do X3870s overheat?

[mooncancook]

Replaced my X1900XT with a VisionTek 3870 just couple days ago. Played AOE3 and Oblivion yesterday without problem. While playing AOE3 today suddenly there were green and purple flashing artifacts all over the screen. I tried restarting the game, shut off the PC, also tried Oblivion, it's still the same. Looks like the damage is done.

Anyway I thought 3870 shouldn't run hotter or draw more power than my old X1900XT. My X1900 has been there for at least 2 years without problem (and even OC'd). Looks like I'll switch to nVidia this time.

 

[Zstream]

Originally posted by: mooncancook
Replaced my X1900XT with a VisionTek 3870 just couple days ago. Played AOE3 and Oblivion yesterday without problem. While playing AOE3 today suddenly there were green and purple flashing artifacts all over the screen. I tried restarting the game, shut off the PC, also tried Oblivion, it's still the same. Looks like the damage is done.

Anyway I thought 3870 shouldn't run hotter or draw more power than my old X1900XT. My X1900 has been there for at least 2 years without problem (and even OC'd). Looks like I'll switch to nVidia this time.

Umm Nvidia has hotter cards when used with stock cooling.

With my 8800gts 60% the noise was loud and my idle temp was 27-29C.

With my ATI 3870 ICEQ3, the idle temp is 21-23C.

So no idea how you got that in your mind to switch is going to make it better.

 

[Ika]

You probably just got a bum card. What makes you think it's overheating? What temps is your card running at?

 

[mooncancook]

I'm really not sure if it's overheating. It's just that when artifacts start appearing my first thought was overheating, which could be the GPU or RAM. The card is running at idle now and I even have my case door open, and CCC temp reads at 48C. Maybe it's just a bad card. well at least I can return it. I'll either exchange for another 3870 or a 8800GT or GTS 512. Also I wasn't too impressed with it running Oblivion compared to my OC'd X1900XT.

 

[Killrose]

I guess you'll get to see how well Visiontek does on their lifetime warranty

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: Killrose
I guess you'll get to see how well Visiontek does on their lifetime warranty

I like fry's return policy more

 

[thilanliyan]

Turn the fan speed up if you haven't already. I turned mine up to 50% and it brought load temps to about 65C.

 

[mooncancook]

well end up returning it and getting a eVGA 8800GTS 512. The card hardly fit in my case. Due to its rectangular cooler design, it's pressing against the SATA connectors and slightly bending them. luckily nothing breaks and everything's working now. Still debating myself whether the GTS is worth it though...

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: mooncancook

Also I wasn't too impressed with it running Oblivion compared to my OC'd X1900XT.

ATI cards had a big advantage in Oblivion during the X1x00 vs. 7x00 series days, but the positions were reversed when the HD2x00 and 8x00 series cards were introduced. Now nVidia enjoys a lead in Oblivion, relative to how the two brands compare in other games. I think it has something to do with the way the shaders work.

 

[imported_Section8]

Originally posted by: thilan29
Turn the fan speed up if you haven't already. I turned mine up to 50% and it brought load temps to about 65C.

What Thilan said. I have that card. I set the fan speed in Rivatuner to 60% and I never see temps above 70c.

 

[zeroburrito]

at the default 40% of the fan. mine idles around 40-45. open case. i turn it up to 65% in games, though i forgot to raise it once and played like 3 hours of cod4 and had no problems at all.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: mooncancook
well end up returning it and getting a eVGA 8800GTS 512. The card hardly fit in my case. Due to its rectangular cooler design, it's pressing against the SATA connectors and slightly bending them. luckily nothing breaks and everything's working now. Still debating myself whether the GTS is worth it though...

Not sure about the GTS being worth it over an HD3870, but it's totally worth it over the 8800GT IMO. The performance is really only a little bit better, but I like the fact that the cooler is much quieter and more effective than the 8800GT's. I know some people are putting after market coolers on their GTs, but if you put a $50 cooler on a GT you might as well just have paid the extra to get a GTS in the first place.