Can overheating GPU damage my PC during long gaming sessions?

Yes, GPU’s running at high temperature for extended periods is not great. If regularly running above 85°C for hours on end, you’re getting close to the edge. GPU’s have thermal protection and simply go into “protect mode” slowing right down before going pop. This typically results in reduced FPS or a crash, so you’ll feel the issue before it causes any damage.

Based on what I’ve observed in online poker forums, people will play 6-8 hours without looking at temperatures. I would recommend that you check those temps with some software like MSI AfterBurner or HWMonitor. If you are regularly hitting 80°C, then clean your dust, have adequate airflow, or upgrade your case fans. It’s just something you have to do; extended play sessions are very common in online poker. You aren’t likely to kill your GPU, but why risk it? Repairing or replacing a GPU can be costly and frustrating.

Yes, running your GPU hot while playing poker for hours can hurt it (electronic components don’t like heat). This could result in system crashes and potentially shorten the life of your GPU. Make sure that your computer is properly cooled while playing poker. Keep the temperature of the GPU below 85°C by running software such as MSI Afterburner to monitor heat, and take steps to cool the machine if it gets too hot (for example by improving air flow, removing dust, or using a cooling pad underneath the laptop).