How to Check GPU Temperature – Find GPU Temp

You can have a powerful GPU and still get random stutters, sudden FPS drops, or crashes that only show up after 10 to 20 minutes of play. That pattern usually means your system is heating up under sustained load, then pulling back to protect itself.

This guide shows exactly how to check GPU temperature on Windows, how to find GPU temp in game with real overlays, and how to troubleshoot when GPU temperature is not showing. Every menu and toggle mentioned below exists in the listed tools.

Why GPU Temperature Matters Stability And Performance

GPU temperature is not just a number. It changes your clock speed, fan noise, and stability. If your GPU gets too hot, it will usually reduce boost clocks to protect itself, and that can create the kind of FPS drops that feel random even when your settings did not change.

Heat also turns into frame time inconsistency. One long frame in a fight can feel like input delay or a hitch, which players often describe as micro stutters even when average FPS looks fine.

How To Check GPU Temperature In Task Manager Windows 11 And Windows 10

This is the fastest way to find GPU temperature on Windows because it does not require any extra software. If your system supports it, Task Manager will show the current GPU temperature on the Performance tab.

Steps To Find GPU Temp In Task Manager

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Click the Performance tab.
• Click GPU 0 (or your active GPU).
• Look for the Temperature value shown in degrees Celsius.

How To Check Your WDDM Version If GPU Temp Is Missing

• Press Win + R, type dxdiag, then press Enter.
• Open the Display tab.
• Look for Driver Model and confirm the WDDM version.

How To Check GPU Temperature In Game NVIDIA AMD Intel And Steam

If you want the most useful GPU temperature reading, check it while the GPU is actually working. An in game overlay shows you GPU temp during a match, not just at the desktop.

NVIDIA GPU Temperature Overlay NVIDIA App Or GeForce Experience

NVIDIA’s performance overlay can show GPU temperature and other metrics on screen. This is built into the NVIDIA App, and the same feature is also present in GeForce Experience for supported GeForce GPUs.

• Open the NVIDIA App and make sure In Game Overlay is enabled in Settings.
• In game, press Alt + R to toggle the statistics overlay.
• Press Alt + Shift + R to cycle through different metrics views.
• To customize what you see, press Alt + Z, click the Settings cog, then use Statistics and Configure Heads Up Display.

AMD GPU Temperature Overlay AMD Software Adrenalin Edition

AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition includes a metrics overlay that can be toggled with a hotkey. It is one of the cleanest ways to see GPU temp in game on Radeon systems.

• Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
• Use Ctrl + Shift + O to toggle the Performance Overlay.
• If you want logging, use Ctrl + Shift + L to toggle Performance Logging.
• Inside the Performance metrics settings, use Show Metrics Overlay to enable or disable the overlay.

Intel Arc GPU Temperature Overlay Intel Performance Telemetry

Intel Arc Control includes Intel Performance Telemetry. Once enabled, the telemetry overlay can appear on top of applications even after Arc Control is closed, which makes it practical for monitoring GPU temperature during gameplay.

• Press Alt + I to open Intel Arc Control.
• Go to the Performance tab.
• Toggle the Telemetry Overlay switch on.
• Select the metrics you want to monitor and include GPU temperature if it is available in your metrics list.

Steam Performance Monitor Optional Built In Overlay

Steam includes a performance monitor in the in game overlay. It can show GPU utilization, VRAM use, and on supported systems it can also show GPU temperature.

• Open Steam and go to Settings.
• Click In Game.
• Find Performance Monitor and choose a detail level that includes GPU metrics.
• Launch a game and open the Steam overlay if needed. The performance monitor will appear in game based on your chosen setting.

Best Tools To Monitor GPU Temperature Afterburner HWiNFO And GPU Z

Vendor overlays are great for quick checks. If you want deeper sensor data, a custom on screen display, or simple logging, these tools are the usual go to options.

How To Show GPU Temperature On Screen MSI Afterburner OSD

MSI Afterburner is the classic way to put GPU temperature on screen. The OSD feature relies on RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), which is offered during installation.

• Install MSI Afterburner and keep RivaTuner Statistics Server checked during installation.
• Open MSI Afterburner and click the gear icon to open Settings.
• Go to the On Screen Display tab and set a hotkey for showing or hiding the OSD.
• Go to the Monitoring tab.
• Select GPU temperature in the sensor list and check Show in On Screen Display.
• Click Apply, launch your game, and toggle your OSD hotkey to see GPU temp.

How To Log GPU Temperature GPU Z Sensors Tab

GPU Z is a clean option when you need proof of what happened. Logging makes it easy to confirm whether temperature climbed right before a crash or FPS drop.

• Open GPU Z.
• Go to the Sensors tab.
• Enable Log to file.
• Play your game until the issue happens, then exit and review the log for max GPU temperature.

How To Find GPU Temp With HWiNFO Sensors Only Mode

HWiNFO is a sensor viewer that is useful when you want detailed readings. You can launch it directly in Sensors only mode to keep it simple.

• Launch HWiNFO.
• Choose Sensors only mode (or click Sensors in the main window).
• Find your GPU section and read the temperature sensor shown.

If your laptop powers down the dedicated GPU to save power, you may see missing or zero readings until a GPU heavy app wakes it up. Launch a game or another GPU intensive app, then check the sensor again.

How To Check GPU Temperature Using Command Line NVIDIA SMI

If you have an NVIDIA GPU and the NVIDIA driver installed, nvidia smi can report GPU temperature and can also output to CSV for logging. This is more common in workstation setups, but it works for basic monitoring too.

nvidia-smi --query-gpu=timestamp,name,temperature.gpu,utilization.gpu --format=csv

If you want a repeating readout, you can use the loop flag:

nvidia-smi --query-gpu=timestamp,name,temperature.gpu --format=csv -l 5

GPU Temperature Not Showing Common Causes And Fixes

If you cannot see GPU temp in Task Manager or your overlay does not show temperature, it is usually a compatibility or configuration issue, not a mystery.

What To Do If Your GPU Temp Is Too High Quick Wins

If your GPU is running hotter than you expect, start with simple fixes first. A few basics can often drop temperatures without replacing hardware.

• Clean dust from GPU fans, case filters, and heatsinks.
• Improve airflow by confirming intake and exhaust fans are working correctly.
• Cap FPS using an in game limiter if available, since uncapped menus can push GPU load unnecessarily.
• Close background apps that use GPU acceleration.
• Validate performance targets so you are not chasing an unstable ceiling; a stable baseline often feels better than a peak number you cannot hold, especially when chasing good FPS for gaming.

How To Check GPU Temperature Step By Step Clean Process

Conclusion

The best way to check GPU temperature depends on what you are doing. For a quick check, Task Manager is enough. For real troubleshooting, an in game overlay or a logging tool is better because it shows what happens during sustained load.

If performance gets worse over time, do not guess. Check GPU temp, confirm whether it rises toward your hardware limits, and then fix the real cause instead of changing random settings.

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