Can a Hot CPU Cause Low FPS? Understanding the Impact of Overheating on Gaming Performance
Yes, an overheating CPU and/or GPU can affect your frames per second (FPS) in games. When a CPU overheats, it may initiate a process known as 'thermal throttling,' where it reduces its clock speed to bring its temperature back into a safe range. This reduction in clock speed directly impacts the processing power of the CPU, which can result in lower FPS.
What is Thermal Throttling?
Thermal throttling is a safety mechanism that CPUs use to prevent overheating. If a CPU's temperature exceeds a predefined threshold, it will automatically reduce its clock speed to lower power consumption and dissipate heat more effectively. This mechanism helps in maintaining the CPU operation within a safe temperature range, but it can significantly impact gaming performance by lowering FPS. Additionally, if thermal throttling fails to keep the CPU at a good temperature, the computer may shut off or restart by itself to prevent permanent damage.
Why Does Overheating Affect FPS?
When a CPU overheats, it will 'thermal throttle' its clock speed to reduce temperature. This reduction in clock speed decreases the processing power of the CPU, which directly impacts game performance, lowering FPS.
In severe cases, overheating can cause errors in the CPU, leading to program crashes including games. If the errors are not severe enough to cause a crash, the program might experience stuttering, further reducing the average FPS. These errors typically occur when the CPU is operating well above its normal temperature range. This can happen if you disable the safety features that trigger thermal throttling in your BIOS or if the CPU is overclocked and undervolted, running at a borderline stable state.
Impact on Gameplay Stability
A cooler CPU can run faster and more stably without errors. Extreme overclockers use techniques like liquid nitrogen to cool CPUs to very cold temperatures, enabling them to achieve higher clock frequencies without causing crashes. Conversely, attempting to run high frequencies at room temperature can result in immediate system crashes due to instability.
The relationship between voltage, temperature, and stability at high clock speeds is a trade-off. Higher voltage can increase stability at high clock speeds but also generates more heat, reducing overall stability.
Personal Experience with CPU Overheating and Gaming
I have experienced firsthand how sensitive some games can be to CPU voltage settings. While most games performed well after I undervolted my CPU, Call of Duty: Warzone was particularly sensitive. Undervolting the CPU led to frequent crashes in Warzone, only resolving the issue by restoring the voltage to its default setting. This incident highlighted the importance of ensuring proper cooling solutions, especially when dealing with high-performance CPUs. I am currently using a standard Wraith Stealth cooler, but I suspect a higher-end cooler might have provided better stability.
Optimizing your CPU performance requires finding the right balance between overclocking and cooling. Ensuring your CPU has an effective cooling solution can significantly improve gaming performance and reliability.