High GPU Temperatures!

[Skyhanger]

My 7800 GTX runs at 80 C load. I thought is was a case cooling problem, so I spent all day to rearrange components and clean up the case in order to drop the system temperatures.

I even cleared out 4 PCI slots under the video card to fit a old 70mm fan so the case circulation is like a branched wind tunnel and moves a ton of air. The case temps dropped from 36 C to 31 C, CPU temps dropped from 57 C to 48 C on load, and 43 C to 36 C on idle.

My video card idle temps also went from 52 C to 48 C on idle. However my load temps are still at 80 C. It takes longer to get there, but it will eventually top out there.

I'm starting to think the problem was that the thermal interface was not good between the stock GPU heatsink and core. What should I do about this? I've never taken off a GPU heatsink so I'm not sure about the steps I need to take to improve my GPU temps.

 

[potato28]

Apply some AS5 to the core. DO NOT USE IT ON THE RAM! The ram gets funky with AS5.Use Ceramique if you have it. Next, make sure that the HS/F gets seated properly, or it might not be making great contact with the core at first. Treat as if CPU. Good luck!

 

[Howard]

Try an aftermarket cooler if you're that worried about temps.

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: potato28
Apply some AS5 to the core. DO NOT USE IT ON THE RAM! The ram gets funky with AS5.Use Ceramique if you have it. Next, make sure that the HS/F gets seated properly, or it might not be making great contact with the core at first. Treat as if CPU. Good luck!

why would as5 get "funky" on the ram? what does that mean? smelly?

 

[potato28]

No the ram will start giving you errors, lower memory clocks, and eventually dead ram on your card.

 

[Cookie Monster]

You could NV silencer5, Zalman, or thermalright v-1 ultra.

 

[RallyMaster]

Silencer 5 FTW. Quiet and powerful. Go for it.

 

[potato28]

Performence: VF-700. Silence: AC Silencer 5. HTPC: ThermalRite v-1 Ultra.

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: potato28
No the ram will start giving you errors, lower memory clocks, and eventually dead ram on your card.

have you ever had that happen or is it just something you've heard? some used to worry about leakage causing shorts but i've never heard of it destroying the ram.

 

[Skyhanger]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Silencer 5 FTW. Quiet and powerful. Go for it.

I would prob get the Silencer if not for the fact that I already did my windtunnel mod. I would hate to take out the fan I modded into the PCIe slots.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Skyhanger

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Silencer 5 FTW. Quiet and powerful. Go for it.

I would prob get the Silencer if not for the fact that I already did my windtunnel mod. I would hate to take out the fan I modded into the PCIe slots.

Pics of it?

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: rise4310

Originally posted by: potato28
No the ram will start giving you errors, lower memory clocks, and eventually dead ram on your card.

have you ever had that happen or is it just something you've heard? some used to worry about leakage causing shorts but i've never heard of it destroying the ram.

To add some more anecdotal fuel to the fire, I did do that exact thing to my FX5900 and it dead get errors and eventually die not too long after.

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: rise4310

Originally posted by: potato28
No the ram will start giving you errors, lower memory clocks, and eventually dead ram on your card.

have you ever had that happen or is it just something you've heard? some used to worry about leakage causing shorts but i've never heard of it destroying the ram.

I don't know for sure whether this can happen or not, but why take the chance when you can use a truly non-conductive TIM? When I stripped the OEM coolers off my GTX's it was obvious that the BGA pins weren't imbedded in the PCB, or otherwise protected. If AS5 has as high a metal content as it says, how could it NOT cause problems if it leaked around the edges of the RAM chips?

 

[Viper1227]

Well it's good thing I didn't put too much on my chips. Anyway, I'm planning on buying a cooler due to my temps also, which will let me overclock more too. The V-1 ultra is the best for performance out of those three, but I wonder how the FS-V7 would do, or Zalmans new VF900 that isn't out yet.

 

[Praxis1452]

Don't use AS5 for the ram. Use ceramique =)

 

[AntiStatic]

80c is still well within normal operating temps of the 7800gtx. You're still far away from the throttle temp of 115c I have the evga version with acs3 cooling and it idles around 36-39 but it's inside a cmstacker with a crossflow and 6 120mm fans. i have seen it in the high 70's at load and it really does not worry me, certianly not enough to void my warranty with an aftermarket cooler.

 

[Viper1227]

Well I think I'm having issues in games because it get s a little choppy when it heats up, otherwise I wouldnt change the stock cooler. The 7800 gtx gets a lot hotter than my 6800 ultra did for sure.

 

[nyker96]

Better check the heatsink on your card, 80 sounds way too high. Might cause damage. I used to had some g-card same problem then I found out the sink wan't glued on correctly so got loose. So check contact or even better get a better on and install it with that arctic silver stuff.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: AntiStatic
80c is still well within normal operating temps of the 7800gtx. You're still far away from the throttle temp of 115c I have the evga version with acs3 cooling and it idles around 36-39 but it's inside a cmstacker with a crossflow and 6 120mm fans. i have seen it in the high 70's at load and it really does not worry me, certianly not enough to void my warranty with an aftermarket cooler.

EVGA's warranty still applies if you use aftermarket cooling. You just have to replace it with the original before RMA'ing it. Only thing not covered is physical damage.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: nyker96
Better check the heatsink on your card, 80 sounds way too high. Might cause damage. I used to had some g-card same problem then I found out the sink wan't glued on correctly so got loose. So check contact or even better get a better on and install it with that arctic silver stuff.

As already reported, 80 is within safe temp range. He's nowhere near the dangerous range.

 

[Viper1227]

And I have checked the sink, it has AS5 on it right now. It does seem to have performance issues as it heats up though, namely in Quake 4.

 

[jmke]

80°C is indeed in the safe zone; as long as you are not overclocking to the edge you won't have any issues

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: Viper1227
And I have checked the sink, it has AS5 on it right now. It does seem to have performance issues as it heats up though, namely in Quake 4.

Regardless of contrary opinions, 80c is pretty warm for load with a GTX, and it makes sense that you'd see glitching under those conditions. At this point it isn't just a matter of less-than-optimal performance, you'd also be protecting you investment by fixing the problem. Yes, 80c is within NV's safe range for the GTX, but >I< wouldn't feel comfortable with anything more than 65c.

 

[Viper1227]

Exactly

 

[Pens1566]

I guess its wrong to trust the 115C throttle temp that Nvidia specifies. :roll: