Am I Overheating?

[LovellSAE]

I figure this would be a good place to start. I have an issue where my new computer resets itself when I play new games.

I've got a RaidMax Serius case w/ 2 100mm fans (I think), and 3 regular case fans. But, I also run the games with the case completely open and my big desk fan on it.

Intel Quad 2.40
2 Gigs 1066MHz DDR3
Dual ATI HD 3800
Vista Ultimate

I can play games like TF2, Call of Duty 4 and Vanguard, but if i have them on high settings they'll reset the computer almost immediately. I can bring them down and they will play, but they are set on lower settings than the computer this one replaced. Any ideas suggestions? Need more info? Let me know. Thank you in advance.

 

[heymrdj]

Sounds unlikely to be temps.

1. any overclock?
2. What's your power supply?

Your symptoms make me want to say Power supply. When you turn things up, the power draw of those ATI units increase.

 

[LovellSAE]

Nope it's not overclocked, and my power supply is an Ultra X-FINITY ULT-XF600, 600w.

Thanks

 

[RallyMaster]

So...what are your temperatures?

 

[LovellSAE]

Processor is at 40C and cards are at 59C

 

[LovellSAE]

Okay, I figured out that it's my video cards. I used RivaTuner and an outside fan to get the temps down to around 70C, while running games. That's with my 3800 fans running at 95% and my case open. Do you guys have any suggestions for a more permanent solution that doesn't require my case being open or blowing my fans out? I was looking at pci slot fans but I'm not sure how much that would help. Both of the cards are very close together, would blowing air on the top of the first card do much? Thanks in advance.

 

[RallyMaster]

Um...third party cooling would be your first bet. And for something like the HD3800s, I'd have to say....Thermalright HR-03.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

RallyMaster is up to snuff on this.

Choice of aftermarket coolers should be based on whether that particular graphics card is compatible with either of the following:

[As RallyM__ said], the TR HR-03

The Zalman VF-1000

On purely thermal wattage considerations, these are about neck-and-neck on the thermal-resistance and cooling capability.

The Zalman is a narrower construction; the TR-03 can be installed with fins hanging on either side of the GFX card.

 

[Sylvanas]

I have installed about 3 HR-03's on a range of different cards and while it's probably the best performing cooler it takes up alot of space in a case- especially with a fan attached (will eat up any adjacent PCI slots). A lower profile solution (yet great performer) would be to have a look at the Thermaltake Duorb and Thermalright V2 (which I am very pleased with, use it on my 3850's).

 

[LovellSAE]

Haa Haa, okay so the the PCI Fan was a no go. I'm going to look into your suggestions. Which means I need a new case, because I am low on space. I'll let you know what I come up with and how it works. Thanks!