We recently looked at different profiles in AMD Software, and today we’ll dive deeper into adjusting the fan control settings in more detail. First, we’ll test how fan performance affects the card’s behavior across the entire working range of fan speeds. Then we’ll focus on how fan control behavior differs between automatic and manual fan-speed settings, and on how to set the fan-control curve settings for the card.
Default settings vs. Fan Control, controlled by GPU hotspot sensor
In the previous chapter, I set Fan Control to follow the average GPU temperature. Many users prefer AMD’s approach, where a custom fan curve controls fan speed based on the hotspot temperature (even though AMD’s drivers apparently don’t control fan speed by hotspot temperature in Automatic mode).
In Fan Control, you can also choose the hotspot temperature as the source for the fan curve.
And unlike the fan curve in AMD Software, you’re not limited to a 100 °C maximum—you can set values beyond this value. This lets you tune the curve so the fans don’t run at extreme speeds even at higher hotspot temperatures, without capping the maximum fan speed the way I did in chapter seven.
You can leave 100% fan speed (about 4,350 RPM on this card) for situations where thermal protection might otherwise kick in—just like with the following curve. For that curve, I set the control points based on the hotspot temperatures the card reached under Automatic control.
Up to 50 °C, the fans are off. Above that, fan speed rises linearly to key points: 40% at 97 °C and 50% at 103 °C. Beyond 103 °C, the curve ramps steeply so that at 110 °C the controller sets fan speed to maximum. I also reduced the hysteresis value so the control reacts to temperature changes faster.
We’ll compare the result to Automatic control again. And even though we’re regulating by hotspot temperature, this setup gets closer to the original behavior than the custom curve in AMD Software’s custom mode—without having to cap the maximum fan speed at 70%.
Cyberpunk 2077, BIOS Quiet, default settings vs. Fan Control (GPU Hotspot sensor)
The first performance test was conducted using the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark with RT Medium settings at the native resolution of 3840 × 2160. It consists of eight consecutive runs, with average values taken from the final run.
You should see the results in the interactive graphs, which switch when you hover over them. If they don’t work, the same graphs are available below as clickable thumbnails that open in a lightbox.
Performance differs from the default setting only within the margin of measurement error.
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
The same goes for the GPU clock.
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
Once warmed up, GPU temperatures are close to Automatic control in default settings, and the fan speed the cooler settles at is as well.
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
F1 24, BIOS Quiet, default settings vs. Fan Control (GPU Hotspot sensor)
The next tests are from the F1 24 benchmark at 3840 × 2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is a benchmark with five laps on the Singapore map in the wet. Unlike other benchmarks, this is a sustained load; there is no drop in load between test loops, and the card remains heated the entire time.
Even under continuous load, the result—with the maximum temperature shifted beyond 100 °C—resembles Automatic control more closely.
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
Default setings | Fan Control (GPU Hotspot)
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