gpu heating up

[csmaster2005]

so, I got a new monitor for my parents computer so they can run dual screens. The new monitor runs at 1680x1050 resolution, and the previous one runs at 1024x768 (or maybe 1280x768)
Anyways, after I set it up I noticed the screen began to flick and what not. I felt the graphics card heatsink... and tada it was really hot.

Any ideas on best solution? I'll admit the case doesnt have much cooling, so I was thinking of improving the air circulation and maybe upgrade to a cheap aftermarket gpu heatsink or cooler.

Just a note, I'm looking for a cheap solution 🙂
I grabbed a pretty decent graphics card on black friday... only to find their pc only has AGP and not PCIE.

 

[error8]

Touching the card's heatsink and feeling it to be hot, doesn't mean that the card is overheating. The heat is transferred from the GPU to the heatsink and then to the ambient air. If the heatsink is hot, it means that the heat transfer to the ambient air is not that efficient, but this doesn't translate into an overheating problem.
What videocard is that? Use Riva Tuner or GPU-Z to measure its temperature. It's almost impossible for a videocard to overheat at idle. Did you noticed the flicker during gaming, or just in windows?

 

[Denithor]

It's often cheaper to buy a (better) video card with improved cooling versus upgrading the cooling on an existing card.

That said, a couple of case fans is even cheaper 🙂 and will probably do a good job of cooling things off in there. However, as error8 pointed out, it may not be a cooling issue, the old card just may not be strong enough to push dual monitors properly.

Try a couple of case fans, especially one on the front blowing directly onto the card (to move that hot air that builds up beneath it). If that doesn't help matters it's probably time for a newer card. Or just hook up the 22" and let them use one bigger monitor.

 

[error8]

Oh, this thread is in the wrong place.