HWiNFO Adds RTX 50 Hotspot Temp Reporting, RTSS Support

PC builders and enthusiasts who monitor their hardware now have a new tool to track the hottest point on NVIDIA's latest graphics cards. HWiNFO, a popular system information and monitoring utility, has added support for reporting hotspot temperatures on the GeForce RTX 50 series. This update matters because it gives users direct visibility into thermal behavior that was previously restricted or difficult to access through standard third-party tools.

RTSS can now display the new thermal data

The new feature integrates directly into the HWiNFO software, allowing it to identify and display specific thermal data from the RTX 50 GPUs. Users can also configure RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) to display this hotspot temperature data alongside their other system metrics. This integration provides a more comprehensive view of GPU thermal performance for those who rely on RTSS for on-screen display overlays.

Support for this feature comes with significant limitations due to NVIDIA's control over its software interfaces. The MSI Afterburner developer, Alexey "Unwinder" Nicolaychuk, stated that he cannot add RTX 50 hotspot monitoring to Afterburner. He explained that NVIDIA keeps these temperature monitoring interfaces private for internal software only and does not open them to partners or third-party tools. Nicolaychuk noted that existing tools rely on reverse-engineered private NVAPI interfaces, which NVIDIA does not approve of.

HWiNFO developers have identified two possible temperature sensors on the RTX 50 series but have not yet confirmed which one represents the actual GPU hotspot. This uncertainty means the data currently reported by HWiNFO may require further validation to ensure accuracy. NVIDIA has not provided an official statement regarding these restrictions or the new monitoring capabilities.

We looked at the last HWiNFO update while tracking these software developments. The current update adds a layer of visibility for RTX 50 users, even if the full picture of sensor accuracy is still emerging. Users can now monitor these temperatures, but they should be aware of the ongoing restrictions imposed by NVIDIA on third-party access.