Your graphics card might not be running at full power—even though it’s technically working. If you’re seeing frame drops, sudden performance dips, or low GPU clock speeds despite high usage, you’re probably facing thermal throttling.
But here’s the good news: you can often fix this without a new cooler or repasting your GPU.
What Is GPU Thermal Throttling?
When a GPU reaches its thermal threshold (typically around 83–85°C), it automatically reduces clock speeds to protect itself. This leads to a drop in FPS or inconsistent performance under load.
Signs of Throttling
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GPU clocks drop suddenly during gaming or benchmarks
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Fans ramp up loudly, but temps stay high
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Performance drops over time in longer sessions
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Monitoring tools like HWInfo show “Thermal” in the performance limit flags
Solutions That Don’t Require Hardware Replacement
1. Increase Fan Curve Aggressiveness
Use MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X1:
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Set a more aggressive fan curve
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Example: 70% fan speed at 75°C, 85% at 80°C
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Save as a custom profile and apply at startup
2. Improve Airflow Inside the Case
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Clear cables blocking intake/exhaust paths
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Add or reposition case fans to create a front-to-back airflow
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Set GPU as the primary exhaust point in positive pressure setups
3. Clean the GPU Heatsink and Fans
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Dust buildup can raise temps by 10°C or more
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Use compressed air or a small brush to clean fins and fan blades
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Be gentle—no need to remove the cooler if not experienced
4. Reduce Power Target Slightly
With MSI Afterburner:
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Set Power Limit to 90–95%
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Reduce core clock by 50–75 MHz if needed
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Minimal performance loss, but significant temp reduction
5. Undervolt the GPU
Using Curve Editor in Afterburner:
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Reduce voltage at desired frequency point (e.g., 1900 MHz at 0.950V)
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Retain near-stock performance with lower temps
Real-World Fix
A user with an RTX 3070 experienced stuttering during 4K video editing. After tweaking the fan curve and undervolting by 100mV, the GPU ran 12°C cooler—and the stutter disappeared completely.
Before you reach for thermal paste or a new GPU cooler, these steps can extend the life and stability of your card significantly.