Dust on the actual video card

[kyrax12]

So my 5670 is still running at pretty high temperature after I took it apart and cleaned out the heatsink and the fans. Even reapplied the thermal paste with Artic silver ceramique a couple of times too.

I was wondering if the dust on the actual card itself can be causing the heat problem. Not in the fans or heatsink or what not.

I am scare of using a can of air to blow it up since the dust are on the circuit portion and such.

 

[MrDark]

Dust that thing, man. It's not going to hurt anything.

 

[kyrax12]

So I am thinking of just getting another cooler for my card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835110106

Thinking of this.

I was wondering if this cooler is universal and would fit with my 5670.

 

[NTMBK]

Really not worth it. Put the $14 towards buying a GPU upgrade, that 5670 is pretty ancient these days.

You checked that the heatsink is securely fastened? Didn't damage any of the mounts?

 

[Morbus]

I once faced this same issue with an old X1950Pro, spent 30€ on a new cooler. It lasted me not another year.

My suggestion is just buy a new one. You'll be better off.

 

[lehtv]

Agree with NTMBK, a new video card is a better buy than a cooler for a crappy 5670.

 

[KingFatty]

Are you sure it's even running at a high temperature? Maybe it's perfectly cool, but you are worried about nothing. What is the temperature of the GPU and the VRMs?

Also, what are you doing to the video card to generate the heat? Are you over-volting it and what voltage are you pumping through it, and perhaps trying to slow down the fan to keep it super quiet so it gets a little warm?

 

[kyrax12]

Are you sure it's even running at a high temperature? Maybe it's perfectly cool, but you are worried about nothing. What is the temperature of the GPU and the VRMs?

Also, what are you doing to the video card to generate the heat? Are you over-volting it and what voltage are you pumping through it, and perhaps trying to slow down the fan to keep it super quiet so it gets a little warm?

61 c idle

I am not overclocking or overvolting.

1.100 v for the card.

 

[schmuckley]

5670 is a pretty weak card..
A small paint brush will dust it off nicely

 

[kyrax12]

Well it is a dell studios xps 7100.

 

[blastingcap]

Well it is a dell studios xps 7100.

If I were you, I'd clean your case. I had an old Dell desktop that had to house a HD4670 for a while and the 4670 idled at like 39C, and I suspect my Dell's case was worse than your Dell case. So you can't just say "oh well it idles high because it's a Dell." There's something else amiss, perhaps clogged intakes on your Dell case. Make sure your PC is completely unplugged and then wipe off the worst of the dust, blow dry the rest, do another quick wipe, and put back together. Compressed air can sometimes have impurities that stick to stuff, so I would not recommend using it unless you really know what you are using and doing.

Also make sure that you have at least 6" between the wall and the back of your case, as it helps your video fan eject air out the back.

Dust is usually not going to do much to a video card's temps unless it gets into fans or heatsink or clogs up the intake or something like that.

 

[nwo]

So I am thinking of just getting another cooler for my card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835110106

Thinking of this.

I was wondering if this cooler is universal and would fit with my 5670.

Less than 6 CFM...
I'd stay away from that thing, it would be a big waste of money unless your current HSF is busted. In which case, you would be much better off investing an additional $50-100 into a legit video card. Or, if you just want something for HD video playback and such, you can find a used card for $20-30 that will fit those needs.

 

[Morbus]

My old 4890 NEVER went bellow 56ºC idle, and it usually ran at 64ºC idle. It was a beast of a card, 190W and all that, but it was very hot nonetheless. Maybe your 5xxx series is the same?

 

[KingFatty]

61 c idle

I am not overclocking or overvolting.

1.100 v for the card.

Whoa that seems high to me for idle temp.

Are you able to open the case, or gain access to the inside? Can you hold your hand near the video card?

I'm thinking there is some "still/dead" air just sitting around the video card, so it can't cool itself off. Maybe the computer case vents are clogged with dust, so you are no longer getting airflow *through* the case, so the case itself becomes a death trap of heat that encapsulates and surrounds the video card with hot air that cannot escape.

Normally, the case provides an airflow path where cool air comes in, removes heated air from around the video card, and then the hot air is exhausted from the case. But when the case clogs up, it cooks everything inside the computer, including the video card. Even if you max the video card fan speed, it won't help.

But also, verify your video card fan is actually spinning. Maybe your fan is stuck not moving.

 

[blastingcap]

Whoa that seems high to me for idle temp.

Are you able to open the case, or gain access to the inside? Can you hold your hand near the video card?

I'm thinking there is some "still/dead" air just sitting around the video card, so it can't cool itself off. Maybe the computer case vents are clogged with dust, so you are no longer getting airflow *through* the case, so the case itself becomes a death trap of heat that encapsulates and surrounds the video card with hot air that cannot escape.

Normally, the case provides an airflow path where cool air comes in, removes heated air from around the video card, and then the hot air is exhausted from the case. But when the case clogs up, it cooks everything inside the computer, including the video card. Even if you max the video card fan speed, it won't help.

But also, verify your video card fan is actually spinning. Maybe your fan is stuck not moving.

Good advice there about the fan, I had a wire protrusion prevent the fan spinning on a video card recently. I agree with the rest of your post as well.

 

[alangrift]

If the heat is bothering you that much take it to a place that'll do it for you so if they break it they have to buy a new one.