NVIDIA Releases Urgent Hotfix to Address GPU Overheating and Temperature Monitoring Issues

Critical Hotfix Released to Fix GPU Temperature Misreporting

NVIDIA quickly rolled out a hotfix following the release of driver version 576.02, which caused widespread concern in AI and gaming communities. The driver update led systems to falsely report safe GPU temperatures while cooling demands increased to potentially dangerous levels.

Nature of the Problem

In the official hotfix announcement, NVIDIA listed the GPU temperature monitoring issue as the third fix, describing it as: “GPU monitoring utilities may stop reporting the GPU temperature after PC wakes from sleep.”

After driver 576.02 was released, users on platforms like the Stable Diffusion subreddit and NVIDIA forums reported that tools such as MSI Afterburner and in-game temperature monitors stopped updating GPU temperature readings, freezing around 35-36°C. A full system reboot was required to restore accurate temperature data, while some monitoring tools like HWInfo and NVIDIA's own app continued to work correctly.

User Reports Highlight Overheating Risks

Users noted abnormal fan behavior and thermal regulation problems, with GPUs idling at higher-than-expected temperatures and overheating during normal loads. One user reported fans running at maximum despite ambient temperatures being low and initially normal GPU temperature readings that later proved inaccurate.

Underlying Cause Linked to Optimus System Behavior

The 576.02 driver update introduced changes affecting temperature reporting, particularly on NVIDIA Optimus systems. Optimus technology switches between integrated and discrete graphics to optimize power consumption, putting the GPU into a low-power state when not in use. This low-power state causes temperature monitoring tools to report incorrect values, often zero degrees.

The update extended this behavior beyond Optimus systems, allowing GPUs to enter low-power states while idle and disrupting temperature readings in third-party tools.

Hardware Safeguards and Remaining Risks

Although VBIOS firmware enforces thermal and power limits to protect the GPU, improper fan behavior and misreported temperatures can still cause sustained high temperatures, risking hardware degradation over time. The lack of accurate temperature feedback also risks misleading users, who might attempt unnecessary or harmful fixes.

Impact on AI Workflows and Gaming

The faulty driver was especially problematic for AI practitioners who run GPUs at high loads for extended periods, increasing the risk of overheating. Despite complaints, driver 576.02 remained available for download, though NVIDIA provided the hotfix to mitigate the issue.

User Experiences Post-Update

Some users experienced GPU crashes on boot due to heat buildup and required undervolting and repasting thermal compounds. Others reported that custom fan curves failed to trigger due to incorrect temperature readings, causing overheating that resolved after reverting to an earlier driver version.

NVIDIA continues to issue hotfixes for various game and platform issues, but this case highlights the importance of accurate temperature monitoring, especially for users pushing GPUs to their limits in AI or gaming scenarios.