How do I check if my GPU is overheating while playing games?

Yes it is. I use a free program called MSI Afterburner (the same program that you can use to overclock your GPU) which displays real-time temperatures of your GPU. The app is lightweight, and runs in the background while playing games.

If you just need something quick and dirty, Open Hardware Monitor is light-weight and displays the temperatures in real time. For more detail, consider HWiNFO64.

But by far the most useful feature for a gamer is a temperature-display overlay that lets you see how hot your card is getting during a game. MSI Afterburner has a great overlay; if you're trying to bluff out your buddy in a high-stakes poker match or are about to land a triple on the slot machine, you can pull the temperature overlay wherever you want to see it.

I I always make sure to keep my GPU under 80°C when mining. If you’re temping into the reds, add some case fans or check that thermal compound. You don’t want to lose a rig on the eve of your winning ticket!

Track your GPU temperatures when gaming (you don’t want to ruin a hand due to overheating!). Free programs such as MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor do the job nicely. They track temp in the background and can even be set to send you a notification if it gets too high. I’m not trying to scare you because most games don’t stress out the GPU that hard, but it never hurts to be safe. Also, make sure you have solid airflow within your PC case! Keep it cool and play well. 🂡