6950's getting toasty on air

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OVerLoRDI

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2006
5,490
4
81
Wait, didn't you have these cards water cooled? Why after all that research, time, and money did you go back to air? I'm not trying to chastise you, I'm just curious as to what made you go back.
 

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
87
91
madgenius.com
I do mine with them, but when they're not mining, I game with them as well.

I could try a PCI cooler, how loud are they?

overlord, I sold the water portion of this rig, I wanted to build up a new project :D.
 

netxzero64

Senior member
May 16, 2009
538
0
71
I do mine with them, but when they're not mining, I game with them as well.

I could try a PCI cooler, how loud are they?

overlord, I sold the water portion of this rig, I wanted to build up a new project :D.
you should've stayed on the WC setup, hehehe
 

blackened23

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2011
8,548
2
0
Now that I have my xfx crossfired 6950's on air again, I forgot how hot they get, LOL.

MY bottom GPU is OK

My Top GPU temps are

gpu temp - 94C
GPU temp1 - 94C
GPU temp2 - 108C
GPU temp3 - 99.5C
vreg - 79.8C

I am using the XFX bios to 6970, as well as a light, light OC of 840/1250

Is there a better heatsink I can get for these things? Or just go back to stock bios and stock clock speeds?

The fan doesn't help a whole lot, same temps at 100% fan speed and 60%

Yeah, you have to use manual high fan speeds in catalyst to keep it from getting hot. I'd be extremely wary of temps that high, the cards can fail at temps that high.

Using manual fan speeds I can usually keep my 6970 under 50c. I had a previous card die because I failed to use manual fan speed (from overheating).
 

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
87
91
madgenius.com
Yeah, you have to use manual high fan speeds in catalyst to keep it from getting hot. I'd be extremely wary of temps that high, the cards can fail at temps that high.

Using manual fan speeds I can usually keep my 6970 under 50c. I had a previous card die because I failed to use manual fan speed (from overheating).

Even at 100% they don't stay cool on high load though.
 

Jacky60

Golden Member
Jan 3, 2010
1,123
0
0
That accelero tri fan cooler is excellent and would certainly drop the temps but its 3 slot and doesn't exhaust the hot air so you need good case airflow.
 

ErickMaga

Member
Aug 4, 2011
29
0
0
Is it the reference design? 'cause i have 3 ref shappire 6950 in tri-fire, and running furmark they dont get even 70ºC at 100%fan speed.

While gaming they get high 60's with 65% fan speed.
 

ErickMaga

Member
Aug 4, 2011
29
0
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14-150-531-TS


This the one you have? ( the fan design) i know yours is a hd6950

If it is, it shouldnt be getting that how, the reference fan design is quite good at keeping temps low, even on stacked crossfire situations.

At 100% fan speed they should keep temps lower than 80ºC
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
2
76
yeah I dont think its quite as pegged gaming as it does when mining, it has its short luls while gaming that helps with the heat, when I hit stop on GUIminer I see an almost immediate 15C+ temp drop
 

Tempered81

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
6,374
1
81
Now that I have my xfx crossfired 6950's on air again, I forgot how hot they get, LOL.

MY bottom GPU is OK

My Top GPU temps are

gpu temp - 94C
GPU temp1 - 94C
GPU temp2 - 108C
GPU temp3 - 99.5C
vreg - 79.8C

I am using the XFX bios to 6970, as well as a light, light OC of 840/1250

Is there a better heatsink I can get for these things? Or just go back to stock bios and stock clock speeds?

The fan doesn't help a whole lot, same temps at 100% fan speed and 60%



Probably want to get rid of that XFX 6970 bios and just put an Unlocked 6950 bios on it.
 

OVerLoRDI

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2006
5,490
4
81
Sounds like the cooler isn't set well. You have the right bios, your overclock isn't massive, and fan speed doesn't help much. Sounds like you should take the coolers off and try putting them back together.
 

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
87
91
madgenius.com
Sounds like the cooler isn't set well. You have the right bios, your overclock isn't massive, and fan speed doesn't help much. Sounds like you should take the coolers off and try putting them back together.

Reseated both again, pretty much the same temps. Even with the stock bios.
 

tweakboy

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2010
9,517
2
81
www.hammiestudios.com
That a nice temp there 108c wow. You can bake an egg or your food on it.

Your fan I bet is not working 100 percent. Try 100 percent on the fan and open a windows and open your side case. It should not go above 80's c . thx gg and gb and gl
 

OVerLoRDI

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2006
5,490
4
81
Reseated both again, pretty much the same temps. Even with the stock bios.

That is weird... what are you using for thermal compound? I see the vregs have pretty normal temps and those don't have thermal compound on them. This leads me to believe that the cooler is working, and mounted properly. So the only other variable is the thermal compound.

You mentioned the "top" card runs very hot, have you tried swapping them around? That can help you rule out if there is something wrong with a single card, or if it is the location that is causing the problem.

Yeah, I'm too lazy to read this whole thread so I don't know what everyone else has suggested.