There are a number of reasons why your PC may be suffering from poor performance.
However, sometimes the cause isn’t as obvious as an outdated driver or a broken component.
Some problems are a lot more difficult to detect, including GPU thermal throttling.
What Is GPU Thermal Throttling?
Faster graphics processing means better FPS.
A GPU’s memory clock is the speed of its onboard VRAM.
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This tiny powerhouse is used to temporarily store graphics information like a game’s textures.
A faster memory clock speed means your GPU can store information more efficiently.
Higher clock speeds also mean your GPU needs to work harder, which generates more heat.
Too much heat and your GPU could overheat, potentially causing permanent damage.
This is why it is important to knowhow to check your GPU’s temperature.
Think of it like putting an athlete on the bench when they start getting tired.
Still, it beats causing irreversible damage to your precious GPU, right?
What Causes a GPU to Run Hot?
Thermal throttling is one method used to protect your GPU from damage.
In many cases, thermal throttling happens when a PC’s ambient temperature gets too hot.
Ambient temperature refers to the air temperature inside your PC.
Most modern GPU cooling systems use fans to pull cool air from inside the case and cool the GPU.
A high ambient temperature can be due to a few things.
This can occur for a number of reasons.
These games require your GPU to put in a lot more elbow grease by using more of its resources.
As previously mentioned, higher clock speeds mean higher GPU temperatures.
The end result is thermal throttling.
We know what thermal throttling is and some of its causes, but what does it actually look like?
How Can Thermal Throttling Affect Gameplay?
Thermal throttling has an obvious impact on your gameplay performance.
When thermal throttling occurs, these clock speeds are reduced.
Lower clock speeds mean your GPU won’t be as efficient at processing calculations or storing data.
The instant your GPU begins to thermal throttle, there will be an immediate and noticeable drop in FPS.
If thermal throttling does its job, this FPS drop should be short-lived.
But, what happens when your GPU continues to operate above its thermal threshold?
Thermal throttling will continue to lower the GPU’s clock speeds until a safe temperature is reached.
When this happens, your FPS will repeatedly drop.
During gameplay, this will look like stuttering or lag spikes.
The lower a GPU’s clock speeds, the more frequent these issues will become.
One of the most obvious red flags of an overheating GPU is artifacts.
During gameplay, these appear as visual glitches like flashing or missing textures.
This is intended to prevent permanent damage to your GPU.
However, if your GPU is repeatedly overheating, this will cause permanent damage over time.
Most of the time, the cause is insufficient airflow.
If all else fails, start by troubleshooting some of the most common GPU hardware issues.
This includes making sure the GPU is seated properly and that all power cables are connected.
