Question GPU temps spike and PC crashes when opening games

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
JonesEE

JonesEE

Aug 7, 2025
8
2
15
Hello.

I have a problem with my PC when opening games. Whenever I open a game my GPU fans instantly reach 100% and temps spike to ~80°C with hot spots of around ~100°C. After that the screen goes black and I have to restart the PC. On idle everything works fine. My best guess is that the GPU thermals are messed up, maybe the heatsink?

I've done:
-BIOS update
-Full driver reinstall with DDU
-Tried using older driver versions

Specs:
cpu: Ryzen 5 5600
gpu: Nvidia RTX 3060Ti
mobo: B550M Steel Legend
ram: 16gb DDR4
psu: Coolermaster 700W Gold
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Look in Realiability History/Monitor and Event Viewer for any error codes, warnings, or even informational events being captured and logged just before or at the time of the BSODs.

= = = =

What games? Source?

Reinstall drivers but do so directly. No third party tools or installers.

Manually download directly from the manufacturer's website, reinstall, and reconfigure. Be sure that the driver's source is truly the manufacturer's website.

Just because the product name, model, or manufacturer's name appears in the link/pathname is no guarantee that the website is indeed the manufacturers real website

= = = =

Power down, unplug, open the case.

Clean out dust and debris.

Verify by sight and feel that all connectors, cards, RAM, jumpers, and case connections are fully and firmly in place.

Use a bright flashlight to inspect for signs of damage.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The give an example of a few games: GTA V, Ready Or Not, BF6 beta

Did a clean install via Nvidia and not DDU and cleaned the PC as best as I could.

Didn't notice any damage on the gpu, radiators looked fine and no discoloration or anything like that. A few screws were looser than I would have thought so I tightened them a bit.

Only error codes that I found when I got black screened was just that "Windows didn't shut down correctly", but that was because of my manual off switching.

PSU cables seemed to be fine, I swapped the 8pin and 6pin connections around on the gpu.

Currently the games run, but temps are still at 70-80°C and the fans are going crazy.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Upvote 0 Downvote
dism found some corrupted files and I fixed them using the tutorial.

sfc/scannow doesn't show anymore corrupt files so that part is fixed, but the fans are still going crazy and temp. is at 70-80°.

Thinking it might just be the heatsink.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
JonesEE said:
Hello.

I have a problem with my PC when opening games. Whenever I open a game my GPU fans instantly reach 100% and temps spike to ~80°C with hot spots of around ~100°C. After that the screen goes black and I have to restart the PC. On idle everything works fine. My best guess is that the GPU thermals are messed up, maybe the heatsink?

I've done:
-BIOS update
-Full driver reinstall with DDU
-Tried using older driver versions

Specs:
cpu: Ryzen 5 5600
gpu: Nvidia RTX 3060Ti
mobo: B550M Steel Legend
ram: 16gb DDR4
psu: Coolermaster 700W Gold
Click to expand...
Is this a new issue that has arisen and the card was previously cooling fine beforehand? Or is this a second hand card that has had the problem from the beginning?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
JonesEE said:
It's a second hand card. Fan issue arose a few months back but the black screens are give or take a week old.
Click to expand...
It sounds like it needs a repaste although it is worth checking gpuz and confirming the vbios to make sure it has not been messed around.

Depending on your technical level and the type of cooler used by the manufacturer, it is not that difficult. The biggest thing I find is the thermal pads and any damage to them that can be caused. You mentioned a few screws were loose which to me implies that someone may have already had a go at taking this apart. Possibly unsuccessfully.

On the rear of the card there is normally a sticker on one of the screws related to warranty. Was this there?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
MEMOFLEX said:
It sounds like it needs a repaste although it is worth checking gpuz and confirming the vbios to make sure it has not been messed around.

Depending on your technical level and the type of cooler used by the manufacturer, it is not that difficult. The biggest thing I find is the thermal pads and any damage to them that can be caused. You mentioned a few screws were loose which to me implies that someone may have already had a go at taking this apart. Possibly unsuccessfully.

On the rear of the card there is normally a sticker on one of the screws related to warranty. Was this there?
Click to expand...
Yes on one of the screws there was a sticker. So I don't think the previous owner took it apart. Unless he put the sticker back on.

I'll have a look into gpuz.

Haven't changed the paste on a gpu before but there's always a first. It's a gigabyte card if that tells you anything.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MEMOFLEX
Upvote 0 Downvote
JonesEE said:
Yes on one of the screws there was a sticker. So I don't think the previous owner took it apart. Unless he put the sticker back on.

I'll have a look into gpuz.

Haven't changed the paste on a gpu before but there's always a first. It's a gigabyte card if that tells you anything.
Click to expand...
Ok well that could be a good sign although if they were loose then it may have contributed to dry out or pump out of the paste.

Double check the vbios shown in gpuz against your cards model vbios from the manufacturer's website to rule out any shenanigans here.

If these match then what you are left with is a repaste I expect. What is the exact model of the gpu?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My card is the Gigabyte RTX 3060Ti Gaming OC Pro rev 3.0.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong here, but in gpu-z my BIOS version is 94.04.46.80.AD and checking Techpowerup vBIOS collection it doesn't show up there. Did I check it from the correct website or? First time doing this so all help is welcome :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
JonesEE said:
Repasting for a gpu is to be done by a pro?
I'm guessing it's not as simple as it would be with the cpu.
Click to expand...
It doesn't necessarily need to be done by a pro; there are DIY guides online.
If you're not comfortable attempting it, there's nothing wrong with having someone else handle it.


JonesEE said:
Maybe I'm doing something wrong here, but in gpu-z my BIOS version is 94.04.46.80.AD and checking Techpowerup vBIOS collection it doesn't show up there. Did I check it from the correct website or?
Click to expand...
Ah, that. TPU's vBIOS archive is a volunteer effort, via GPU-Z's validate feature.
The vbios for your card not being there simply means no one has submitted that version.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Phaaze88 said:
It doesn't necessarily need to be done by a pro; there are DIY guides online.
If you're not comfortable attempting it, there's nothing wrong with having someone else handle it.



Ah, that. TPU's vBIOS archive is a volunteer effort, via GPU-Z's validate feature.
The vbios for your card not being there simply means no one has submitted that version.
Click to expand...
Any other suggestions on where I can find the BIOS? Is there a manufacturers site?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom