My RTX 3060 recently started reaching about 93°C while playing Black Ops 7. I lowered the graphics settings all the way to minimum, but the temperature barely changed. I cleaned the inside of the PC, cleaned the room, removed unused apps, and freed up storage, yet the GPU now reports around 92°C even when no applications are open. I later noticed that the GPU fans were not spinning during a Call of Duty match. When I closed the game and tried adjusting the fan speed, the fans started turning but made a rattling noise. What could be causing this, and what should I check before replacing anything?
5 Answers
The fans may be disabled by a zero-RPM or 0 dB fan mode, which normally keeps them off at low temperatures. Check the GPU control software and create a manual fan curve. However, fans should spin once the card gets hot, so a temperature of 92°C with no fan activity could also mean the fan control or the fans themselves are failing.
Before taking the card apart, check GPU usage in Task Manager or a hardware monitor while the system is supposedly idle. A hidden process, including unwanted crypto-mining malware, could be keeping the GPU under load. Run a reputable malware scan and check which process is using the GPU.
Even under a heavy load, the cooler should generally keep an RTX 3060 below the low 90s if the fans and heatsink are functioning properly. I’d stop stressing the card until you inspect the fan behavior, check for background GPU usage, and deal with the rattling fan.
An undervolt can reduce temperatures and power draw, especially in demanding games, but it should be treated as a temporary tuning option rather than a fix for fans that do not spin. First confirm the temperature reading is accurate and make sure the fans and fan-control software are working normally.
Given the card’s age and the rattling noise, the thermal paste may have dried out and the fan bearings may be wearing out. Clean the heatsink carefully and consider replacing the thermal paste, but only open the card if you’re comfortable doing so. If a fan is rattling, it may need to be replaced rather than just adjusted.
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