NVIDIA RTX 50 hotspot temperature monitoring returns in HWMonitor 1.65
NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards launched without visible hotspot temperature readings, leaving many PC enthusiasts without an important tool for diagnosing GPU cooling issues. Now, CPUID has restored access to those readings through the latest version of its popular hardware monitoring software, HWMonitor 1.65.
Hotspot temperature monitoring is especially important because it shows the hottest point on the GPU die, not just the average GPU temperature. A graphics card can appear to be running within a normal temperature range while still suffering from extreme localized heat. When that happens, the GPU may reduce clock speeds to protect itself, resulting in lower gaming performance, inconsistent frame rates, or unexplained thermal throttling.
Although NVIDIA removed hotspot readings from the standard monitoring data available on Blackwell-based GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards, reports suggested that the sensors themselves were still present. Earlier experiments from hardware modders showed that hotspot values could be brought back through unofficial methods. Those findings revealed that some RTX 50 GPUs were reaching high hotspot temperatures even while their average GPU temperatures looked acceptable.
That discovery raised concerns among PC builders and gamers, because hotspot readings can help identify problems such as poor cooler contact, uneven thermal paste spread, mounting pressure issues, or inadequate case airflow. Without this data, users may struggle to understand why a powerful graphics card is not performing as expected.
With HWMonitor 1.65, CPUID has made hotspot monitoring available again for GeForce RTX 50 series users. The updated utility can now display real-time hotspot temperature data alongside standard GPU and VRAM temperature readings. This gives users a clearer picture of what is happening inside their graphics card during gaming, rendering, benchmarking, or other demanding workloads.
One of the most interesting details in the new HWMonitor interface is the appearance of two separate HotSpot readings. Based on early user screenshots, one reading appears to correspond to the GPU hotspot, while the second may be tied to the power delivery area, such as the VRM. If accurate, this is a useful addition for enthusiasts because VRM temperatures can also affect stability, efficiency, and long-term reliability.
The return of RTX 50 hotspot monitoring is good news for gamers, overclockers, system builders, and anyone who wants better visibility into GPU thermals. Average GPU temperature alone does not always tell the full story, especially on modern high-performance graphics cards. A low or reasonable average temperature can hide a much hotter point on the chip, which may be the actual cause of throttling.
For users experiencing lower-than-expected performance on an RTX 50 series graphics card, HWMonitor 1.65 may now provide a simple way to check whether hotspot temperatures are part of the problem. If hotspot values are unusually high, possible fixes may include improving airflow, checking fan curves, reseating the cooler, replacing thermal paste, or inspecting the GPU mounting pressure.
CPUID’s update also puts pressure on other hardware monitoring tools to support the same functionality. Since hotspot readings are valuable for troubleshooting and performance tuning, more utilities may follow with similar support for the GeForce RTX 50 series.
For now, HWMonitor 1.65 gives RTX 50 owners a practical way to monitor GPU hotspot temperatures again, making it easier to detect thermal issues before they turn into performance problems.
