GPU temperatures while mining: core, memory and cooling

Mining workloads can keep a graphics card under sustained load. Monitoring temperature helps you notice cooling problems, but there is no single safe temperature limit for every GPU and every sensor. Use the documentation for the exact card and the kind of reading shown by your monitoring tool.

Core and memory are different readings

• MemTemp: the original article suggested keeping memory below 90 °C.
• CoreTemp: it suggested keeping the graphics processor below 70 °C.

These are the source author's suggested targets, not verified manufacturer limits or a guarantee of safety. A memory reading and a core reading are not interchangeable. Not every card or tool exposes both measurements.

NVIDIA's nvidia-smi documentation distinguishes current temperatures from operating, slowdown and shutdown thresholds, and notes that readings depend on device support. A threshold is not a target to deliberately approach; sustained workloads still need suitable cooling.

Cooling approaches discussed in the article

• Room airflow: avoid direct sunlight and allow heated air to leave the equipment area instead of circulating around the cards.
• Additional fans: the source mentioned 120 mm fans, positioned to supply cooler air or extract warm air. With two fans, their airflow directions should work together rather than oppose one another.
• A larger fan: a household or industrial fan was another suggestion. This does not repair a faulty card cooler or establish that the room is suitable for a sustained load.
• Thermal pads: the article described replacing pads after deterioration, but warned that disassembly can cause irreversible damage if done incorrectly.

When to stop and investigate

If readings exceed the manufacturer's guidance, cooling stops working or the system shows abnormal heat-related behaviour, stop the workload and investigate. Do not bypass thermal protection to keep mining.

Disconnect power before physical maintenance and follow the card manufacturer's procedure. Thermal-pad thickness, material and placement are model-specific; do not choose replacements from the article's general description alone. If you cannot confirm the correct service procedure, use qualified assistance.

This translation does not report a new temperature test, predict card lifespan or promise that a cooling change will increase mining income.