What is GPU-FAN-FAILURE?
GPU-FAN-FAILURE shows up as a critical-severity graphics card (GPU) fault. The GPU fan stopped spinning. Causes rapid overheating and emergency shutdown. Typical causes include mechanical fault, dust in bearing and damaged connector. Follow the steps below to fix it.
Common Causes
- Mechanical fault
- Dust in bearing
- Damaged connector
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
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1
Clean the fan
Clean the fan is the first thing worth trying, since it resolves GPU-FAN-FAILURE for most affected systems.
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2
Replace the GPU fan
In case symptoms recur, the rest of the sequence deals with the less common side of gpu instability.
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3
Set an aggressive fan curve in MSI Afterburner
Try "Set an aggressive fan curve in MSI Afterburner" next if the issue persists — it addresses a secondary cause.
Commands & Diagnostics
No specific commands required for this error. Follow the step-by-step guide above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mechanical fault accounts for the majority of GPU-FAN-FAILURE reports; dust in bearing and damaged connector come up less often but are documented.
Most GPU-FAN-FAILURE reports resolve after "Clean the fan". The rest of the guide above is there for the cases that don't.
Yes — GPU-FAN-FAILURE is a critical-severity error and can lead to data loss or hardware damage if it's ignored. Don't put off the fix steps above.
In most cases, yes — the guide above resolves GPU-FAN-FAILURE without a clean install. Treat a reinstall as the last resort, not the first move.
Yes — GPU or memory overclocking is one of the most frequent triggers for GPU-FAN-FAILURE. Try resetting your GPU to stock clocks using MSI Afterburner or your OC software, then test for stability before investigating other causes.
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