overclocked graphics card heat (GeForce GT 730)
overclocked graphics card heat (GeForce GT 730)
i'm just starting out with overclocking and used msi afterburner and kombuster. i ran the stress test until i got a stable overclock, but my temperature went above 90 degrees celsius. when playing games it's usually around 70-80, rarely more than that. are these temperatures normal?
I wouldn't enjoy playing with those temperatures for a long time, since it suggests something is wrong with the computer. Others mentioned that the thermal paste might need replacing. It could also be that the whole system is overheating because there isn't enough airflow, especially without an exhaust fan on the back. Overheating isn't an issue in default settings because components like the GPU usually lower their temperatures automatically, but this comes at a cost to performance. So, higher temperatures definitely lead to reduced performance in default configurations. This doesn't apply to overclocking settings. But it does affect settings that are closely related...
What kinds of games are you enjoying? When did they come out? The card you're using seems quite outdated, possibly causing the issue with overheating in your MSI Kombuster. You might want to clean the heatsink of the card and replace the thermal paste.
Consider removing the heatsink and swapping the thermal paste. What GT 730 model are you running (ASUS, Gigabyte, etc.)?
my model uses nvidia, and it's a brand new graphics card. i purchased it about two months ago as a pc.
I wouldn’t enjoy playing with those temperatures for an extended period, since it suggests there’s an issue with the system. It seems the thermal paste might need replacing. For me, it could indicate that the whole computer is overheating, especially without proper airflow—like when there’s no exhaust fan on the back. Overheating isn’t a concern in default settings because components such as the GPU usually maintain safe temperatures automatically. However, this comes with a trade-off: performance drops. Of course, this applies to higher temperatures and doesn’t relate to overclocking. But certain temperature-sensitive GPU settings, if not managed properly, could potentially harm the GPU.
Warning:
Long answer,
I’ve used that card with a temperature of 730°C for several months over the past two years. From what I recall, the card performed well, even overclocking by about fifteen percent in both core and VRAM speed, and it remained stable. It’s an MSI V3 model with DDR3 RAM and an active heatsink fan over the GPU chip—not a passive silent heatsink without a fan.
Temperatures also depend on the internal environment; for example, having an exhaust fan on the back helps lower the temperature near the GPU and CPU. On MSI Afterburner, you can adjust the fan speed manually. It’s usually set to Auto, but you should disable it and increase the speed temporarily to observe the effect on temperatures.
Additionally, GPU temperatures rarely exceed 90 degrees Celsius, but they reduce their speed to stay within safe limits to prevent damage. Normally, this automatic adjustment prevents overclocking benefits from occurring, and instead keeps speeds lower than ideal.
For you, it feels brand new and only two months old. However, Nvidia halted production on that card years back when shifting to Maxwell GPUs and later Pascal. Most of what you'll encounter is NIB (new in box) that has been lying unused in a warehouse for possibly years. Replacing paste might be an option, but it's more likely a side effect of the $20 GPU capability versus games seeking $100 or better performance.
Even with clocking improvements, it wouldn't make much difference in modern games. I've used that GPU before and understand how frustrating it can be to have such limitations. It's significantly better than the Intel built-in graphics, though it's not really designed for gaming. You might get decent 768p performance, but gaming at 700 series cards tends to run hot, especially with overclocking. If you're using a passive cooler, that's usually acceptable.
The temperatures while gaming aren't too high, but those components tend to heat up a lot. Replacing the thermal paste seems like a reasonable option, though spending about 15% of the card's value on it might not be worth it. Upgrading the GPU could be a better long-term solution. Boosting fan speeds and improving cable management might also make a difference.