Updated at: 18-04-2023 - By: Leo Hall
Is your graphics card’s GPU fan not turning? Here’s a quick tutorial on how to solve the problem and keep your GPU from overheating.

The GPU fan not turning on or only turning on intermittently is a common problem. Maintaining peak performance requires keeping your GPU at an optimal temperature.

If you’re having this issue, you can find solutions to get your GPU to stop overheating below.

The most typical cause and solution will be discussed first.

How GPU Fans Work

A heatsink, an integral part of every GPU, serves as a cooling system once your computer is up and running. Regrettably, this heatsink is not always sufficient to maintain a stable temperature.

Models that become unbearably hot are, thankfully, equipped with cooling fans.

These fans aren’t a big deal when the computer is idle or only running a handful of programs. The fans, however, usually ramp up their activity once the big games and shows begin.

You can actually hear whether or not they are running quickly, so you don’t have to just hope that they are. This may be alarming, especially if they are running rapidly, but there is no need for concern. That’s just the fans doing their job, as they’re designed to ramp up to full speed whenever demanding programs begin playing.

GPU Fan Not Spinning? Main Causes And How To Fix [Simple]

The fans may not always operate at the desired speed. This is especially true of overclocking and other performance-enhancing adjustments to personal computers.

We need to figure out a way to manually control the fans in the event that the PC overheats due to the activation of these processes.

How to Control GPU Fan Speed

There should be a way to manually adjust the fan speed once you reach the limit of your GPU’s cooling capabilities. There are a number of software options for managing this, but MSI Afterburner is the most user-friendly and flexible.

With Afterburner (and similar software), you can adjust your computer’s clock speed, thermal limit, voltage, and fan speed. You won’t have to waste time digging through obscure submenus to get where you need to go because the interface is intuitive.

Finding the “Fan Speed” box is easy, and once we do, we can adjust the fan speed independently of the running program. You can modify the effect by clicking and dragging a curve.

You’re free to crank up the speed all the way from here. You can’t accidentally set too high of a fan speed because that would exceed the temperature limit you’ve set.

Set the speed to a level at which you feel most confident before testing your game or program. In most cases, you won’t hear the familiar hum from your desktop tower until several minutes after the program has been running.

MSI Afterburner keeps a running tally of the current settings, so you can check the most recent few minutes’ worth of fan speeds to determine if there has been an increase.

The sweet spot between when you need to increase fan speed and when it’s adequate is between 86 and 89 degrees. If you want to keep things running smoothly, you should try to keep the temperature down below 88 degrees for the most of the time.

What exactly has gone wrong? Thanks for inquiring!

How to Know If You Need to Increase GPU Fan Speed

Things can get a little wonky on your system if your fan isn’t running at full speed during the programs that require it most. It’s not just that your programs run more slowly and your computer feels hotter than it should when it’s sitting on your leg under your desk.

When running a game without a fast enough fan, artifacting is one of the milder issues that can occur (we have a complete guide to identifying and dealing with GPU artifacting).

To put it simply, artifacting is when weird visual effects suddenly appear in-game. Some textures may fail to load properly, causing truly bizarre looking graphics, such as a line of trees appearing with blocky lines cutting through them. This can be a minor annoyance at best, and a complete game-breaker at worst.

If the fans give out entirely, you may experience the dreaded CTD, or crash to desktop. For example, if your PC is under an exceptionally heavy load, its internal temperature may rise so quickly that the fan can’t keep up, prompting the game to close as a precautionary measure.

Gpu Fan Not Spinning Fix

The GPU Is In Idle Mode

When the computer is idle or performing non-GPU intensive tasks like web browsing or basic applications, many GPUs have an in-built feature that only uses the passive cooling hardware (the heatsink). If that’s the case, turning off the fan is perfectly fine and won’t hurt the GPU in any way, shape, or form.

The goal is to reduce ambient noise by activating the fan only when necessary to maintain a stable GPU temperature. When you first turn on a brand new build, you might get nervous because you can’t hear the fan spinning, but eventually you’ll get used to it.

When the system is under heavy load and reaches a certain temperature, the fan kicks on. Start a visually intensive game or benchmark application, and the cooling fan should activate.

If that doesn’t happen, the situation could become much worse.

Restart Your PC

In most cases, the simplest answer will do the trick. IT professionals all over the world will tell you to restart your computer if you’re having problems with your GPU fan. A reboot does wonders for revitalizing the system and readjusting settings for optimal performance across the board, including the GPU fans.

Power Connectors Computers

The GPUs in modern computers require a lot of juice to function. If you’ve just installed a new GPU and noticed that its fan isn’t turning, it’s likely because the 6-pin or 8-pin power connector that connects the card to the PSU is either disconnected or not fully pushed into the card.

In a similar vein, check that the graphics card is installed properly in its PCI-E slot on the motherboard.

The PSU’s wattage should be checked to ensure it can support the GPU’s power requirements. It’s possible that the PSU isn’t up to snuff if the computer’s peripherals are unresponsive or if it shuts down unexpectedly often.

It may seem obvious to check the card’s power requirements before buying it, but you’d be surprised at how many inexperienced PC builders buy an RTX without doing so.

Replacement of the power supply unit with one that can adequately run the GPU should get the fan spinning again.

While the computer is open, it’s also important to double-check that all of the cables and wires are securely connected to the motherboard and aren’t dangling. While these connections may not have anything to do with the GPU fan specifically, they can have an indirect but significant impact on the system as a whole.

A Little Oil Goes A Long Way

The fan bearings, like any other mechanical part, can lose some of their spinning capabilities over time. If this happens, a drop or two of regular machine oil or sewing machine oil in the motor should restore its former glory.

Take off the sticker covering the fan’s blades, unscrew the plastic cover, and oil the blades’ bearings. Avoid getting any on the blades or, heaven forbid, the GPU below; a little goes a long way and too much can cause serious problems. Don’t forget to replace the cap to prevent oil from leaking out.

If you need to lubricate something, don’t use WD-40 or regular cooking oils because they either leave a sticky residue or dry out too quickly to be effective.

How To Fix GPU Fans Not Spinning? (Updated 2023) - NeoGamr

Clean The Fan Of Dust and Other Obstacles

A buildup of dust and debris on the blades is the most common cause of non-spinning GPU fans. As a result of their low torque, GPU fans are easily impeded or rendered inoperable by even the smallest of obstructions.

Moving hot air away from the GPU requires the fans to constantly interact with the dust and debris that finds its way inside a computer. This debris accumulates on the blades over time. If the computer hasn’t been used or cleaned for a while, the issue is more likely to occur.

If dust has settled on your GPU fan blades, you should purchase a can of compressed air, open your computer, and move the dust away. To take things to the next level, you could remove the fan from the GPU and use the compressed air to clean the dust off of both sides of the blades.

If you choose to disable the GPU’s cooling fans, this is a good time to remove any dust that may have accumulated on the heatsink and clean the card. Avoid spraying too closely to the components and circuitry to keep from damaging them.

Misplaced wiring at the fan’s point of origin is another common reason for inactivity. These cables can slowly but surely creep into the path of the blades, preventing them from moving. Make sure no slack cables are touching the blades, especially if your cable management is, shall we say, less than stellar.

Drivers and GPU Software

Download the most recent drivers for your GPU model from Nvidia’s or AMD’s respective websites. The drivers must be installed, or they must be uninstalled and reinstalled if they were just recently installed.

Apply the same procedure to Nvidia and AMD’s proprietary GPU software, such as GeForce Experience and Radeon Software. Certain configurations may inadvertently interfere with fan controls, altering the conditions under which the fan operates.

Most driver problems occur after an incomplete installation of a newly released version, or after a manufacturer releases a patch to address a known issue.

Replace The Fan

If none of those solutions work, it’s likely that you have a mechanical failure. It’s not uncommon for fans to break, especially in older machines that have been running for thousands of hours. However, even more modern GPUs have had the odd fan fail due to a hiccup in production.

To make sure, install MSI Afterburner, an overclocking and GPU monitoring app, and configure it to force the fan(s) to run at full speed during the test. If they still won’t start after you’ve checked the items on our list, the problem is almost certainly hardware-related.

Since you probably don’t know how to disassemble a fan and fix it by hand, your only real option is to buy a new one. As luck would have it, fans are cheap compared to other PC parts. A suitable GPU fan can be purchased for $40-$50.

However, if you want to buy with confidence, stick with well-known companies like Cooler Master and Corsair.

Bad fans aren’t the only thing that can stop the blades from turning, though. It’s also possible that a faulty PCI-E slot on the motherboard is to blame. It’s possible that the faulty component is the PCI-E slot itself or the motherboard. To see if this is the case, try moving the GPU to a different PCI-E slot.

If none of that works, and you’ve already checked the aforementioned components, the motherboard may be at fault. It’s probably time to buy a new one, or if it’s brand new, return it to the store for a refund or exchange. This shouldn’t be a problem because most modern motherboards have solid guarantees.

Does a GPU Need a Cooler?

It should come as no surprise that adequate cooling is the single most important factor when it comes to gaming. Even if you have the most cutting-edge hardware, its performance will suffer once the internal temperature exceeds a certain limit. As the power of graphics processing units (GPUs) continues to increase with each new generation, efficient GPU cooling has become more crucial than ever.

However, ventilation will remain crucial in the future. Seeing as how you’ll still need air to cool the GPU(s), you’ll want to maintain a steady flow of cool air. This is because the top video card pulls hot air from the bottom video card in the middle position, reducing airflow and increasing temperatures.

Does a GPU Perform Better With a Cooler?

It is dependent on the program you use to track your graphics card’s performance while you game. MSI Turbo Boost is a great option, and it’s free. Watch the clock speed and VRAM utilization of the GPU very carefully. It’s common knowledge that once a card reaches a certain temperature, its performance degrades and its responsiveness drops.

Therefore, additional/alternative cooling would be beneficial if the card is automatically downclocking itself. The money you spend on a water cooling loop, however, could be put to better use by upgrading your graphics card in the following year.

Top 7 Best GPU Coolers in 2022

1. DEEPCOOL Castle 360EX, Addressable RGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler — Best Overall

Pros

  • There’s enough room for both the GPU and RAM.
  • Liquid-cooled anti-leak technology
  • Adequate RGB lighting
  • Enhanced ability to cool

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Not everyone can appreciate the RGB lighting.

The Deepcool Castle 360EX is an all-inclusive liquid cooling solution for PC gamers. There are no longer any illuminated fans or pumps; instead, the pumps themselves have been modified. Those who want RGB lighting but don’t want to go overboard will appreciate this pump’s use of simple LEDs for its centrifugal pumps, rather than lighting up the LEDs themselves.

The Castel 360EX all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler has a fin pitch of 20 FPI. This cooler has wrapped tubing measuring 465 mm in length and a pressure relief valve to prevent leakage. In either the vertical or horizontal orientation, the RGB LEDs and swiveling connections will provide optimal cooling.

This cooler’s performance is satisfactory, despite its steep price tag. This cooler outperforms other liquid coolers on the market at a fraction of the price.

Why Is This the Best GPU Cooler in 2022?

The cooler’s top layer is the same size as the rest of the Castle series, but it’s round and much bigger, and it has ARGB lighting for a contemporary look. This iteration of the design features a removable lid that can be moved to display the Deepcool logo on the right side of the case at all times. In addition, they have supplied a blank holder onto which the client can have their logo printed in order to have it prominently displayed under the bright lighting around the perimeter of the block.

The pump’s quality has been upgraded using a dual-chamber method, and the pump’s high absorption area has been enhanced by adding 25 percent more lightly sanded fins. There is significantly less cable tangle in the extras compared to competing ARGB coolers because the lighting is housed in a singular block.

2. Anidees Graphic Card Cooler — Runner Up

Pros

  • Stylish minimalism
  • The compatibility between CPUs and GPUs is superb.
  • Superior ability to cool

Cons

  • Having a solid grasp of customization is essential.
  • It’s hard to get things set up.

The Anidees RGB VGA Cooler is an accessory, not a replacement, for your graphics card’s stock cooling solution. It is designed to increase cooling for your graphics card by being inserted into a slot directly below it. Because it requires two additional slots in your computer, the add-on can only be used with a computer that has at least one PCIe x4 slot (for speed, not power).

The accessory’s shroud holds three 80 mm fans, each of which spins at over 1,600 RPM to move air at a rate of 11.14 cubic feet per minute (CFM) while producing a noise level of 19.3 dBA. The included RF remote control lets you tweak the fan’s rotational rate and light intensity. You can also programmatically manage the cooler (at least its PWM signal) by connecting it to a 4-pin fan connector on your motherboard.

A little more vibrancy in your system might be just what it needs. If you want a cooler that stands out from the crowd, consider the VGA cooler. In addition, MSI Mystic Light, RGB Fusion, and Aura Sync are just some of the software options for customizing the Anidees VGA cooler’s three RGB rings.

3. ASIAHORSE Graphic Card Cooler — Budget Pick

Pros

  • Superior worth
  • There is less background noise now.

Cons

  • It’s boring to look at.
  • It’s not very sturdy.

The ASIAHORSE Graphic Card Cooler appears to be a good choice if you want to overclock a less expensive GPU. The cooler is effective, despite looking like it was cobbled together with a roll of red duct tape and a pair of scissors.

Your computer’s stock GPU cooler should not be replaced with this product. It’s an accessory, in all but name. You will lose some expansion potential if you install it in a PCIe slot. Using custom fan curves is not the best solution, but it should help with temperatures and quiet things down a little.

It’s great that you can get 1500 RPM out of three more 80 mm fans, but you’ll need an ATX motherboard to use this. As the cooler can provide additional cooling power without breaking the bank, it is a great choice for those in need who cannot afford more expensive models.

4. Corsair Hydro X Series XG7 RGB 20-Series GPU — Premium Pick

Pros

  • Superb cooling abilities
  • Quick and simple set up
  • Adjustable color depth and gamma

Cons

  • The only place where RGB can truly shine is within the Corsair ecosystem.
  • Only true fans need apply.

Corsair is widely recognized as a manufacturer of premium computer hardware. Within the Corsair ecosystem, they offer a wide variety of products, from RAM to computer cases. The Hydro X Series is a water cooling block with RGB components that not only keeps your PC running cool and quiet, but also enhances its visual appeal.

If you have experience with liquid cooling systems, then setting up this device will be a breeze. The developers say it was made to work with high-end graphics cards and is aimed at gamers who want to use a custom loop. This is not the optimal choice for those who want to use a secondary liquid cooler or an all-in-one (AIO) cooler.

Because they are already there, pre-applied thermal strips simplify the installation process. You won’t have to spend a lot of time figuring out how to set up the GPU cooler for use with your graphics card because Corsair has included a detailed guide with the purchase.

5. Wathai Pcl Slot Fan 90mm 92mm Fans Brushless Cooling Fan

Pros

  • Super simple to employ
  • It’s one of the best cooling methods out there.

Cons

  • Incompatible graphics processing units.
  • Extremely dense

Sometimes you find a product that is just too good to pass up. Here, we have the Wathai Pcl Slot Fan, a combination of excellent passive and active cooling that will keep your high-end GPU running at peak performance even as you tear through games.

This is one of the best choices if you want to get extremely stable and consistent temperatures but don’t want to spend the money on water cooling. The massive heatsink is able to rapidly cool the VRAM and processor due to its large surface area.

Overall, the Wathai Pcl Slot Fanis a great option if you need a quiet, effective cooler. However, it may be a great option for some users despite its limited GPU support.

GPU Fans Not Spinning – What Are the Main Causes & How to Fix? - UBG

6. NZXT Kraken G12 – GPU Mounting Kit

Pros

  • Commonly used cards work well together.
  • Upper-layer temperatures are reduced
  • The cost of the mounting kit is minimal.

Cons

  • It is mandatory that you like the Kraken X-Series AIO.
  • Pricey

When it comes to high-end gaming gear, NZXT is a household name. As long as high-end gaming computers have existed, so has the company. Despite the jokes, NZXT is a reputable company, and their Kraken G12 is one of the most effective GPU coolers on the market. The NZXT Kraken G12 is a great option if you’re looking for an AIO liquid cooler that prioritizes performance.

The product’s VRM is actively cooled by its included 92mm fan. With the help of the cartridge bearings, the fan can turn at a quiet 1,500 revolutions per minute. Therefore, the fan provides 40% more cooling than a conventional cooling system.

You can adjust the temperature of an AIO cooler by installing this conditioning unit onto your graphics card. The good news is that it’s compatible with nearly all GPUs on the market, as it works with a wide variety of reference and non-reference models.

7. Raijintek Morpheus II CORE Edition Universal GPU Air Cooler

Pros

  • Heavy duty VRM heatsink
  • ability to absorb heat and cool effectively
  • Low-cost

Cons

  • Inadequate for some graphics processing units

It should come as no surprise that, of all the VGA coolers on the market, the RAINJINTEK MORPHEUS is the most stable and reliable. The cooler features two top-tier Noctua NF-F12 fans and two heat pipes to ensure stable performance even under heavy gaming loads.

The cooler’s combined efficiency with the heat spreaders’ aluminum and copper is exceptional. With its ten 6mm-diameter heat pipes, the system can dissipate up to 360 watts of heat. Like the ID-Cooling cooler, the RAINJINTEK MORPHEUS is just a non-RGB model that isn’t particularly interested in utilizing color lighting.

However, if cooling is your top priority, this model is your best bet because of how well it performs in that regard. In spite of being put through a lot, the heatsinks continue to function faultlessly and quietly. The card is compatible with a wide variety of video cards, including the 1080Ti, 980, and R9 Fury.

How to Choose the Best GPU Cooler?

Choosing a GPU cooler is just as difficult as picking out case fans or RAM. It all comes down to personal preference. However, before you go out and buy a GPU cooler, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Performance

The effectiveness and cooling capacity of a GPU cooler is a key consideration when making a purchase. By keeping your gaming computer cool and functional while playing games with demanding graphics, a GPU cooler gives you access to a premium gaming experience.

Additionally, the best GPU cooler for gaming has multiple fans and low-noise impellers so that the cooling process is silent and does not interfere with gameplay. Because of the GPU cooler’s enhanced cooling capabilities, you can play games for longer without experiencing any slowdowns.

Functions

There is a plethora of options for GPU cooling systems. A GPU cooler with customizable lighting and color options is available. As an added precaution, when shopping for a GPU cooler for gaming, make sure the RGB lighting can be managed via an RGB connection or the motherboard’s software. If you don’t comply, you’ll get pricked with some artificial cycles. Such loops could persist throughout the development of your sync.

Compatibility

You may still have compatibility issues with your computer despite being well-versed in all of its major components, such as the fan controllers. You’ll also need to find someplace to put the cooler, so its dimensions are an important factor to think about. There are coolers with designs and those without. Brands of coolers have varying degrees of compatibility with one another.

Passive Or Liquid

It’s important to remember that the GPU can overheat rapidly with liquid cooling and a full cover water block if you go that route. It’s useful for preventing performance drops and thermal throttling, as well as keeping the core frequency steady. The advantages of using water on a GPU are identical to those of using a liquid GPU cooler.

The goal of a passive GPU cooler should be to keep things as quiet as possible. This will run silently and continuously, but will shut down or slow down significantly if it gets too hot. The potential for it to break the flow and cohesion of your game is cause for concern.

How Will It Help You

If you regularly overclock your GPU for a more immersive experience, a powerful GPU cooler is an absolute necessity. If you’ve got a fancy graphics card, this is essential. You should get a good system with a liquid cooling block and a heatsink to help with overclocking.

AIO or Hybrid 

Choosing the best AIO GPU Cooler will be a relief because these coolers don’t really need any maintenance due to their closed covers. The bad news is that AIO coolers can’t be refilled like regular coolers can, but the good news is that they greatly improve GPU cooling compared to regular coolers.

However, the heat produced by your GPU can be transferred to radiators and then released into the air with a hybrid GPU cooler. If you’re looking to keep the temperature down without sacrificing comfort, a hybrid cooler is a great option.

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

There are many ways to prevent your GPU from ever getting too hot, but the truth is that the more you tweak it and the harder you push it, the hotter it will get.

Everyone always wants to perform at their absolute best, but if unexpected shutdowns and other forms of chaos are cropping up, it may be time to take a step back.

It’s possible to keep the fan inside your GPU running at full speed with the help of some extra software and do-it-yourself techniques if you need to strain its capabilities.