Skip to the contentThis article applies to gamers only.
- Make sure you have enough fresh air coming into your system. It’s more important than exhaust.
- Set system fans to follow GPU temp rather than CPU temp.
- For Corsair and NZXT CPU cooler owners, this can be done in their respective apps by changing the sensor from CPU to GPU.
- For everyone else, this can be done with the FanControl app.
- Configure fan curves so fans are off or low RPM at idle temp and ramp to 65-83% max at the temp your GPU usually runs at (usually 60C on my builds).
- Avoid using 84-100% fan speed unless you have inadequate system cooling as this reduces the fan lifespan while increasing noise and dust collection, which leads to performance deterioration from overheating/lack of airflow.
- It’s important to make sure top part of your fan curve either ends below your lowest average GPU temp while loaded or is a plateau. This allows for some wiggle room for jumps in temps so they don’t make your fan speed change. See here:
- Clean and repaste GPU every 2 years.
- Use the global Max Frame Rate feature in nVidia control panel to prevent your GPU from working too hard to make FPS beyond what the monitor can show (refresh rate) & reduce system latency.
I usually set this to 4-6 frames below the monitor refresh rate.
120 = 116 | 144 = 140 | 165 = 160 | 240 = 234
- Some games benefit greatly from the Prefer Maximum Performance setting, to keep the card boosted through low-demand portions of the game, however beware this may have a negligible effect on lifespan as the GPU will never be given any breaks while a game is running.
