Help with an overheating video card

[erythrophilia]

I have a Visiontek ATI 4850 bought in 2008, and Antec P183 case with four 120mm fans (2 on the front, 2 on the back). I don't overclock anything here. At idle, Everest reported this:

GPU DispIO = 82C
GPU MemIO = 88C
GPU Shader = 90C

Whenever I started a 3D-heavy program (Kodu Game Lab in my case, or sometimes even watching Youtube), the temperature is like this:

GPU DispIO = 96C
GPU MemIO = 100-102C
GPU Shader = 100-102C

At this point, sometimes the computer just keeps running fine but most of other times, it will shut down automatically. I mean it'll shut down dead, and I have to unplug the power supply for it to reset (my PSU doesn't have an on/off switch).

I heard the 4850 can run really hot but is it normal to be this hot? Upgrade to a different cooler?

 

[happy medium]

I heard the 4850 can run really hot but is it normal to be this hot? Upgrade to a different cooler?

They do run hot, but not that hot. make sure the card fan/case fans are clean and free of dust.

If they are clean, you might need to reseat your video card heatsink and apply new thermal grease.

If that doesn't work, just buy another used 4850 for about 50$, don't spend money on a new cooler.

If you don't want another 4850 ,just save some cash for a gtx460 768mb and upgrade.

 

[Powermoloch]

^ this pretty much, make sure your gpu is free of dust and if possible, reseat Heatsink and reapply thermal grease.

 

[notty22]

Many of those are single slot coolers with a shroud. They can get clogged with dust internally. Can of compressed air , a few squirts of air. You don't want to over spin the fan with the air, to much.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Are you sure it's the video card causing the shutdowns? Honestly, it sounds like the PSU, not the video card.

 

[fffblackmage]

Dust. 80C+ is too hot just for sitting at idle. At least for the overheating temps.

 

[erythrophilia]

Thanks for the reply everyone! The card seems to be clean in my standard. The case has dust filter all over so it blocks out dust pretty good. I guess it's the thermal grease or the heatsink as suggested.
The power supply seems ok. It's a brand new.
I'm probably gonna go with this heasink, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118001 instead of buying a new card.

 

[penske2298977]

sounds similar to when a quadfired a pair of 5970's -- the only solution was to leave the case open and point a large desk-top fan directly at the cards. Not asthetic, but it works.

 

[erythrophilia]

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[erythrophilia]

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