One GPU keeps overheating
One GPU is hotter than its peers. Before replacing it, ask what is different about its workload and cooling path.
Compare before replacing
Check equivalent work, settings, and local path
Inspect shared dependencies and timing
Check the reported limit; heat is not the only cause
Compare equivalent work
A busier device may reasonably run differently. Compare the same time window, work, and relevant settings.
A lower clock does not automatically prove overheating. Thermal limits, power limits, and other conditions can affect clocks. Use the reported reason where supported.
Find the scope
One affected GPU suggests a different investigation from several racks changing together. Neither pattern proves the cause.
Record the device identity, onset, workload, cooling readings, and recent maintenance. Qualified hardware staff should investigate physical causes; do not remove cold plates or override protection as a test.
Try it yourself
A hotter GPU is doing twice the work and has no recorded thermal-limit event. Is its cooling definitely faulty?
Check your answer
No. Establish comparable conditions and approved behavior first. Repeated thermal limiting under equivalent work strengthens the case for a localized investigation, but still does not identify the exact failed part.