If your graphics card starts to overheat, it is important to take steps to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of yourself and your computer. Here are a few of the steps you should take if your graphics card starts to overheat:
1. Measure the Temperature: The first step is to measure the temperature of your graphics card to find out how hot it is getting. This will help you gauge whether the problem is serious or not. To accurately measure the temperature of your graphics card, you can use a hardware monitoring application like SpeedFan. These programs allow you to view real-time temperature readings for your hardware components, including the GPU (graphics processing unit).
2. Ensure Proper Ventilation: Poor ventilation can be a major cause of overheating in computers. Always make sure there is enough space around the graphics card and that the vents on your PC case are not obstructed. If you have an external graphics card, ensure that the slot on your desktop is free of dust and debris.
3. Adjust Graphics Settings: Reducing the graphics settings on your games or programs can help lower the amount of stress put on your graphics card, which should help keep it cooler. You may also want to consider reducing the resolution of your display, as higher resolutions can put more strain on the GPU.
4. Use a Fan or Graphics Card Cooler: Installing a fan or cooler onto your graphics card can help reduce its temperature by circulating cool air around it. There are also pre-made graphics card cooling systems available for purchase online that can do a better job at keeping your card cool than a standard fan.
5. Replace The Graphics Card: If the above steps do not improve the temperature of your graphics card, you may need to replace it with a new one. Overheating can permanently damage your graphics card, so it is best to replace it as soon as possible.
These are just some of the steps you should take if your graphics card starts to overheat. Make sure you follow all safety precautions when handling any computer hardware, and always make sure to take the necessary steps to keep your system cool and running smoothly.