this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2026
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Optimize system for cooler temperatures (lemmy.ml)
submitted 16 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) by iByteABit@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml
28 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

How does one optimize for better system temperatures on Linux while doing heavy tasks (e.g. gaming) during summer heat.

Are there tools for creating 'gaming/balanced/economy' profiles for example that limit the GPU and CPU depending on the requirements?

Should I find a way to customize fan speeds?

I am trying to find everything I should do from the software perspective before I move on to buying better cooling hardware.

I am currently reaching 100+ celsius temps maximum on both the GPU and CPU while gaming, on idle it's like this:

System info:

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[–] Cyber@feddit.uk 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

As others have asked, desktop or laptop

But also where is it? If it's a "desktop" but on the floor in a deep carpet, tucked against the dark corner of the room under a desk, that's not going to help... bring it out into the air...

And for a laptop... lift it off the desk

I created an MDF raised deck for my laptop, with a massive slot where the fan intake is underneath, that really helped it breathe.

Looking to the future, if cooling is going to be a problem, I like to over spec' the equipment and underutilise it - it's better to run something twice as powerful at half the load... this knowledge came from the hifi world.

[–] iByteABit@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

It's a desktop on the floor under my desk, so there could definitely be some intake airflow problem there. It would be extremely impractical to bring it out, but maybe a human fan would help with that.

[–] verdigris@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 hours ago

Make sure it has at least a few inches of clearance at the back. Also many cases/PSUs have fans on the bottom, if yours does then raising it up on some feet can really help.

[–] whatiswrongwithyou@lemmy.ml 11 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I am speaking from decades of experience when I say the following:

No one can help you with this particular problem in any serious way if you don’t post your cpu and gpu models.

If you are on a laptop or some brand of desktop you need to post the model for that too.

[–] iByteABit@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Edited with info

[–] whatiswrongwithyou@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 hours ago

Replace your thermal paste with ptm or some other ptm like.

The paste becomes crap over time.

It may be worth your time to use a ptm alike and new thermal pads on your 7600 as well, or pay a shop to do that.

Check that air is actually getting to your components. It’s easy for fan screens to get plugged up and for some reason people used to not put enough fans in their cases.

Those msi b450 motherboards have annoying bioses so check if there some ridiculous fan curve mess turned on or misconfigured.

I call else fails, noc-tua, blow on that thing.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

Yes.

The default KDE power saver profile also disables turbo, and is configurable exactly like you asked.

But, like others said, we can’t really help without any hardware info.

[–] iByteABit@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 hours ago

Edited with info

[–] akunohana@piefed.blahaj.zone 7 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

Everyone: help me lower temps \
Me: compiling 100 GB worth of shaders for gaming on ultra settings in a room that's 30 degrees Celsius without the slightest afterthought. MAKE YOUR MONEY, NOCTUA FANS (six for chassi + two for CPU)

Also, look into undervolting 😊 although I know it's tricky, to say the least, on Linux...

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 3 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Tricky? Echo a number to a file?

[–] Eggymatrix@sh.itjust.works 4 points 13 hours ago

Are you crazy? On the terminal?

Regedit is a lot easier!

/s

[–] vikingtons@lemmy.world 8 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

may help to know your device models, but power limiting is generally what you're after. Your hardware may determine the methods used.

[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

undervolting is your best friend

[–] vikingtons@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

undervolting is all well and good but warrants component stress testing versus regular PL targets.

[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

for the current task the stress testing is the gaming itself. so it's a low hanging fruit here.

[–] vikingtons@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

that's not how stress testing works. Different games will present different load to a given combination of hardware. Besides that, computers are used for many more tasks in addition to gaming. Careless re-tuning can lead to a lapse in system integrity in ways that aren't immediately apparent, but damaging all the same.

[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

you may never have done this kind of optimization before, but when it comes to undervolting, it becomes clear pretty quickly that the wrong settings were chosen. so let me repeat: separate load testing makes no sense for someone who just wants to play games in a cool room during the summer, it’s just a waste of time and electricity. and let's forget about the careless re-tuning thing; we obviously all undervolt with care, precision, and a ceremonial blessing.

[–] vikingtons@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

I work in client gfx at an IHV; I am intimately familiar with system integrity routines, component stress testing and tuning, particularly with DIY systems. Nothing about what I've recommended is "a waste of time and electricity" when you're privy to the breath of defects averted in the field after following proper guidance.

Don't take your own experiences for granted, if this person was familiar with the concept, they wouldn't need to ask.

[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

have you ever tried undervolting yourself?

[–] vikingtons@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

Extensively, across various compute and graphics generations. I presently do so even now, though I wouldn't offer that to a user completely unfamiliar with the domain as some kind of silver bullet; it doesn't sidestep package power limits.

[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

have you ever had any issues that weren't noticeable within the first 10-15 minutes of running under load?

[–] vikingtons@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

yes, absolutely, though I've seen it much more amongst other end users.

As I've mentioned, games will load your system differently from one another. Someone who claims their system is stable with their custom tunings in every game except for something new that they've recently installed does not have a stable system. this is a case my colleagues and I see over and over.

[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 1 points 12 hours ago

hmm, that goes against my experience. and I'm talking about the CPUs.

[–] anamethatisnt@sopuli.xyz 5 points 16 hours ago

An easy first step is to check BIOS and see if you can simply increase your fan speeds there for an immediate gain.
Another easy quick fix is to add a normal desktop fan placed so it pushes air towards your intake fans.
Third cheap way is to check what fans your case has today and what fits in it. Even the cheap 120mm fans from Arctic or Thermalright can increase airflow and lower temperatures.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 4 points 15 hours ago

How about buying a big fan that is for humans, but your put it in front of the computers intake for fresh air, for additional support. Maybe you could also under clock the CPU from Bios a bit.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 hours ago

Laptop or desktop?

Your CPU will handle 100c just fine. Intels turbo boost is designed to run the CPU as fast and hot as possible. Your CPU is designed to run at those temps for years and it will be fine.

GPUs tend to not like it as much. Smaller lower end GPUs tend to handle it better than bigger ones, but neither like running at their max temp all day.

[–] LeeeroooyJeeenkiiins@hexbear.net 3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Have you cleaned your fans and re applied thermal paste because i don't think it should be doing that

[–] iByteABit@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 hours ago

It's the first thing I'm going to do, have to wait a bit until the paste arrives