GPU Random Slow, Please help at end of wits.

[Blackarro18]

Hi, Just basic info about the problem:

I have a HD 5670 GPU that I've been using to play some games like wow, planetside 2 and some other steam games. Recently, I noticed that I would jump from 70-80 FPS to 10-15 randomly for no game-related reason. (I tested this extensively). I finally installed MSI Afterburner to see what the problem i was having was and i found that my GPU clock speeds would randomly drop down to 200MHZ for no reason at all apparently. When this happens my CPU and all other hardware hold steady so i know this is the cause of the problem.

I have power savermode turned off, and despite this the problem persists. Normally the clock speed would be up to 400-500 MHZ easy, but i dont understand why it throttles back so much. TY very much for helping me with this, don't hesitate to ask additional pertinent questions to help solve this quandary.

 

[96Firebird]

How are the temps when this throttling happens?

 

[Blackarro18]

I had initial temps as bad as 90-100 degrees, but I found the problem with an internal fan and now its idling at like 75ish

 

[Blackarro18]

Problem was not fixed by bringing down the temp or by installing latest driver.

 

[96Firebird]

Idling at 75°C is way too high. Are you sure that is idle and not under load? Idle temps should be in the 30s, with load temps under 80°C. You may have fried something when it was around 100°C...

 

[Blackarro18]

Nothing is running but the Monitoring software and the browser i'm using for this.

 

[96Firebird]

If you are idling at 75°C, you have a problem with the heatsink/fan. Check for dust buildup in the heatsink, and make sure the fan is actually spinning. What does Afterburner say for fan speed, if available? Have you made a custom fan profile with Afterburner?

For reference, this is what Anandtech got for idle/load temps with their 5670... http://www.anandtech.com/show/2917/13

 

[Blackarro18]

I haven't made a custom profile, but I have the side Case open on my bed while it's running and the fan is indeed spinning. I cleaned out all the dust in the fan and the're both running properly atm. Fan speed is set to auto and is going 75% atm

 

[Blackarro18]

Although from a second glance it appears the fan on the gpu is speeding up and slowing down noticeably

 

[96Firebird]

Do you have a "blower" type heatsink (right side in picture) or an open-air design (left side)?

 

[KingFatty]

Perhaps the heatsink is not making good contact with the chip underneath.

So, your chip gets hot, but the heatsink just can't reach it well enough to cool it off. Can you see if the heatsink is slipped off or crooked or if there is a gab between the heatsink and the chip?

Can you have access to a tube of thermal compound? If so, just remove the heatsink/fan and look what is going on under there. Clean it all off, and apply new thermal compound and put it back together.

 

[Blackarro18]

I have an open air heatsink, its relatively new compared to the GPU but I'll give the thermal paste a try

 

[Techhog]

Although from a second glance it appears the fan on the gpu is speeding up and slowing down noticeably

Is the GPU load near 0%? As in, is it actually idling?

 

[Blackarro18]

I cant see any crack or misplacement of the cpu on the heatsink either, looks solid and function correctly.

 

[Techhog]

I have an open air heatsink, its relatively new compared to the GPU but I'll give the thermal paste a try

Wait, you replaced the heatsink at some point?

 

[Blackarro18]

I got a new motherboard and CPU about 6 months ago, graphics card is several years older

 

[bystander36]

They are talking about the heatsink on the GPU, not the CPU.

 

[Blackarro18]

Ok, forgive me now i'm kind of confused, the heatsink meaning the silver bracket on the back of it? its not connected to anything.

 

[bystander36]

The GPU has a big plastic fan apparatus connected to it. Under the fan is a HSF connected to the GPU.

 

[Blackarro18]

Ok, for clarification, when i say GPU i mean my graphics card, are those not the same thing? (Sorry noob), I dont see any heatsink or anything of the sort connected to the card.

 

[bystander36]

The Graphics card, is generally referring to the whole thing, PCB, GPU and HSF. Sometimes GPU is referred to as the whole card, but more specifically is the chip that resides on the card.

 

[Blackarro18]

Ok, yes so the Fan is inside a plastic apparatus, and below the card there is what looks like a heat sink attached the the MB, but its not in any way attached to the GPU.

 

[bystander36]

Your lack of understanding has me worried for your GPU. Perhaps you should have someone else do this for you.

 

[Blackarro18]

I have a HB1M-C motherboard for reference purpose

 

[Blackarro18]

I'm really trying to figure this out myself so i learn, I thought i had a handle on this. To be clear, my card is plugged into the board, and nothing else is in contact with it