AMD’s Radeon Adrenalin 26.5.1 WHQL driver is giving some users a very annoying problem: Zero RPM fan mode may not switch off properly after the monitor wakes from sleep.
For anyone running a quiet gaming PC, Zero RPM is usually a nice quality-of-life feature. When the GPU is not under heavy load, the fans stop spinning and the card relies on its heatsink for passive cooling. Less noise, less dust movement, and potentially longer fan lifespan — memang nice if your PC is beside you in a bedroom or study setup.
But according to user reports highlighted by TechPowerUp, the 26.5.1 driver can cause Zero RPM to behave wrongly on some Radeon graphics cards, especially after upgrading from Adrenalin 26.3.1.
What seems to be happening
The reported bug is quite specific. After installing the newer 26.5.1 WHQL driver, Zero RPM still activates when the monitor goes to sleep. That part is normal.
The issue starts when the monitor turns back on. Instead of exiting Zero RPM when temperatures rise, the GPU fans can stay off. That means the card may keep heating up while the fan profile remains stuck in passive mode.
This is not the kind of bug you want to ignore, especially in Malaysia and SEA where ambient room temperatures are already higher than in many Western markets. A GPU idling quietly is great. A GPU quietly getting hotter because the fans refuse to spin? Not so great, bro.
Why Malaysian PC gamers should pay attention
A lot of local setups are built around airflow compromises: compact desks, non-aircon rooms, glass-panel cases, and sometimes budget cases with limited intake fans. If your Radeon card is sitting in a warm room in KL, Penang, JB, Kuching, or anywhere else with our usual humidity and heat, a fan-control bug can become noticeable fast.
This matters even more if your PC stays on for long sessions — downloads, Discord, YouTube, game launchers, or AFK farming. The GPU may not be rendering a game, but if the fan curve is stuck, temperatures can still creep up depending on background activity and case airflow.
What you can do for now
There are two fixes being suggested.
The quick option is simple: reboot the PC. That should restore normal fan behaviour for the time being.
The cleaner fix is to fully remove old Radeon driver settings and fan profiles, then reinstall fresh. Users can do this with AMD’s own cleanup tool or Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). The idea is to clear leftover fan profiles from the previous driver version so 26.5.1 does not inherit settings that may be causing the issue.
If you recently moved from Adrenalin 26.3.1 to 26.5.1 and your Radeon GPU suddenly feels hotter or too silent after waking the monitor, check your temperatures in AMD Adrenalin or another monitoring tool. Also confirm that the fans actually spin up once the card warms up.
For most users, this is probably not panic mode. But if you care about thermals — and you should, especially with Malaysia weather — it is worth keeping an eye on until AMD addresses it properly.
Source: TechPowerUp