How to Undervolt a GPU

What is GPU undervolting and why do it in 2025?

GPU undervolting is the process of reducing voltage that the graphics card receives while maintaining or slightly adjusting its clock frequency. This allows improve energy efficiency, reduce temperatures and reduce fan noise, all without significantly sacrificing performance.

In 2025, undervolting is especially useful because modern GPUs, such as the RTX 3080, they consume a lot of energy (up to 320W-350W in factory settings), which increases temperatures and energy costs. I have personally undervolted my RTX 3080, setting it to 1700MHz at 750mV, and managed to get the power consumption down to 220-240W, similar to an RTX 3060 Ti, with a performance loss of only 4-5%.. In my opinion, this shows that it is an interesting option for those looking for greater efficiency without losing power.Here I explain how to do it step by step, what tools to use, the benefits, and how to avoid mistakes.

What are the benefits of undervolting a GPU?

Undervolting your GPU has multiple advantagesThese are the key benefits based on my experience:

1. Temperature reduction
   By lowering the voltage, the GPU generates less heat. In my case, with the RTX 3080 set to 750 mV, I noticed temperatures dropping by several degrees, though I don't remember the exact figure, and the fans worked less even in demanding games.
2. Lower energy consumption
   Reducing the voltage lowers power consumption. Before undervolting, my RTX 3080 consumed between 320W and 350W; after the adjustment, it dropped to 220-240W. This is equivalent to the consumption of an RTX 3060 Ti, but with better performance, which in my opinion is a big plus.
3. Less fan noise
   With less heat, the fans spin more slowly, significantly reducing noise. In my experience, the difference was very noticeable during long gaming sessions, making the process worthwhile.
4. Greater efficiency without losing performance
   In most cases, the performance impact is minimal. I only lost 4-5% FPS with my RTX 3080, a negligible sacrifice compared to the reduction in power and temperature. I think this makes it ideal for those looking for efficiency.

What tools are needed for undervolting?

To perform undervolting safely, you'll need the following free tools:

• MSI Afterburner: The best tool for adjusting voltages and frequencies. Download MSI Afterburner here.
• A benchmark: Use Unigine Heaven, FurMark or 3DMark to test stability after tuning.
• GPU-Z (optional): Monitor temperatures and consumption in real time.

How to undervolt a GPU step by step?

Here's a detailed guide to undervolting your GPU, based on my experience with an RTX 3080:

• Open MSI Afterburner and access the Voltage/Frequency Editor
  • Open MSI Afterburner and press Ctrl + F to open the Voltage/Frequency Curve Editor.
  • You will see a curve where the X axis is the voltage (mV) and the Y axis is the frequency (MHz).
• Reduces voltage without losing stability
  • Find the maximum stable frequency of your GPU (in my case, 1900 MHz stock for the RTX 3080).
  • Adjust the voltage for that frequency to a lower value (in my setup, I lowered it to 1700 MHz at 750 mV, versus 1.05V stock).
  • Save the changes and apply. For me, this adjustment was effective and easy to implement.
• Test stability and adjust
  • Run a benchmark like Unigine Heaven or FurMark for 15-20 minutes. If you experience any hangs or artifacts (visual glitches), increase the voltage slightly (e.g., to 800 mV).
  • If everything works fine, save the profile in MSI Afterburner for future use.
  • My opinion: It's not a difficult process; it only requires downloading the program and making a few clicks. However, it's important to experiment to find a stable setting, as lowering the voltage too much can cause the GPU to freeze and stop working, which isn't what we're looking for.
• Additional adviceIf you don't want to adjust manually, use MSI Afterburner's Auto-Undervolt feature for automatic configuration. Without experience, this option is more than sufficient, as I've found myself doing.

What are the common mistakes when undervolting and how to avoid them?

Avoiding these mistakes will help you perform safe and effective undervolting:

• Lowering the voltage too much
  If you reduce the voltage too much, the GPU will freeze or display artifacts. Solution: Adjust gradually (lowering 25 mV at a time) and test for stability, as I did, finding the sweet spot at 750 mV.
• Do not test stability
  Without testing, you could experience issues with games or apps. Solution: Always use benchmarks and play around to confirm everything is working properly.
• Believing it will damage the GPU
  This is a myth. Undervolting doesn't damage the GPU; on the contrary, it reduces wear by lowering temperatures and voltages, as I've personally experienced.

Is undervolting dangerous? Debunking beliefs

There are common myths about undervolting that may concern you. Here, I debunk them with my perspective:

• Myth 1: “Undervolting damages the GPU”
  False. Undervolting is safe because it reduces the voltage to within stable parameters, protecting the GPU. It's a myth that can't be ignored, but it's fine to do it, as I've verified on my RTX 3080.
• Myth 2: “GPUs are already optimized out of the box”
  Partially true. Manufacturers use high voltages to ensure stability across all units, but not all motherboards are necessarily properly optimized. Therefore, higher voltages ensure proper performance, although many can operate with lower voltages, as I discovered when tweaking my GPU.
• My opinion: Factories don't use lower power consumption because not all graphics cards are optimized uniformly, which can cause problems. Manually adjusting or using Auto-Undervolt allows you to find the most stable setting, especially if you plan to use it 24/7, for example, for mining.

Conclusion: Is undervolting worth it in 2025?

Undervolting your GPU in 2025 is worth it. In my experience with an RTX 3080, I achieved:

• Lower consumption: From 320W to 220-240W, significant savings.
• Lower temperatures and less noise: They dropped several degrees and the fans became much quieter.
• Similar performance: I only lost 4-5% of FPS, which I didn't notice in games.

For me, personally, this is a highly recommended option. It's easy to do even without technical knowledge, and the power consumption is significantly reduced, while the performance loss is minimal or nonexistent in some cases. If you're looking for a more efficient, cooler, and quieter GPU, I encourage you to try it by following this guide.

GPU Undervolting FAQ