How to use GPU-Z to check mining memory temp? (Hardware safety)

Understanding GPU-Z Interface for Mining Hardware

1. Launch GPU-Z and confirm the correct graphics card is selected in the dropdown menu at the top right corner. This ensures readings correspond to the actual mining GPU, not integrated or secondary adapters.

2. Navigate to the Sensors tab — this is where real-time thermal, voltage, clock, and memory metrics appear. Memory temperature is not visible under the main 'Graphics Card' tab; it resides exclusively in Sensors.

3. Scroll down the Sensors panel until locating the section labeled GPU Memory Temperature. It may appear as “Memory Junction Temp”, “Memory Temp”, or “VRAM Temp”, depending on GPU architecture and driver version.

4. Observe whether the value is displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Most mining rigs operate with Celsius as default; verify unit consistency across all monitoring tools used alongside GPU-Z.

5. Note the refresh interval — GPU-Z defaults to 1000 ms. For stability testing during extended mining sessions, manually reduce this to 500 ms via Settings > Refresh Rate to capture transient spikes.

Interpreting Memory Temperature Readings

1. AMD RDNA2 and RDNA3 GPUs typically report VRAM junction temperatures between 85°C and 110°C under full mining load. Sustained values above 105°C indicate inadequate cooling or thermal interface degradation.

2. NVIDIA GA102 and AD102-based cards (e.g., RTX 3090, 4090) show memory die temperatures ranging from 90°C to 115°C. Readings exceeding 112°C correlate strongly with GDDR6X instability and hash loss.

3. Memory temperature is often 5–12°C higher than GPU core temperature due to tighter physical placement and lack of direct heatsink contact on many reference PCBs.

4. A delta greater than 20°C between core and memory temp suggests uneven thermal distribution — common in poorly modified mining BIOS or boards with missing thermal pads.

5. GPU-Z does not log memory temperature history by default. To track trends, enable logging via File > Save Log to File and set interval to 5 seconds for post-session analysis.

Hardware Safety Thresholds and Warning Signs

1. GDDR6 and GDDR6X chips begin exhibiting timing errors beyond 108°C, leading to rejected shares and kernel panics in ethminer or T-Rex.

2. Repeated thermal cycling above 100°C accelerates solder joint fatigue on memory modules, increasing risk of cold solder cracks after 4–6 months of continuous operation.

3. If GPU-Z shows memory temperature fluctuating more than 15°C within 30 seconds without load change, suspect faulty sensor calibration or VRM instability.

4. Memory fan speed — when reported — should remain above 65% under mining load. Values below 40% combined with high memory temps point to clogged shrouds or failed PWM control.

5. A blank or “N/A” entry under GPU Memory Temperature does not always mean absence of sensor — it may indicate unsupported SMBus access, especially on Linux systems without proper i2c-dev module loading.

Calibration and Cross-Verification Methods

1. Compare GPU-Z memory readings against HWiNFO64’s “Memory Controller” sensor group. Discrepancies over 4°C warrant manual verification using infrared thermography on the memory bank surface.

2. Use MSI Afterburner + RivaTuner Statistics Server to overlay memory temperature in real time during mining. Enable “GPU Memory Temperature” in On-Screen Display settings and cross-check stability under dual-monitor validation.

3. For ASIC-style GPU arrays, run a controlled 10-minute stress test with PhoenixMiner in --log command mode while capturing GPU-Z logs. Identify if memory temp climbs linearly or plateaus — non-linear behavior hints at throttling intervention.

4. Disconnect auxiliary power cables one at a time on multi-rail setups and observe memory temperature shift in GPU-Z. A sudden 8°C+ rise indicates insufficient 12V rail delivery to memory VRMs.

5. Validate sensor accuracy by applying known thermal loads: use FurMark’s “GPU Stress Test” with memory-only pattern enabled and monitor how quickly GPU-Z reflects changes versus core temperature response.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does GPU-Z support memory temperature monitoring on all AMD RX 6000 series cards?A: No. Early BIOS versions of RX 6700 XT and 6600 XT lack SMBus memory sensor implementation. GPU-Z will display N/A unless updated to v2.42.0 or later with custom VBIOS patching.

Q: Can GPU-Z detect memory hotspots on multi-die GPUs like Radeon RX 7900 XTX?A: It reports a single aggregate value derived from the hottest memory controller node. It cannot isolate individual GDDR6 stacks or HBM2e interposers.

Q: Why does GPU-Z show memory temperature but not memory usage during mining?A: Memory usage is a software-level metric tracked by drivers and mining applications. GPU-Z accesses hardware sensors only — memory bandwidth and utilization require API-level polling via Vulkan or CUDA interfaces.

Q: Is it safe to rely solely on GPU-Z for thermal safety during 24/7 mining?A: Not advisable. GPU-Z lacks automated alerting, shutdown triggers, or integration with fan control daemons. It serves best as a diagnostic snapshot tool, not a safety controller.