GPU fans spin to near max RPM when put under heavy load, but won’t spin back down to idle RPM when temps lower?

Understanding GPU Fan Behavior: Troubleshooting High RPM Persistence on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

In the realm of PC gaming and high-performance computing, maintaining optimal GPU temperatures is crucial for system stability and longevity. However, users occasionally encounter perplexing fan behavior that can hinder normal operation and user experience. This article explores a common issue observed with certain graphics cards—specifically, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Windforce OC from Gigabyte—where the GPU fans fail to revert to idle speeds after heavy load, despite temperature reductions.

Identifying the Issue

The core problem involves the GPU fans spinning at a near-maximum RPM following intensive use, such as gaming sessions, and failing to decrease their speed once the workload diminishes. Notably, even when the GPU temperature drops significantly (e.g., down to 28°C), the fans remain engaged at high RPM. The user reports that restarting or putting the PC into sleep mode temporarily resolves the issue, but the problem can recur during subsequent workloads.

Furthermore, interestingly, fan speed monitoring tools—such as MSI Afterburner and GPU-Z—may report 0% fan speed, suggesting software misreporting or sensor anomalies. The user has also attempted adjusting custom fan curves and verifying that default software settings do not cause the persistent high fan speed.

Potential Causes and Diagnoses

Several contributing factors can explain this phenomenon:

1. Fan Control Software Glitches: Over time, software like MSI Afterburner or the GPU’s default control mechanisms may encounter glitches, leading to inconsistent fan speed reporting or actual fan operation.

2. Firmware or BIOS Issues: Firmware bugs in the GPU or the accompanying BIOS may cause abnormal fan behavior.

3. Temperature Sensor Anomalies: Faulty temperature sensors or misreporting can cause the fan controller to behave in unexpected ways, possibly keeping fans engaged unnecessarily.

4. Persistent Fan Profiles or Profiles Corrupted: Custom fan curves or preloaded profiles might interfere with normal auto control, especially if profiles are conflicting or corrupted.

5. Hardware Faults: While less common, hardware faults in the fan controller circuitry or the fans themselves could lead to unresponsive behavior.

Suggested Solutions

To address and potentially resolve such issues, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Reset Fan Profiles to Default: Remove custom fan curves in MSI Afterburner or other control software, and revert to default settings. Sometimes, custom profiles can cause conflicts.

2