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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Start by proving whether the GPU is actually thermally throttling. Capture nvidia-smi -q -d performance, a plain nvidia-smi snapshot, iDRAC System Event and Lifecycle Logs, and the server inlet temperature before changing hardware. Then correct room temperature, rack airflow, fan, shroud and cooling-kit issues; verify firmware and driver state; and only after those checks inspect seating, cables, slot placement and service parts. On a PowerEdge XE9680, an inlet reading above 38 °C for NVIDIA or AMD configurations, or above 33 °C for Intel configurations, can trigger GPU power reduction and lower performance.
What GPU overheating and throttling look like
A workload that suddenly runs slower, shows falling GPU clocks or loses throughput may be experiencing thermal protection, but a performance drop alone does not prove overheating. Correlate the workload with active throttle reasons, GPU temperature, power, clocks, utilization and the server’s inlet reading. A GPU that is missing from both nvidia-smi and iDRAC inventory is more likely to have a detection, seating, power, firmware or slot-configuration problem than a simple temperature problem.
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Dell’s verification target is a normally detected accelerator, normal temperature, no active throttle reason and no temperature warning in the System Event Log. Dell states: "If throttle reasons are shown as Not Active , the GPU is operating normally."
Thermal throttling versus a detection fault
| Observed symptom | What it suggests | First evidence to collect |
|---|---|---|
| Performance falls under sustained load and clocks decline | Possible thermal or power protection; confirm with throttle reasons and temperatures | nvidia-smi -q -d performance, temperature, power and inlet readings |
| Throttle reasons show “Not Active” | Dell considers the GPU to be operating normally at that moment | Timestamped nvidia-smi output and workload details |
GPU absent from nvidia-smi |
Detection, seating, power, firmware or slot configuration issue | nvidia-smi, lspci -vv, iDRAC inventory and event logs |
| GPU absent from iDRAC inventory as well | Hardware connection, supported-placement or platform configuration issue is more likely than thermal throttling | iDRAC inventory, cabling and slot arrangement |
| Fans run at full speed before an accelerator driver is installed | Expected on MI300X when accelerator sensors are unavailable to the management controller | Driver-installation state and iDRAC fan behavior after the driver loads |
1. Capture telemetry before changing anything
Do not begin by forcing a fan curve, reseating a card or replacing a heatsink. First create a time-stamped baseline while the problem is present and, if possible, while the same workload is running.
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- Check NVIDIA visibility and current status. Run
nvidia-smi. Record every GPU’s index, model, temperature, power draw, clock values, utilization and any displayed performance state. - Read the throttle-reason fields. Run
nvidia-smi -q -d performance. Save the complete output, not just a screenshot of one GPU. Look for active clock or power-throttle reasons and note the time of capture. - Record the workload context. Write down the model or job being run, batch size, number of GPUs, start time, duration and whether the slowdown appears immediately or only after sustained load. This lets support reproduce the same thermal behavior.
- Export iDRAC records. In the iDRAC interface, export the System Event Log and Lifecycle Log. Inspect Temperature Overview and System Inlet Temperature, and note any fan, temperature, power or PCIe events at the same times as the GPU slowdown.
- Capture inventory. Save the iDRAC GPU inventory and compare it with
nvidia-smi. A mismatch is important evidence even when the operating system can see a PCIe device.
Keep the original files with their timestamps. A later temperature reading taken after the workload has stopped can hide a transient inlet or power event.
2. Check the room, rack and inlet air
Environmental airflow is the first corrective area because a correctly functioning GPU can still protect itself when the air entering the chassis is too warm. Confirm the exact supported ambient range for the installed server, accelerator model and configuration rather than applying a generic GPU temperature limit.
XE9680 thresholds
Dell’s 2026 XE9680 thermal matrix lists 35 °C ambient for the specified NVIDIA and AMD GPU configurations without performance degradation. It sets a 38 °C inlet warning threshold for NVIDIA and AMD configurations and a 33 °C inlet warning threshold for Intel GPU configurations. Crossing the applicable warning threshold can cause the system to reduce GPU power, which degrades performance even when the GPU itself has not reached a familiar desktop-card temperature limit.
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| XE9680 configuration | Ambient guidance in Dell’s matrix | Inlet warning threshold | Potential response |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA GPU | 35 °C ambient without performance degradation for listed configurations | 38 °C | GPU power reduction and degraded performance can occur after the warning threshold is crossed |
| AMD GPU | 35 °C ambient without performance degradation for listed configurations | 38 °C | GPU power reduction and degraded performance can occur after the warning threshold is crossed |
| Intel GPU | Use the exact Intel configuration limits in Dell’s matrix | 33 °C | GPU power reduction and degraded performance can occur after the warning threshold is crossed |
The thresholds are platform and configuration values, not universal junction-temperature specifications. Do not replace them with a generic NVIDIA or AMD maximum temperature.
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Rack and room checks
- Measure the air at the server intake, not only the room thermostat. Compare the reading with iDRAC System Inlet Temperature and keep the time of each measurement.
- Remove blanking-panel gaps, cable bundles, neighboring equipment or any other obstruction in front of the intake and behind the exhaust.
- Confirm the rack has front-to-back airflow and that hot exhaust air is not recirculating into the next server’s intake.
- Check that doors, aisle containment and floor tiles are not restricting the high-volume airflow required by the configuration.
- Verify every system and GPU fan reports healthy operation in iDRAC. A fan that is stopped, missing or reporting an error can reduce cooling capacity before a GPU warning appears.
After correcting an obstruction or high room temperature, repeat the same workload and collect the same telemetry. A lower inlet reading with inactive throttle reasons is stronger evidence than a one-time drop in GPU temperature while idle.
3. Verify the cooling path and installed configuration
PowerEdge AI servers use a chassis-specific cooling design. Confirm that the server has the high-performance GPU fan type, airflow shrouds and GPU cooling kit required for the exact chassis and accelerator combination. A standard PCIe-card fan assumption is unsafe: Dell’s PCIe cooling architecture can manage slots by airflow, temperature or target LFM, with fan speed calculated from the card’s expected power-delivery requirement.
Cooling-path checklist
- Match the installed GPU SKU to Dell’s supported XE9680 or PowerEdge configuration guide.
- Confirm all required airflow shrouds are present, correctly oriented and fully seated. A missing shroud can let air bypass the heatsink.
- Confirm the GPU cooling kit and high-performance fan type are installed for that accelerator’s power class.
- Inspect for loose ducting, damaged seals, displaced baffles or debris on the heatsink fins.
- Check that no add-in card, cable or bracket blocks the intended intake or exhaust path.
- Compare fan behavior with the iDRAC health state and event logs instead of judging speed by sound alone.
Do not substitute a generic fan curve or an ordinary PCIe cooling part. The controller’s target LFM and power assumptions are part of the platform design; an apparently fast fan can still deliver insufficient airflow through the GPU heatsink if the shroud or fan type is wrong.
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Firmware and driver sequencing can create symptoms that look like a failed fan or overheated GPU. Check the installed BIOS, iDRAC, GPU firmware and accelerator driver versions against Dell’s supported release notes, then apply updates through your normal change-control process. Record versions before and after the change so a support engineer can identify what altered the behavior.
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XE9680 A100: iDRAC fan-control defect
Dell documents an XE9680 A100 issue in which iDRAC 7.20.30.00 can drive the fans to 100 percent because the release uses an unsupported thermal-table sensor. Dell identifies iDRAC 7.20.60.50 as the fix. If an A100 system has full-speed fans, check the iDRAC version and event history before replacing a fan or heatsink. Update only to a Dell-supported version and follow the release notes for the server’s other firmware dependencies.
MI300X: full-speed fans before the driver loads
On MI300X systems, full-speed fans before the accelerator driver is installed can be expected because the management controller cannot read the accelerator sensors until the driver loads. Install the latest Dell-supported GPU driver after the operating system deployment, reboot as required, and then reassess fan speed and inlet behavior. Persistent full-speed operation after the driver is installed should be correlated with sensor visibility, firmware versions, temperatures and event logs rather than dismissed as normal.
Safe update sequence
- Inventory BIOS, iDRAC, GPU firmware, operating-system kernel and GPU-driver versions.
- Read the applicable Dell release notes for thermal tables, fan control, accelerator support and known limitations.
- Schedule a maintenance window and preserve the pre-update logs.
- Update using Dell-supported methods, rebooting at the points specified by the release notes.
- Confirm GPU visibility, temperatures, fan state and throttle reasons after the update, first at idle and then under the original workload.
5. Inspect seating, power and supported placement
If the GPU is missing, intermittently detected or remains abnormal after airflow and software checks, shut the server down using the site’s service procedure. Follow electrostatic-discharge and power-isolation requirements; do not remove an accelerator from a live chassis.
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- Verify the GPU is fully seated in the intended slot and that its retention hardware is secure.
- Inspect every GPU power connector and cable for incomplete insertion, damage or strain. Reseat only with the system powered down and isolated as required by Dell’s service instructions.
- Check that the installed GPU model, riser, slot and quantity match Dell’s supported configuration guidance.
- Confirm adjacent-slot population does not violate the required placement or airflow rules.
- If the platform supports it, test the accelerator in another supported PCIe slot and compare
nvidia-smi,lspci -vvand iDRAC inventory results. - After reassembly, repeat the telemetry capture and the same workload rather than relying on a successful boot alone.
A card that appears in lspci but not in nvidia-smi can still have a driver, firmware, power or accelerator-initialization issue. A card absent from both operating-system and iDRAC inventory warrants hardware and configuration investigation.
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6. Run DCGM and collect a support-quality diagnostic bundle
For NVIDIA data-center GPUs, run the NVIDIA Data Center GPU Manager diagnostic with sudo dcgmi diag. Dell describes these diagnostics as checking GPU memory, PCIe connectivity and thermal behavior. Retain the complete output, including failures and test duration.
Also collect:
nvidia-smi -qfor detailed GPU state and sensor information.nvidia-smi -q -d performancefor clock and power-throttle reasons.nvidia-smi nvlink -swhere the platform and GPU use NVLink.lspci -vvfor PCIe link, capability and error information.- iDRAC System Event and Lifecycle Log exports, Temperature Overview and System Inlet Temperature readings.
- BIOS, iDRAC, GPU firmware, driver and operating-system versions.
- The exact GPU SKU, chassis configuration, workload, ambient temperature and inlet temperature.
Run diagnostics when the issue is reproducible, but avoid destructive or extended tests during production workloads. Coordinate a maintenance window and preserve the original logs before clearing events or rebooting.
7. Decide whether the evidence points to software, airflow or hardware
| Evidence pattern | Most likely direction | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Inlet exceeds the applicable XE9680 warning threshold; throttle reason becomes active; fans and inventory are healthy | Environmental or rack airflow limit | Correct room, intake, exhaust and containment conditions, then retest |
| Fans are at 100 percent on an A100 with iDRAC 7.20.30.00 | Documented iDRAC thermal-table sensor defect | Move to Dell’s fixed iDRAC release, 7.20.60.50, through change control |
| MI300X fans run at full speed only before the accelerator driver loads | Expected sensor unavailability during pre-driver operation | Install the latest supported driver and reassess after reboot |
| GPU is visible, inlet is within limits, but airflow hardware is missing or incorrect | Cooling-path configuration fault | Install the required fan type, shrouds or GPU cooling kit |
| GPU is absent from inventory, DCGM or PCIe output shows errors | Seating, cable, slot, power or accelerator fault | Power down, verify placement and cabling, then test a supported slot |
| Normal inlet and configuration, current firmware, active thermal behavior and failed DCGM thermal or memory tests | Possible GPU, heatsink or fan-cage hardware fault | Escalate with the complete evidence bundle and use Dell’s service procedure |
8. Replace service parts only when the evidence supports it
Do not replace a heatsink or fan cage solely because the fans are loud. Full-speed fans can be a response to high inlet temperature, missing sensors, a firmware defect or a pre-driver MI300X state. Replacement is justified when the logs, configuration checks and diagnostics point to a mechanical or thermal-component fault.
XE9680 H100 GPU/heatsink module
Dell documents replacement of the XE9680 H100 GPU/heatsink module as a configuration-specific service operation. Match the exact accelerator, heatsink and chassis part numbers. Follow Dell’s power-isolation, ESD, torque, thermal-interface and reassembly instructions; an incorrectly fitted heatsink can create a new thermal fault.
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XE9680 GPU fan cage
Dell also documents removal and replacement of the XE9680 GPU fan cage. Confirm that the cage, fan type and controller support the installed GPU arrangement before ordering or installing it. After replacement, verify fan health in iDRAC, run the same DCGM and nvidia-smi checks, and compare inlet and throttle telemetry under the original workload.
Exact compatibility and current seller availability vary by configuration. Use Dell enterprise spares or an authorized service partner that can validate the part number against the server service tag; do not assume a visually similar fan or heatsink is interchangeable.
How to compare two proposed fixes
When a team is choosing between a firmware update, airflow work, a fan replacement or a heatsink module, compare the options against measured evidence rather than purchase price or fan noise.
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| Comparison axis | Questions to answer |
|---|---|
| Environmental headroom | What were room ambient and server inlet temperatures during the fault, and how far below the applicable warning threshold will the change leave the system? |
| Airflow capacity | Does the proposal provide the required fan type, shrouds, rack clearance and GPU cooling kit for this exact chassis and GPU? |
| Firmware and driver compatibility | Does it address a documented thermal-table, sensor or driver-sequencing issue, and is the target release supported for this server? |
| Measured throttle reasons | Do nvidia-smi -q -d performance and iDRAC logs show an active reason before the change and “Not Active” after it? |
| Hardware compatibility | Are the accelerator, heatsink, fan cage, riser, power cables and slot arrangement listed for the same PowerEdge configuration? |
| Repeatability | Does the fix restore normal telemetry during the same sustained workload, not merely at idle? |
A firmware update is the appropriate direction when a documented control or sensor defect matches the symptom. A fan or heatsink replacement is appropriate only when inspection and diagnostics demonstrate a mechanical or thermal-component fault. Airflow changes take priority when inlet temperature or rack recirculation is outside the platform’s supported conditions.
When to escalate to Dell
Escalate after the supported environmental, configuration and software checks fail, or immediately when there is evidence of damaged hardware, repeated power events, burning odor, arcing, liquid contamination or unsafe temperature conditions. Provide:
- PowerEdge model, service tag, exact GPU SKU and slot population.
- Ambient and inlet temperatures with timestamps and measurement method.
- Workload name, duration and the point at which performance changes.
- Full
nvidia-smi,nvidia-smi -q -d performance,nvidia-smi -q, DCGM and relevantlspci -vvoutput. - iDRAC System Event Log, Lifecycle Log, Temperature Overview and inventory exports.
- BIOS, iDRAC, GPU firmware, driver and operating-system versions.
- Photos or service notes showing shrouds, fan type, power connectors and slot placement when hardware configuration is in question.
- A clear statement of which corrective actions were performed and how the telemetry changed afterward.
This evidence lets Dell distinguish an inlet-temperature limit, a firmware-control problem, a driver-sequencing state, a configuration error and a failed GPU cooling component without asking you to repeat basic checks.
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