We always say it and this time it was not going to be different: in IT, there are no miracles, there is continuous optimization and improvements that normally cost time or money. For this reason and with a view to spending the essentials, we are going to see what can be done with the most temperature-sensitive component.
Is it possible to keep your graphic design cool in the middle of summer?
To answer this question, we must first define what is meant by “expenses” as such, because the quick answer would be yes, but obviously to the checkbook. Therefore, by fee we are going to refer to a series of degrees lower than what your PC would be today, a range that could lead us to several degrees of improvement or a few, depending on what is chosen.
We mean by hot GPU the one that in operation while we play a demanding game is on the 80ºC or more, jeopardizing either the frequencies and performance, or the integrity of its components, such as VRM or VRAM. That said, let’s get down to business.
Improve case cooling
It’s a classic, but here we’re going to add fans who can be better or worse depending on the pocket, two other factors to take into account. First, the chassis change directly. A good case improves the temperature of our GPU by a few degrees, especially if it comes standard with fans with good performance and good sound.
The second point here would be to improve its cooling with better quality fans and of course, also in quantity, with the correct air flow. Finally, we must see if spending on AIO systems for GPUs in liquid cooling or going directly to a cus tom with independent block and loop suits us. Logically, these are very extreme cases where either you want the best sound with the temperature or you have hell at home and you have to go for those terms.
position change
Some boxes allow a change of position from horizontal to vertical, which on many occasions has made users happy. When chassis cooling is poor in flow or pressure, and even fan placement, hot air accumulates in the GPU area, which reabsorbs the hot air it expels over and over again, as it does not finish cooling, evacuate upwards and thus exit the frame.
If our box has a vertical installation, we will force this vertical air movement effect (excuse the redundancy) so that at least 50% of it is expelled upwards, while the remaining 50% will come out below and after having bounced with the support or The middle plate of the box will tend to rise, breaking the aforementioned air circle.
Under pressure
It’s a technique we’ve already talked about and which, although it seems silly, can take a few degrees off us. This requires basic knowledge and above all a lot of time and testing, because the stability will be checked and the performance/voltage/temperature curve will be modified.
We just have to keep in mind that NVIDIA and AMD normally add a slight voltage boost to their stock clocks, which manufacturers also do in their custom models.
Therefore, adjusting the voltage to the minimum necessary for the graphics card to operate as usual without losing performance can involve anywhere from 1 degree Celsius to 5 in the most extreme cases.
With undervolt it’s all about trial and error under different scenarios and loads, there are no shortcuts, one GPU is not the same as another, just try again and again until we find it minimum voltage for 100% stability.
And so far any advice on keeping the graphics fresh in the summer, where of course a good cleaning of the PC and GPU will also be vital to help all that has been said.
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