as random lines, dots, boxes, or other shapes on the display.
3. Fan Noise: If your graphics card’s fan is running at a higher-than-normal speed, this is a sign that the GPU is generating more heat than usual and the fan is trying to dissipate the heat.
4. High GPU Temperature: You can use GPU monitoring software such as MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision XOC to monitor the GPU temperature of your graphics card. If the temperature exceeds 90°C, it could be an indication that your graphics card is overheating.
5. Low FPS in Games: Overheating GPUs can cause a decrease in performance and cause games to run at lower frames per second (FPS). This is because the heat generated by the GPU affects its performance, resulting in lower FPS.
6. Lines on Monitor: If you see curved or jagged lines appearing on the monitor, this could be a sign of an overheating GPU. The lines may appear due to dust particles or a damaged video cable.
7. Flickering Screen: If your screen flickers or turns off for a few seconds at a time, it could be caused by an overheating graphics card. It could also be an indication of a failing power supply.
8. Overclocking Issues: Overclocking your GPU can lead to an unstable system and increase the chances of an overheating GPU. If you notice any issues after overclocking your GPU, try setting the clock speeds back to default and ensure that there is ample cooling for the GPU.
In order to prevent overheating of your graphics card, it’s important to check the temperature of your GPU regularly. Make sure your GPU is not running at temperatures exceeding 90°C and take necessary steps to reduce the temperature if needed. This can include installing a better GPU cooler or adding more case fans to improve air flow. Additionally, make sure that your computer’s power supply has enough capacity to handle the power requirements of the GPU. Finally, if you are overclocking your GPU, make sure that you have adequate cooling in place to prevent the GPU from overheating.