If you’ve ever experienced sudden fan noise and decreased frame rates while gaming, thermal throttling may be the culprit. Learn more about thermal throttling and how to prevent it here.
What is thermal throttling?
Thermal throttling occurs when a component in your system, such as the CPU or graphics card, reaches its maximum safe operating temperature. To prevent overheating and potential damage, the component reduces its power draw, thereby lowering its clock speed and operating temperature.
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Modern components have more sophisticated throttling mechanisms, leading to a gradual drop in performance during overheating. However, older designs might experience a significant performance reduction to prevent damage.
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Aside from processors and graphics cards, thermal throttling can also affect SSDs, leading to reduced storage performance until the SSD cools down.
What does thermal throttling do to frame rates?
When CPU or GPU thermal throttling occurs, it can lead to a noticeable drop in frame rates, depending on the reason behind the throttling. Inadequate cooling, dry thermal paste, dust buildup, or high ambient temperatures can cause significant FPS drops, turning a smooth gaming experience into a frustrating one.
How can you prevent thermal throttling?
To prevent thermal throttling, ensure your components have adequate cooling for the workload they will handle. Regular maintenance, such as replacing thermal paste, keeping the system clean, and using effective cooling solutions, can help prevent overheating.
- Invest in a good cooler suitable for your CPU’s TDP.
- Choose graphics cards with efficient coolers based on reviews and your needs.
- Regularly replace thermal paste or use thermal pads.
- Maintain a clean system free from dust accumulation.
- Opt for SSDs with heatsinks and ensure effective system cooling.
If thermal throttling persists, consider undervolting or underclocking your components to reduce power consumption and avoid overheating.
How do you know if your CPU is thermal throttling?
Monitoring your CPU’s temperature through applications like Intel’s XTU or AMD’s Ryzen Master can help identify thermal throttling based on temperature and clock speed changes.
How to check if your graphics card is thermal throttling?
Examining your GPU’s temperature using tools like HWInfo, GPU-Z, or MSI Afterburner can reveal if your graphics card is experiencing thermal throttling.
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