Cooling a video card - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Narada

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

United States

Clan Foxrunner

R/P

30 Mar 2006 at 22:38 - 1

For several months I've been unable to play Guild Wars on my primary box because for some reason the video card started to overheat and fail, my computer usually rebooted as a result. I've just been playing it on my laptop, but I'd like to give this box another crack at it, because it's really not all that horrible of a rig. I've made sure that all my fans work, airflow is good, and cleaned out all heatsinks/fans, the GFX card included. The box itself sits up on the desk level with my monitor, so there's not too much of an air restriction going on. I've tried lowering the resolution as far as I could stand (1024 x 768, no AA) and I was able to play for about an hour before overheating. Basically I'd just like to know if anyone has any particular tips or tricks on keeping my graphics card's temperature from skyrocketing everytime I run GW.

Specs (A bit dated, sorry):

DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

CPU: AMD Athlon 64, 2000 MHz (10 x 200) 3000+
Mobo: DFI LANParty UT nF3 250Gb
Mobo Chipset: nVIDIA nForce3 250Gb, AMD Hammer
Memory: Corsair XMS 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
Graphics: ATI Radeon X700 Pro 256 MB AGP
Case: Thermaltake Xaser III VM3000 "Skull" (link for pictures)

Temperatures at idle (I run a little hot):

Motherboard 37 °C (99 °F)
CPU 46 °C (115 °F)
PWM 29 °C (84 °F)
GPU 43 °C (109 °F)
GPU Ambient 44 °C (111 °F)

Any help would be greatly appreciated... If not that's cool, I'll probably build another computer in a year or two to keep myself updated.

Seef II

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

US

R/Mo

30 Mar 2006 at 23:49 - 2

It just means you need a new GPU cooler (don't do this if you're not comfortable with it) or just RMA it in for an exchange. Shouldn't be painful at all, especially if that card's still under warranty.

twangansta

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

Aria of the Apocalypse

Mo/

31 Mar 2006 at 02:28 - 3

Hmmm that is very odd. My 6600gt often goes to 85 degrees Celsius while playing games and my computer doesn't restart.

Try playing with your case open, lowers the temperature by about 5-10 degrees. And update your video card to the latest drivers.

Akilles

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Brothers of the Jade

31 Mar 2006 at 06:00 - 4

You do not have a normal computer, I mean that you have a custom built one which leads me to think you like to get alot of performance, are you maybe overclocking to much if at all? I say thsi cause I find most people with custom coupters tend to overclock stuff.

lord_shar

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

near SF, CA

31 Mar 2006 at 06:00 - 5

Have you checked for separation between the GPU and heat-sink? If so, add a fresh coat of thermal paste (spread very thin, and silver based goo works best), then reseat the heat-sink.

Forsythe

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

In a pup tent near your house.

[DOJL]

31 Mar 2006 at 06:07 - 6

My top card idles at around 68 C, under load high 80s, low 90s. Tough little suckers.

koneko

Site Contributor

Join Date: Sep 2005

38??16′ N 140??52′ E

Mo/Me

31 Mar 2006 at 06:33 - 7

Mmm, LanParty.

Try cleaning the thermal compound between the GPU and heatsink and reapplying a coat of goop like lord_shar said. If that doesn't work too well and your warranty period's already expired (what do you have to lose at this point?), consider purchasing something like an ATI Silencer 1 along with a tube of Arctic Silver 5. The load temperature on my card was around 70-80C with the cooler that came with the card and I would crash spectacularly. All the time. I bought a similar product (made for NVIDIA cards by the same people) and load temperatures dropped by 10C. Significant decrease.

Narada

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

United States

Clan Foxrunner

R/P

31 Mar 2006 at 13:45 - 8

Nope, no overclocking for me at all. I slagged my old AMD K7 doing that, I'd rather not do the same to something a bit more expensive.

Is it possible that this is occuring because I have my BIOS shutdown temp at 70+ degrees Celsius? I thought that only applied to the CPU, but might it also be the case with the GPU as well?

Thanks for that ATI Silencer idea koneko, my card is definately not under warrenty anymore. Unfortunately the Silencer 1 only works with a PCI-E X700, not an AGP. Nothing else on their site works for any other variant of X700 either I don't think (I gave it a quick search). I suppose that I could still apply a new coat of Artic Silver and see how that holds up. I've never played with thermal compounds on a GFX card though, so I'm a bit reluctant to start taking crap off.

Thanks for the replies so far everyone, I'll probably go out and buy some thermal compound within the next couple days and try it out.

koneko

Site Contributor

Join Date: Sep 2005

38??16′ N 140??52′ E

Mo/Me

31 Mar 2006 at 17:02 - 9

D'oh, missed that. Maybe the Thermalright V-1 Ultra, then, which I know works on the AGP versions. (I use a Thermalright XP-90 for my 3200+. Magnificent. So I'd expect their other products to be of the same quality...)

I doubt that the temperature threshold setting in the BIOS has anything to do with it. That setting usually forces the machine to halt/power off (here, at least).

Applying AS5 to a video card is similar (almost the same?) to applying it to a CPU, you just have to be a little more careful when cleaning and pulling the HSF off. I use a Q-Tip to dab away at the goop on the GPU. Slowly.

Arctic Silver Instructions
Basic guide for applying AS5 - written for cleaning the chipset, relevant to GPUs also (?)

Linsys

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Afk Mac N Cheeze Dun [LOOL]

Mo/N

31 Mar 2006 at 17:38 - 10

I would suggest these two mods:

VIDEO COOLING: http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...813&pfp=BROWSE
Make sure your video card is supported

CPU COOLING: http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...406&pfp=BROWSE

This thing is a pain in the ass to install.. but once its in it cools like none other.

Uzul

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Arctic Tundra

Pints N Quarts [PsQs]

31 Mar 2006 at 17:46 - 11

i been putting a zalman v700cu on my 6600gt a few months ago because constant usage (this pc is used more like a server than a normal pc) killed the original fan withing 10 months O_o - it works like a charm!
back in those days i was looking for an arctic cooling device - but there was none for the agp-version: so i took the zalman - easy install, awesome cooling.

Lrdeo

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

The Plains of Karana

W/Mo

31 Mar 2006 at 19:14 - 12

I used to have a similar problem with my 9800 SE ([email protected] Edition) when I unlocked the pipelines and overclocked it, the card would end up seizing if I left the comp running allday or spent several hours playing games. What I did was I bought a Vantec PCI fan card and put it in right next the the video card and left it on high. Never had a overheating problem after that. So if you have an empty PCI slot and you don't feel like taking the card out and slapping one of those heatpipe/heatsink dealies on it you might want to look into this. They go for about 18 bucks at xoxide.com or you can try Fry's I got mine there for 12 bucks when it went on sale.

Alias_X

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2005

31 Mar 2006 at 20:29 - 13

I think we can safely say it isn't overheating? IF the temperatures you give us are correct, then that seems normal, if not a little less than normal. Is your motherboard reporting different temperatures and automatically rebooting or whaT?

It seems odd that you would be overheating with temps like those, and I really don't think custom fans and a few degrees less is going to do anything to fix your problem.

Linsys

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Afk Mac N Cheeze Dun [LOOL]

Mo/N

31 Mar 2006 at 20:32 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias_X

I think we can safely say it isn't overheating? IF the temperatures you give us are correct, then that seems normal, if not a little less than normal. Is your motherboard reporting different temperatures and automatically rebooting or whaT?

It seems odd that you would be overheating with temps like those, and I really don't think custom fans and a few degrees less is going to do anything to fix your problem.

Well these are his temps at IDLE, with GW acutally using resources it could be 10-15deg higher then this easily.

koneko

Site Contributor

Join Date: Sep 2005

38??16′ N 140??52′ E

Mo/Me

31 Mar 2006 at 20:47 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linsys

Well these are his temps at IDLE, with GW acutally using resources it could be 10-15deg higher then this easily.

Or higher. *points at older post*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias_X

and I really don't think custom fans and a few degrees less is going to do anything to fix your problem.

You'd be surprised. And besides, Narada needs to start somewhere to fix this, this is as good a place as any to start.

LouAl

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

31 Mar 2006 at 22:08 - 16

my friend had a similar problem with a 6800 Ultra. He had to run his system with the case wide open and a big 24" fan blowing into the case.

He tried everything including updating BIOS/drivers, new thermal paste, and who knows what else. In the end he sent it off and got a new card, but it still didn't fix the problem.

The interesting thing was that it was both his cpu and gpu that were heating up but the gpu was the one causing problems. Also, for some reason the issue was specific to GW. Other games would increase temp but not anywhere nearly as high.

He installed a new cooling fan inside his case and everything is running like a dream.

I know you said it is probably not an airflow issue, but it is worth looking into.

Narada

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

United States

Clan Foxrunner

R/P

01 Apr 2006 at 01:36 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linsys

Well these are his temps at IDLE, with GW acutally using resources it could be 10-15deg higher then this easily.

Yeah, to monitor during GW I've been having to ALT-TAB between it and Everest-- the highest I managed to see the GFX card reach was 70, though for some reason I've got this cloudy memory in my head that I observed it at 92 and flipped out, shutting my box down.

The reason I'm not sure about the "cloudy" thoughts is because I get muddled things in my head every once and awhile (and suffer from almost constant short and some long term memory loss) due to a prolonged episode of "mini-seizures" I went through earlier this year for a period of about a week and half. So basically my brain is a bit "buggier" now than it used to be... sorry that I can't say it hit 92 for certain. I'm thinking it's probably some random creation of my subconscious, because I don't believe that I wouldn't at least be having some more "aggressive" problems with my video card if it hit a temperature that high. :/

Seef II

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

US

R/Mo

01 Apr 2006 at 09:01 - 18

Heh, at this point I'd just RMA the thing, don't void your warranty...

For reference, my PNY 6800 at stock (stock fan, too) runs 43 C idle and somewhere near 52 C load, and the 2.8C at stpck is 34 idle, 42 load. Cleaning out the CPU heatsink knocks it down to 32 idle/38 load but my temps are fine for a couple more months.

92 C is actually not too dangerous to the chip, Intel and NVIDIA set the thermal catastrophe level at 135 C (+/- a few depending on your specific core) - it's still not healthy though!

Elisa

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

The Netherlands

Crystal Gladiators

W/Me

01 Apr 2006 at 10:19 - 19

My 6800GT is horribly overheating at the moment as well, usually freezes my frames and makes weird artifacts pop up. It runs up to 134 degrees C while playing Guild Wars (even though the GPU is limited to 120C max!)

I don't know anything about changing coolers or adding paste or anything, I've never even looked inside my computer. What do you guys suggest? I feel my card might just burn out in the next couple of weeks.

Narada

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

United States

Clan Foxrunner

R/P

01 Apr 2006 at 21:49 - 20

Hey, sorry about the thread necromancy, but supposing the local PC shops don't have Artic Silver, what would you guys recommend in its place? I've got time to go out and get it tonight.

koneko

Site Contributor

Join Date: Sep 2005

38??16′ N 140??52′ E

Mo/Me

01 Apr 2006 at 22:02 - 21

Could you buy it online if they didn't carry it? (If we're talking about a chain store...they likely won't.)

Arctic Silver 5

Certainly don't buy any "store-brand" products (CompUSSR thermal grease).

lord_shar

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

near SF, CA

01 Apr 2006 at 22:45 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elisa

My 6800GT is horribly overheating at the moment as well, usually freezes my frames and makes weird artifacts pop up. It runs up to 134 degrees C while playing Guild Wars (even though the GPU is limited to 120C max!)

I don't know anything about changing coolers or adding paste or anything, I've never even looked inside my computer. What do you guys suggest? I feel my card might just burn out in the next couple of weeks.

If your video card is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer and see what they recommend.

I had weird artifacting issues happen with my 6800GT combined with an older SiS chipset motherboard. After much experimentation, I cured the problem by speeding up the memory latency timings from CAS 2.5 down to CAS 2 in the BIOS. I guess the 6800GT was a bit too fast for this older system's default settings!

OneArmedScissor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

currently Texas =[

Court Of The Fallen [CotF]

02 Apr 2006 at 08:06 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forsythe

My top card idles at around 68 C, under load high 80s, low 90s. Tough little suckers.

Your card is going to fry.

OneArmedScissor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

currently Texas =[

Court Of The Fallen [CotF]

02 Apr 2006 at 08:09 - 24

You need better air flow through your case.

Try mounting some more fans that will creat a "wind tunnel" effect in your case.
The more cool air flowing into the case = the better.

I've got 5 fans on my rig... not including the video card fan, CPU fan, and PSU fans.

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

02 Apr 2006 at 11:37 - 25

Narada, your temps are fine, as long as cpu temp is under 50c under load, its fine, airflow is possibly your problem, may need to invest in a case with better airflow.

TrueNoob

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2006

02 Apr 2006 at 12:33 - 26

i dont knnow if it was already suggested, but couldnt you use a slot fan?

Narada

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

United States

Clan Foxrunner

R/P

02 Apr 2006 at 16:19 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

Narada, your temps are fine, as long as cpu temp is under 50c under load, its fine, airflow is possibly your problem, may need to invest in a case with better airflow.

I'd been thinking about that. As much as I love this case, getting a mid-tower was a bad idea. It's way too cramped, though I re-routed as many wires as I could behind everything on the other side... The only things blocking airflow are the power wires and data cables going to my hard drives, CD and DVD burners, and floppy drive. Do you think I should try the Artic Silver on my GFX card first or do you think that a new case would probably clear up the problems I'm having? I was thinking about trying the Artic Silver first just because that's like $5.00 US whereas a case is ~$100.00 US.

@ OneArmedScissor: I have 5 case fans, 1 for the processor, one for the graphics card, and two on the power supply. I drew an airflow diagram here, would you mind telling me if there's anything you think I should change with it?

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

02 Apr 2006 at 17:57 - 28

Nope, I wouldn't try remove gpu heatsink, just to put thermal grease on it, the temps are fine, you may as well invest in a better case, it will cost alot more, but it will stop your problems, as i said the temps are fine. Just out of intrest what is the cpu temp under load?. gpu temps run alot higher than what yours is doing. My X800Xl will go up to 90c before problems arise, not that it's ever gone that high, under load it stays around 50c.

Narada

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

United States

Clan Foxrunner

R/P

02 Apr 2006 at 19:11 - 29

I don't think that the CPU has ever topped 60 degrees Celsius.

TrueNoob

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2006

03 Apr 2006 at 19:12 - 30

i dont understand how you guys are getting your tempatures? does everyone have the fan controller with tempature readings, or is there another way???

Tachyon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Stoke, England

The Godless [GOD]

W/

03 Apr 2006 at 19:34 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueNoob

i dont understand how you guys are getting your tempatures? does everyone have the fan controller with tempature readings, or is there another way???

I have a LCD panel on the front of my rig that gives me the temps, fan speeds, power consumption and the time. That's how I know mine, at the moment the CPU is at 22.8 degrees, the CPU fan is at 3200rpm and the GPU is at 37 degrees.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

03 Apr 2006 at 19:52 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azagoth

I have a LCD panel on the front of my rig that gives me the temps, fan speeds, power consumption and the time. That's how I know mine, at the moment the CPU is at 22.8 degrees, the CPU fan is at 3200rpm and the GPU is at 37 degrees.

which water kit?

sigried

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Honduras

Ye Old

W/Mo

03 Apr 2006 at 20:03 - 33

same problem here i have a x1600 pro iceQ edition an im gettin heating problems

Tachyon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Stoke, England

The Godless [GOD]

W/

03 Apr 2006 at 23:06 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

which water kit?

That's an idle temp on air with a 'Vapochill Micro Ultra' CPU cooler. Besides that I also have 2 x 120mm fans and 2 x 80mm fans on the case coupled with some fancy cabling to aid airflow. Under a full load, say playing GW, FEAR, FS2004 or BF2 then the temp never exceeds 34 degrees. That cooler was the best £30 I've spent.

As for liquid cooling, nah I don't trust liquid around electricity no matter how safe people say it is.

kagete

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2006

Me/Mo

04 Apr 2006 at 01:31 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narada

@ OneArmedScissor: I have 5 case fans, 1 for the processor, one for the graphics card, and two on the power supply. I drew an airflow diagram here, would you mind telling me if there's anything you think I should change with it?

Sorry for appearing out of nowhere, but being a physicist and computer engineer in a very hot tropical country, I couldn't resist pointing out that the airflow your case fans create is absolutely the opposite of how it should be! Hot air rises even without convection so the fans that are sucking air into your case from near the top and the back of your CPU are actually returning most of the heat back into your case to effectively broil your PC's innards. The case fans at the front/bottom of your pc are expelling the cold air that is present near the front where the cooler components are. They should instead be forcing air inward, such that they can get cool air from in front and below your tower where no sources of heat are usually present. Try reversing the current directions of your fans. I'm sure the results will be favorable.

Tachyon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Stoke, England

The Godless [GOD]

W/

04 Apr 2006 at 02:51 - 36

Not another bloody Physicist? Me too, well I have the qualifications but don't work in the field anymore.

As for the case fans, that precisely how mine are set up. The lower two fans 'suck' and the higher ones 'blow'. Plus I have a single 80mm placed into the side panel right above the CPU cooler which sucks out any excess heat that the VapoChill doesn't see to. Not that it needs it. it's a very efficiant cooling solution.

Serafita Kayin

Exclusive Reclusive

Join Date: May 2005

Tuscaloosa, AL

Seraph's Pinion (wing)

R/Me

04 Apr 2006 at 12:29 - 37

That makes three, I design WC loops for fun...

If you have the option, RMA the card. After that, if you get no satisfaction, start looking at case airflow and case design.

sigried

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Honduras

Ye Old

W/Mo

04 Apr 2006 at 18:53 - 38

well i know that ATI video cards goes on very high temp like the pentium and Nvidea are similar to the AMD.

I Now have a Ati card and before i used and nvidea i never had heat problems but at this moment with the ATi card am having severe problems but im installing more fans ins it.

and probably get a radiator on it.

kagete

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2006

Me/Mo

05 Apr 2006 at 01:37 - 39

is there some weird correlation between physics majors and forum topics about overheating?

Well back to the topic, if the problem still occurs, I'd recommend turning in the videocard. Either that, or getting a new power supply if it doesnt solve it.

Blade Rez

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fairfax, VA

Shadows Of Nightmares (KoN)

W/

05 Apr 2006 at 02:18 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigried

same problem here i have a x1600 pro iceQ edition an im gettin heating problems

ICEq is from HiS which runs into problems with their remarketed Arctic Silencer. It's just the HS contact or Fan problem.

My advice, is just pick up a Vanteq Iceberq5 or 4 depending on compatibility off Newegg. Or go for a Zalman fan. This WILL VOID your warranty if you apply it on. However, the cooling is down right amazing, and you can get the blue LED version rofls...... If your card is under warranty, maybe try to get a return. DO NOT BOTHER FOR A RMA, your just going to get some refurbished crap. Just get everything off newegg. The only local store that I know of that stocks AS5 is Microcenter.... Or atleast there's where i got mine.

I don't like paying 5$ shipping for a 1/2 ounce tube....... that costs 7$....