| Is the VRAM temperature of a graphics card important? And how can it be monitored and kept cool? |
This article will explain whether the VRAM temperature of your graphics card is as important as the GPU temperature, how to monitor it correctly, when it becomes dangerously high, and most importantly, when and how to intervene to keep it cool. Follow along to the end of this article as we will discuss in detail everything related to the question of whether VRAM temperature is important and its consequences.
Is VRAM temperature on a graphics card important?
We all seem to agree that heat is the number one enemy of all electronic devices, even though it's part of their mechanical nature – power consumption generates heat, and some heating of electronic components is perfectly normal. However, not all levels of heat are the same. There's a point at which heat can cause physical damage to electronic components, and this begins once they exceed the maximum safe temperature threshold. To avoid damage to these components from consistently high temperatures, we should adopt some good usage habits or even change our device usage patterns.
Since we're discussing graphics cards, it's no longer just about monitoring the GPU temperature, especially when the card is operating at full capacity. A graphics card contains a large number of important components required for optimal performance. In addition to monitoring the GPU temperature, the VRAM temperature should also be monitored for two reasons: excessively high temperatures will reduce its lifespan in the long run, and they can negatively impact performance stability.
When the VRAM temperature of a graphics card exceeds safe levels, you may start to encounter various errors, such as system freezes, game crashes and desktop freezes, visual distortions and defects in the image, the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD ), and other problems. All these issues clearly answer the question of whether VRAM temperature is important. However, the key is to understand the maximum safe temperature levels that the video memory should not exceed under load.
■ Is the VRAM temperature of the graphics card important?
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| How to keep VRAM of your graphics card cool |
Despite the importance of VRAM temperature on graphics cards, very few users pay attention to it. In fact, most users might not notice VRAM temperature until they start experiencing specific problems. Let's first clarify that Video Memory (VRAM) consists of electronic chips soldered to the PCB around the graphics processing unit (GPU), often topped with thermal pads to absorb its heat. These chips are very similar to the chips soldered to the main RAM, but they operate with different characteristics and are specifically designed for the GPU. They are often referred to technically as GDDR, short for Graphics Double Data Rate.
Fortunately, one of the advantages of GDDR video memory is its ability to withstand high temperatures much better than system memory (RAM). In fact, VRAM can exceed 100°C in some graphics cards, depending on its type and technical specifications. However, this doesn't mean it's happy with such temperatures. So, while it's true that video memory can operate at temperatures up to 100°C, it's essential to monitor it regularly and take necessary steps to keep it cool if needed.
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If you want to treat your graphics card well and extend its lifespan for years, you'll need to monitor the video memory temperature regularly, just as you do with the GPU. However, even if you're not concerned about lifespan and tend to replace your graphics card every year or two, high temperatures are still a cause for concern because they negatively impact your system's performance in games and demanding applications. This is due to thermal throttling.
While video memory can operate at temperatures as high as 100°C or even 105°C, most GDDR memory chips begin to experience thermal throttling between 90°C and 95°C. When the memory reaches these temperatures, its speeds automatically decrease—a factory-set mechanism designed to preserve its lifespan. As the clock speed drops, you may also notice a significant decrease in performance and frame rate.
Therefore, if you have a graphics card with video memory that suffers from high temperatures and frequently reaches very high levels during gameplay, then check the video memory frequency speed. You will notice a significant decrease in its frequency speed, to the point that it may drop to less than half of its original speed, and you will also notice a significant decrease in the frame rate (FPS).
Is VRAM temperature important after all I've discussed? Absolutely. High temperatures can either negatively impact performance or physically damage one of the memory chips. Video memory might withstand temperatures of 100°C for a few weeks or even months. However, you'll eventually be surprised by strange problems with your system's operation, without being able to pinpoint the cause.
Most users might then resort to running tests on Furmark, 3DMARK, Superposition, and other popular programs for testing graphics cards and ensuring their functionality . These tests might conclude quite normally without revealing any problems. However, as soon as they launch a game—the ideal real-world testing environment—issues begin to surface, such as a black screen, a blue screen, system freezes, game crashes, or visual distortions.
■ How to monitor VRAM temperature on a graphics card
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| Is VRAM temperature on a graphics card important, and how can it be monitored and kept cool? |
Now that we know whether the VRAM temperature of the graphics card is important, we come to the next stage of this topic, which is how can we monitor the video memory temperature of the graphics card? Simply put, there are many programs and tools that can read the status of the temperature sensors built into all computer hardware components, and the most famous of these programs is HWiNFO.
But since we're specifically talking about the graphics card, we can use GPU-Z software . After downloading and installing the program on our computer, we go to the "Sensors" tab in the top toolbar, and then check the "Memory Temperature" section. This is the video memory temperature.
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We can easily enter any game for a while, and after exiting, check the temperature readings in the program. However, it's essential to display the highest temperature the video memory reached while in the game. This can be done by clicking the small arrow icon next to the same option and selecting "Show Highest Readings." The program will then display the highest temperature the video memory has reached since you launched the program.
What's special about HWiNFO is its ability to display temperatures much more effectively. It shows the average temperature, lowest temperature, highest temperature, and current temperature, all in a single row next to the "GPU Memory Junction Temperature" option. In addition, it also displays other valuable information such as clock speeds, fan speeds, and power consumption percentages, among other things.
However, if we want to check whether high VRAM temperatures are affecting performance, we'll need to use software like MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner to display real-time power consumption and performance metrics in games . You can also use HWiNFO for the same purpose. If our VRAM temperature reaches 95°C or higher, we'll notice it's affecting the memory clock speed, and consequently, performance and frame rates will be negatively impacted. In fact, we can configure HWiNFO to send a notification if the VRAM temperature exceeds a predefined level.
In a side article, we discussed in detail the signs of graphics card failure that require us to prepare for an immediate repair or even invest in a new graphics card.
■ How to reduce the temperature of the video memory on the graphics card
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| How to reduce the temperature of the video memory on a graphics card |
Having established whether VRAM temperature is important and what software is used to monitor it, we now come to the crucial point: how to reduce video memory temperature. Generally, the phenomenon of video memory overheating is very common with two types of graphics cards: firstly, very old graphics cards, where the end of the silicon chip's lifespan causes the chips to operate at consistently high temperatures; and secondly, graphics cards used for intensive tasks such as cryptocurrency mining.
If you want to know how to detect imported mining cards in more than one way , check the card's VRAM temperature. If it reaches high levels, this is a strong indication that it has been used for mining, but it's not conclusive proof. Now, the idea is to take a series of steps to reduce the temperature, which are as follows:
Maintenance and Cleaning: While video memory is less likely to be affected by dust and dirt than other components inside a computer case, especially since it's covered by thermal pads to protect it and absorb heat, it's still essential to clean it periodically. This ensures the card's fans are clean and operating at maximum speed for efficient cooling. Cleaning will also help clear the ventilation openings and improve airflow to and from the case.
Replacing thermal pads: Thermal pads cover all video memory chips and are responsible for absorbing excess heat and keeping the chips cool. However, over time and with use, thermal pads lose their efficiency and reach the end of their lifespan. In this case, we will need to replace them, especially if the graphics card is relatively old. But before that, we must know the dimensions of the thermal pads compatible with our video memory, as this is very important. Manufacturers provide this information to help users determine the appropriate sizes that are compatible with their cards so as not to create a large gap between the heatsink and the components.
Avoid overclocking: If your graphics card is overheating, overclocking is the last thing you should consider. While overclocking directly impacts the GPU, it also puts extra strain on the video memory, forcing it to work beyond its normal capacity. In fact, it's better to consider undervolting your graphics card to reduce its voltage. Alternatively, you can lower the maximum power delivery (Max TDP) to 90% or 80%. These measures can indirectly help reduce the load on the video memory.
Improving airflow inside the case: Our last option is to increase the number of fans inside the computer case as much as possible. If feasible, improve airflow inside the case. This is a simple and very inexpensive measure that can help reduce the temperature of all computer components, not just the video memory.
Conclusion | In conclusion to our article "Is VRAM Temperature Important?", we hope we have provided you with all the information you need. There's no need to worry if you're surprised to find your video memory temperature reaches 90°C, especially if it's for short periods, such as during intermittent gameplay or for a few moments in a game. However, the temperature should never reach these levels. Safe values typically range from 75°C to 85°C during intense gameplay and load. Under normal use, it should rarely exceed 60°C, which is perfectly safe for continuous operation.
At the end of our article, "Is VRAM temperature important for the graphics card?", we would like to draw your attention, before you leave, to the article " What is the normal temperature of the graphics card ?", in which we talk about the maximum safe temperature that should not be exceeded for the graphics processor in cases of stress and idleness, how it affects performance, and what measures are possible to overcome the problem of high temperature.