There are a number of reasons why your PC may be suffering from poor performance. However, sometimes the cause isn't as obvious as an outdated driver or a broken component. Some problems are a lot more difficult to detect, including GPU thermal throttling. Here's what you need to know about GPU thermal throttling and how it can negatively affect your gameplay.

What Is GPU Thermal Throttling?

A GPU's core clock speed refers to the speed of its processor chip, which determines how fast your GPU can process tasks that require a lot of calculations like graphics processing. Faster graphics processing means better FPS. A GPU's memory clock is the speed of its onboard VRAM. This tiny powerhouse is used to temporarily store graphics information like a game's textures.

A faster memory clock speed means your GPU can store information more efficiently. Although a faster memory clock speed isn't as closely tied to improving your FPS as core clock speed, it can still make a noticeable difference. The bottom line is, the higher your core clock speed and memory clock speed is, the better your performance will be, but there's a catch.

Higher clock speeds also mean your GPU needs to work harder, which generates more heat. Too much heat and your GPU could overheat, potentially causing permanent damage. This is why it is important to know how to check your GPU's temperature.

Thermal throttling is designed to prevent overheating by lowering the clock speeds of your GPU when it reaches a certain thermal threshold. Think of it like putting an athlete on the bench when they start getting tired.

This threshold varies from GPU to GPU, but throttling usually occurs around the 194 Fahrenheit mark for desktop GPUs. With this in mind, the performance hit that comes with thermal throttling can slow your PC down by a noticeable amount. Still, it beats causing irreversible damage to your precious GPU, right?

What Causes a GPU to Run Hot?

Thermal throttling is one method used to protect your GPU from damage. In many cases, thermal throttling occurs when a PC's ambient temperature gets too hot. Ambient temperature refers to the air temperature inside your PC. Most modern GPU cooling systems use fans to pull cool air from inside the case and cool the GPU.

If your PC's ambient temperature is too high, this means your GPU is pulling in hot air, not cool air. The hotter your PC's ambient temperature, the hotter your GPU is going to get, leading to thermal throttling. A high ambient temperature can be caused by a few things. For example, if your PC has poor airflow, its ambient temperature will increase which can lead to your PC overheating.

If your PC's ambient temperature is low, but your GPU is still thermal throttling, the problem may be an excessive workload on the GPU. This can occur for a number of reasons. When it comes to gaming, your GPU may be subject to a heavy workload if you are playing GPU-dependent games. These games require your GPU to put in a lot more elbow grease by using more of its resources.

In most cases, these games will maximize your GPU usage, causing its core clock speed and memory clock speed to increase. As previously mentioned, higher clock speeds mean higher GPU temperatures. The end result is thermal throttling. We know what thermal throttling is and some of its causes, but what does it actually look like?

How Can Thermal Throttling Affect Gameplay?

Thermal throttling has an obvious impact on your gameplay performance. As previously mentioned, a GPU's core clock speed and memory clock speed play a big role in determining its performance. When thermal throttling occurs, these clock speeds are reduced. Lower clock speeds mean your GPU won't be as efficient at processing calculations or storing data.

The instant your GPU begins to thermal throttle, there will be an immediate and noticeable drop in FPS. If thermal throttling does its job, this FPS drop should be short-lived. But, what happens when your GPU continues to operate above its thermal threshold?

Thermal throttling will continue to lower the GPU's clock speeds until a safe temperature is reached. When this happens, your FPS will repeatedly drop. During gameplay, this will look like stuttering or lag spikes. The lower a GPU's clock speeds, the more frequent these issues will become.

If thermal throttling fails to lower your GPU's temperature to a safe level, you are at serious risk of causing permanent damage to your GPU. One of the most obvious red flags of an overheating GPU is artifacts. During gameplay, these appear as visual glitches like flashing or missing textures.

Thankfully, if thermal throttling is unable to bring your GPU's temperature down to a safe level, a forced shutdown will occur. This is intended to prevent permanent damage to your GPU. However, if your GPU is repeatedly overheating, this will cause permanent damage over time.

Thermal Throttling Isn't the Enemy

From low FPS to stuttering, GPU thermal throttling can be a pain. However, thermal throttling isn't the enemy, it's a protective measure and a warning sign from your GPU. Most of the time, the cause is insufficient airflow. Making sure that your PC has proper airflow isn't just a great way to prevent GPU thermal throttling, it also ensures that all of your parts stay cool.

If your GPU continues to thermal throttle, try lowering your in-game settings to reduce the workload on your GPU. If all else fails, start by troubleshooting some of the most common GPU hardware issues. This includes making sure the GPU is seated properly and that all power cables are connected.