Question Should I base my fan curves on the main GPU temp or the GPU hotspot temp?

[Jorge24]

My GPU: AMD RX 9070XT GPU
My CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800 X3D

My GPU apparently has 2 temperatures:

Should I base my fan curves on the GPU temp or the GPU hotspot temp? The hotspot temp is always higher and sometimes it jumps to being 20° higher than the GPU temp.
What's the normal range for each?


On another note, these are my current CPU and GPU fan curves. I have my minimum temp set to 35°C. The fans dont kick to 100% power until 78°C. Are these good fan settings for my hardware?

 

[Lutfij]

Your temps look fine but to give some context, please state the make and model of your case and how you're cooling the processor as well as how it's mounted within said case.

With your screenshot, stating 6 fans, you have 3 fans in both push and pull on your watercooling radiator? Speaking of radiator, what is the make and models for the fans you're using?

 

[Jorge24]

please state the make and model of your case and how you're cooling the processor as well as how it's mounted within said case.

I have a Fractal Torrent case and I'm cooling it with an Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 which is mounted at the front of the case (no option to mount at the top)

With your screenshot, stating 6 fans, you have 3 fans in both push and pull on your watercooling radiator? Speaking of radiator, what is the make and models for the fans you're using?

Yes, I have 3 fans in front of the radiator and 3 fans behind it.

Here my fan brands and config:

 

[williamjeremiah]

I'd base the majority of fan curves on the CPU temp, since its radiator is the largest area of the intake.
The GPU will take care of itself.

 

[Jorge24]

I'd base the majority of fan curves on the CPU temp, since its radiator is the largest area of the intake.
The GPU will take care of itself.

The way I have it set up is that the fans will use whatever is hotter (the CPU or GPU) as the curve. However, when it comes to the GPU, it's using the main GPU temp and not the hotstpot one.

Is it a problem if the hotspot temp reaches 80°C? or I should only worry about the main GPU temp reaching 80°C?

 

[williamjeremiah]

The way I have it set up is that the fans will use whatever is hotter (the CPU or GPU) as the curve. However, when it comes to the GPU, it's using the main GPU temp and not the hotstpot one.

Is it a problem if the hotspot temp reaches 80°C? or I should only worry about the main GPU temp reaching 80°C?

If its temps bother you, get a waterblock for it too.

 

[JayGau]

You should base your GPU fan curve on the GPU temperature, not the hotspot. The hotspot is always significantly hotter than the regular GPU temp and it's normal. Just set you fans so the GPU temp never reach more than let's say 70c (I don't know the normal temp for the 9070 xt). The hotspot doesn't matter unless it gets really hot like 100c and above.

For the other fans, I personally set my radiator fans as a function of my liquid temperature, but for some astonishing reason, most AIOs don't have this absolutely fundamental reading.

And since the GPU is by far the greatest source of heat in a computer case, I set my other (exhaust) fans according to its temperature. I don't understand why people set their case fans with the CPU that generates only a fraction of the heat produced by the GPU. I mean, my CPU (9800x3d like yours) rarely reaches 100 W during gaming while my GPU is constantly above 300 W. You have to take this hot air out.

 

[williamjeremiah]

You should base your GPU fan curve on the GPU temperature, not the hotspot. The hotspot is always significantly hotter than the regular GPU temp and it's normal. Just set you fans so the GPU temp never reach more than let's say 70c (I don't know the normal temp for the 9070 xt). The hotspot doesn't matter unless it gets really hot like 100c and above.

For the other fans, I personally set my radiator fans as a function of my liquid temperature, but for some astonishing reason, most AIOs don't have this absolutely fundamental reading.

And since the GPU is by far the greatest source of heat in a computer case, I set my other (exhaust) fans according to its temperature. I don't understand why people set their case fans with the CPU that generates only a fraction of the heat produced by the GPU. I mean, my CPU (9800x3d like yours) rarely reaches 100 W during gaming while my GPU is constantly above 300 W. You have to take this hot air out.

To each their own, I guess.
This is my system goofing off in a heavily modded Skyrim. The temps are displayed on the right.
The CPU temp is usually higher than the GPU's but neither often exceed 75C, ambient depending.

View: https://youtu.be/r0JxuSsqNwE


My system exists as follows:

Ryzen 7700x, Aorus B650M Elite AX
32GB GSkill 6000Mhz 36 36 36 96
EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM5 Nickel + Plexi CPU block.
Nvidia FE RTX 3090
Bykski Full Coverage GPU Water Block w/ Integrated Active Backplate (N-RTX3090FE-TC-V2)
Two Alphacool 360 Rads -One 45mm and one 60mm.
Watercool - Heatkiller Tube 200 D5
(SKU: 30205)
Fans: Bitspower Touchaqua on the 45mm (visible) and Noctua on the 60mm
(not visible/back side).
All Bitspower 7/16" ID | 5/8" OD G1/4" fittings, including a ball drain valve exiting the bottom of the largest Rad (lowest point of the loop).
Super Flower Leadex VII XG 1000W
Lian Li o11 Dynamic XL case.

 

[JayGau]

To each their own, I guess.
This is my system goofing off in a heavily modded Skyrim. The temps are displayed on the right.
The CPU temp is usually higher than the GPU's but neither often exceed 75C, ambient depending.

View: https://youtu.be/r0JxuSsqNwE


My system exists as follows:

Ryzen 7700x, Aorus B650M Elite AX
32GB GSkill 6000Mhz 36 36 36 96
EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM5 Nickel + Plexi CPU block.
Nvidia FE RTX 3090
Bykski Full Coverage GPU Water Block w/ Integrated Active Backplate (N-RTX3090FE-TC-V2)
Two Alphacool 360 Rads -One 45mm and one 60mm.
Watercool - Heatkiller Tube 200 D5
(SKU: 30205)
Fans: Bitspower Touchaqua on the 45mm (visible) and Noctua on the 60mm
(not visible/back side).
All Bitspower 7/16" ID | 5/8" OD G1/4" fittings, including a ball drain valve exiting the bottom of the largest Rad (lowest point of the loop).
Super Flower Leadex VII XG 1000W
Lian Li o11 Dynamic XL case.

The temperature is irrelevant here, it's the wattage that matters. A GPU running at 300 W will generate much more heat than a CPU running at 100 W, even though the CPU temperature is higher (if I light up a candle the flame will reach a much higher temperature than my oven but good luck cooking something with it).

To keep your components as cold as possible, you need to evacuate as much hot air as possible, and the air gets hot mostly because of the GPU (in most cases).