First card in 4870 crossfire overheating

[sgrinavi]

I have a pair of 4870's on the x48 board in my sig. No matter what I do the inside card runs 15-20 degrees hotter under load than the outer card, of course it's due to the proximity of the two cards. Even at 100% it overheats after 20 minutes of Grid.

I already have the new twin turbo cooling solution installed on both and fan blowing directly down on them. Any suggestions short of water cooling?

 

[Narynan]

By the inner card you mean the one closer to your CPU correct?

And are you using the .xml hack? or something like ATT? Because that makes a difference.

Also, thats IX38 because its a x38 chipset.

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: Narynan
By the inner card you mean the one closer to your CPU correct?

And are you using the .xml hack? or something like ATT? Because that makes a difference.

Also, thats IX38 because its a x38 chipset.

Yes, the card next to the cpu, Ya, I have bot sets of fans running at 99% with the xml profile edit, set to manual. The fan speeds are confirmed with GPU-Z

I am referring to the e8600/x48/P5E Deluxe system in my sig (there are two there). The x38 with the pair of 4850's have been BIOS modded and are stable,

It is a location issue as does not matter which card I put there, both act the same way. When I remove the outboard card the temps drop and stabilize. It does not go over 56 degrees with the twin turbo runnin at full speed. The second I stick the outer card the temps on the inner card jump up and stay up. If I am doing any sort of intensive 3d work it,eventually, will overheat (the 2nd red LED comes on) and the system hangs.

By the way, the Accellero Twin Turbo is a nice solution, easy to install and very quiet. At 100 percent it makes less noise than the stock fans do at 35%....

 

[AmberClad]

I'm guessing the "outer" card is blowing hot air upward, into the fans of "inner" card. Plus, the back of the card is going to be pretty hot anyway, so there's going to be hot air rising off of the back. Out of curiosity, why didn't you wait for the 4850X2 and 4870X2?

 

[Narynan]

Heres what I am thinking from having 4850's in CF.

The back side of that 2nd card gets really hot and the 1st card is pulling heat off the back side of that chip, and sucking that down. Bascally keeping the 2nd car nice and cool, but not really getting any fresh cool air into the cooler. I would be willing to bet its actually pulling air in that MUCH hotter than the ambient temp of your case.

Are both the cards idleing at the same temps?

PS.... sorry about being a douche and calling you out and not reading your whole sig.

 

[shangshang]

note to self: another reason to avoid running 2 video cards

 

[Creig]

I think your main problem is that the hot air from your top Accelero has nowhere to go since it is sandwiched between the lower card and the upper card. This forces your Accelero to keep reusing the hot air which just keeps getting hotter each time it cycles through your cooler, thus eventually causing the overheating issue.


Did you have any issues with the original DHES cooler? I'd imagine that you would still have seen one core be a bit warmer than the other, but probably nowhere near what you're experiencing with your Accelero's. And I would think that you probably didn't have the overheating issue either. I would suggest that you try going back to the stock cooler on your topmost card so that it throws that waste heat outside your case.

 

[peonyu]

Yea as others have said, these cards are VERY fickle when it comes to ambient temps. It doesnt take much error in your cooling/air flow to cause them to overheat.

As far as suggestions go, I have had issues as well with my setup, and my fix was to bore a hole into the side panel for a 80mm fan directly inbetween where the two cards are, and have it exhaust air out. That lowered temps for the top by 20c, and the lower card by 5 [it was not bottlenecked as the top one was]. It is still not ideal, as the top card doesnt get much fresh air as its just channeling out hot air to the side fan ...but its better for it to use 'warm' 50c air vs recycled 80c air.

 

[Zillatech]

Originally posted by: shangshang
note to self: another reason to avoid running 2 video cards

+1 on that one!

 

[sgrinavi]

Thanks for the all the help!

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Out of curiosity, why didn't you wait for the 4850X2 and 4870X2?

Because I am impatient and wanted to take advantage of my x48 board... in hind-sight a P45 board with an x2 would have been a beautiful thing right about now.

Originally posted by: Narynan


Are both the cards idleing at the same temps?

PS.... sorry about being a douche and calling you out and not reading your whole sig.

No, the inside card is about 15 degrees warmer at idle.. I tried one of the new powercolor cards with the factory custom cooling solution on it, identical problem.

No offense taken.

Originally posted by: Creig

Did you have any issues with the original DHES cooler? I'd imagine that you would still have seen one core be a bit warmer than the other, but probably nowhere near what you're experiencing with your Accelero's. And I would think that you probably didn't have the overheating issue either. I would suggest that you try going back to the stock cooler on your topmost card so that it throws that waste heat outside your case.

You are 100% correct, I was running the fans on it at 95%, it is pretty loud. I was really hoping the aftermarket cooling solution would be the answer.....

Originally posted by: peonyu
As far as suggestions go, I have had issues as well with my setup, and my fix was to bore a hole into the side panel for a 80mm fan directly inbetween where the two cards are, and have it exhaust air out. That lowered temps for the top by 20c, and the lower card by 5 [it was not bottlenecked as the top one was]. It is still not ideal, as the top card doesnt get much fresh air as its just channeling out hot air to the side fan ...but its better for it to use 'warm' 50c air vs recycled 80c air.

My case has a 120 mm fan directly over the video cards similar to this Lian Li case (I have 2 of the rocketfish knock offs) it is running 100% , It does not turn very fast 1400 RPM or so, I guess I could replace it with a faster one.... I think it is blowing on the cards too... hmmm....

I also installed a slot cooler next to the back of the hot card to draw air off it, it takes a couple degrees off it.

 

[apoppin]

i am going to run x3 in a little while

4870 and 4870x2

both of these suckers get really hot; the hot air might be exhausted outside the case, but the case still really heats up with a single X2
- in your case, the hot air is recycled

so make sure your air flow is excellent - try blowing maximum air directly on your cards

and crank up the VGA fan on your cards

- it helps to have a cool room .. mine is 80F, sometimes higher

just think how nice it will be in the Winter - you can open a window to keep your PC cool and still heat your room

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: apoppin


- it helps to have a cool room .. mine is 80F, sometimes higher

just think how nice it will be in the Winter - you can open a window to keep your PC cool and still heat your room

My room stays at 78 degrees f. . I'm in SW Florida -- "winter" is about the same LOL.

Do you have you x2+1 working now?

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
You are 100% correct, I was running the fans on it at 95%, it is pretty loud. I was really hoping the aftermarket cooling solution would be the answer.....

If you're trying to reduce noise, you could try one of these DHES coolers that's similiar to the stock HSF that came with your 4870, but runs quieter.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/akvoneocoblv.html

 

[Apocalypse23]

my only recommendation would be to open the side of your case, and leave it like that. My 9800Gx2 went to 98C on load at one point with just 85% fan speed until I removed my side cover of the case.

These cards are hot and you should just be fine with leaving one side open, leave some space by the case for airflow (open side), and turn the fan settings to normal. You should be fine.

So get rid of that side cover, it's useless imo.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: apoppin


- it helps to have a cool room .. mine is 80F, sometimes higher

just think how nice it will be in the Winter - you can open a window to keep your PC cool and still heat your room

My room stays at 78 degrees f. . I'm in SW Florida -- "winter" is about the same LOL.

Do you have you x2+1 working now?

You are getting ready for a little wind soon? i guess that is the price for a tropical paradise. So the problem is not ambient temperature.
:Q

X2 works but not very well in a p35 MB
- i am benching 5 GPUs with 7 games [some with several benches] right now - one GPU at a time

i will get to x3 after i install my Asus x48 MB and reformat. So far, just changing out the e4300@3.33Ghz [and PC6400] for a e8600@3.33Ghz [stock w/PC8500] took 3DMark06 from 14,500 to 16,500.
X2 is fast .. but i would need x3 for Crysis at 19x12 [and i expect it will still be slow at very hi]


OP, you might try leaving the side of the case open with a strong fan blowing right on your GPUs; i might have to do it if i cannot get the airflow going faster in my little mid-tower [there is almost zero room inside my case .. even my side-case fan is on the OUTSIDE of my case as my thermalright cooler is too tall to fit otherwise
- the things we do for love ...
:music:

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: apoppin
i am going to run x3 in a little while

4870 and 4870x2

Last I heard (I think it was during Catalyst 8.6), you actually got negative scaling with three or more of them. Going to do a mini review for us? I shall call it...CrossFire Y...

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: AmberClad

Originally posted by: apoppin
i am going to run x3 in a little while

4870 and 4870x2

Last I heard (I think it was during Catalyst 8.6), you actually got negative scaling with three or more of them. Going to do a mini review for us? I shall call it...CrossFire Y...

i am doing a full review for my tech site
- i will provide a preview for you here. Most tech sites said X3 scaled; it was x4 that got the negative scaling

 

[postmortemIA]

can't you just add PCI blower that takes air out?

 

[dmw16]

What kind of case are you using? Do you have sufficient airflow inside? Sounds like you just can't exhaust the heat the cards are generating.

 

[peonyu]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
Thanks for the all the help!

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Out of curiosity, why didn't you wait for the 4850X2 and 4870X2?

Because I am impatient and wanted to take advantage of my x48 board... in hind-sight a P45 board with an x2 would have been a beautiful thing right about now.

Originally posted by: Narynan


Are both the cards idleing at the same temps?

PS.... sorry about being a douche and calling you out and not reading your whole sig.

No, the inside card is about 15 degrees warmer at idle.. I tried one of the new powercolor cards with the factory custom cooling solution on it, identical problem.

No offense taken.

Originally posted by: Creig

Did you have any issues with the original DHES cooler? I'd imagine that you would still have seen one core be a bit warmer than the other, but probably nowhere near what you're experiencing with your Accelero's. And I would think that you probably didn't have the overheating issue either. I would suggest that you try going back to the stock cooler on your topmost card so that it throws that waste heat outside your case.

You are 100% correct, I was running the fans on it at 95%, it is pretty loud. I was really hoping the aftermarket cooling solution would be the answer.....

Originally posted by: peonyu
As far as suggestions go, I have had issues as well with my setup, and my fix was to bore a hole into the side panel for a 80mm fan directly inbetween where the two cards are, and have it exhaust air out. That lowered temps for the top by 20c, and the lower card by 5 [it was not bottlenecked as the top one was]. It is still not ideal, as the top card doesnt get much fresh air as its just channeling out hot air to the side fan ...but its better for it to use 'warm' 50c air vs recycled 80c air.

My case has a 120 mm fan directly over the video cards similar to this Lian Li case (I have 2 of the rocketfish knock offs) it is running 100% , It does not turn very fast 1400 RPM or so, I guess I could replace it with a faster one.... I think it is blowing on the cards too... hmmm....

Try and change it to blowing out of the case, see if it makes a difference. I have a feeling it will...the 4870/4850's are mini ovens with the heat they spit out.

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: AmberClad

Originally posted by: apoppin
i am going to run x3 in a little while

4870 and 4870x2

Last I heard (I think it was during Catalyst 8.6), you actually got negative scaling with three or more of them.

Most tech sites said X3 scaled; it was x4 that got the negative scaling

X2 vs. X3 vs. X4 vs. Sli vs. Tri-Sli

http://techreport.com/r.x/rade...d-4870-x2/hl2-2560.gif

 

[taltamir]

How about slightly downclocking them?
Clock vs temp is not a linear equasion. A small increase in clockspeeds can mean a large increase in temperature. While an insignificant decrease in performance.

Having GDDR5 (lower temp and voltage to begin with) and 4 GPUs sets you ahead in terms of performance anyways, so a slight downclock might do wonders.

Or watercooling. (then you could probably OC.)

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: AmberClad

Originally posted by: apoppin
i am going to run x3 in a little while

4870 and 4870x2

Last I heard (I think it was during Catalyst 8.6), you actually got negative scaling with three or more of them.

Most tech sites said X3 scaled; it was x4 that got the negative scaling

X2 vs. X3 vs. X4 vs. Sli vs. Tri-Sli

http://techreport.com/r.x/rade...d-4870-x2/hl2-2560.gif

.. it looks good to me at 25x16

4870 is - 50.8
4870x2 - 85.3
4870+4870 - 91.0
4870+4870x2 - 114.3
4840x2 x2 - 128.8

of course there are diminishing returns
- but those results are scaling

my HD4870x2 gets 214.48 at 19x12 in Half-Life 2 Lost Coast; maxed out with 4xAA/16xAF. Quite a bit higher than my 4870.

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: dmw16
What kind of case are you using? Do you have sufficient airflow inside? Sounds like you just can't exhaust the heat the cards are generating.

I have Rocketfish knock off similar to this Lian Li case AND I keep the cover off most of the time, it has not been on in months.. lol.

Originally posted by: taltamir
How about slightly downclocking them?
Clock vs temp is not a linear equasion. A small increase in clockspeeds can mean a large increase in temperature. While an insignificant decrease in performance.

Having GDDR5 (lower temp and voltage to begin with) and 4 GPUs sets you ahead in terms of performance anyways, so a slight downclock might do wonders.

Or watercooling. (then you could probably OC.)

Good idea! thanks, I'll turn them down a tad