Overheating is one of the most common causes of FPS drops and stutters — and it often goes undetected because the symptoms look identical to software issues. When your CPU or GPU exceeds its thermal limit, it automatically reduces clock speeds to cool down, causing sudden FPS drops in intense moments.
MSI Afterburner — The Standard Tool
MSI Afterburner is the most widely used PC monitoring tool for gamers. Install it along with RivaTuner Statistics Server. In Afterburner, go to Settings → Monitoring and enable CPU Temperature, GPU Temperature, CPU Usage, GPU Usage, and Frame Time. Enable the on-screen display in RivaTuner to see these values while gaming.
HWiNFO64 — More Detailed Data
Run HWiNFO64 in sensors-only mode for individual CPU core temperatures, VRM temperatures, SSD temperatures, and power consumption data. Use alongside Afterburner — Afterburner for the in-game overlay, HWiNFO for detailed post-session analysis.
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See Services →Safe Temperature Ranges
- CPU gaming temps: Under 80°C is excellent. 80–90°C is acceptable. Above 90°C indicates throttling
- GPU gaming temps: Under 80°C is ideal. 80–85°C is normal. Above 85°C with drops indicates throttling
- SSD temps (NVMe): Under 60°C is fine. Above 70°C can trigger throttling
Fixing Thermal Issues
In order of impact: 1) Clean dust from all heatsinks and fans with compressed air. 2) Reapply thermal paste on the CPU — paste dries out over 2–4 years. 3) Improve case airflow by adding intake fans at front and exhaust at rear. 4) Undervolt your GPU — reducing voltage reduces heat while maintaining performance.