Cooling a video card

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).

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!

Your card is going to fry.

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.

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

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?

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.

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

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

which water kit?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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$....