Is my vid card temperature too high?

[wraith3k]

I've got a geforce 6800GT (BFG) which generally idles around 62 C and under load is 84 C. In WoW I'm getting some graphical artifacting (bad or missing textures, etc). If these temps are too high, what would be normal, and can anyone suggest a decent replacement HSF for the card?

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Those temps are a little high yeah and is could be the reason for the artifacting . . . how's your system ventilation?

Also install the latest drivers, if you haven't done so . . .

"normal temp" for 6800GTs are around 55-60C idle and 70C load in a system with good ventilation . . .

 

[dug777]

from my experience 'normal' load temps for 6800GT's, esp o'cd ones, is a fair bit higher than 70'C if you've got a stock one slot hsf...

my 6600GT idles at mid 50's and loads in the high 80's-low 90s...stock hsf, heavily o'cd...

EDIT: but yeah the most likely reason for your artifacting is overheating (perhaps there's dust built up on your card's hsf?)

 

[BlacKJesuS]

My 6800NU @ stock underload peaks at 63C....is there 20C difference between a nu and a gT for core?

 

[acemcmac]

I'd just get an artic cooler. It's done wonders for my 9800AIW and my buddies' 6800GT's. I can't believe these cards don't ship with adequate cooling in the first place :|

 

[wraith3k]

Yeah I am using the latest drivers, and my case ventilation is decent but it probably could be better. I've got a fan on the back for intake, near the cpu, and one on the side for outtake. (I wonder if reversing the airflow would help?). I recently cleaned out all the dust I could find from the computer, including the graphics card, but I didn't actually take it apart to get inside it. Maybe I'll try that and go with that arctic cooler if I need it.

Do I need to worry about whether or not a replacement HSF will fit my card (which is a BFG), or will any work as long as it's built for a 6800gt?

 

[selfbuilt]

Defintely reverse your fans - you are sucking in the hot air coming out your PSU at the moment, and re-distributing it through your case! As a a general rule, the best air flow is with the intake locate low to the ground the near the front, and the outake located at the rear as high up as possible. But don't take my word for it - check your actual case temps to verify.

As for the all the advice about replacing your GPU fan, please consider that this would void your warranty. Since your card is already showing signs that it's malfunctioning, are you sure you really want to do that? My advice would be to RMA it if the case air flow correction doesn't solve your problem. Good luck!

 

[wraith3k]

Originally posted by: selfbuilt
Defintely reverse your fans - you are sucking in the hot air coming out your PSU at the moment, and re-distributing it through your case! As a a general rule, the best air flow is with the intake locate low to the ground the near the front, and the outake located at the rear as high up as possible. But don't take my word for it - check your actual case temps to verify.

Yeah, I'll look into that. I got the case with fans already installed, and they were already pointed that way. A while ago I had the computer next to a window so the rear fan was actually pulling in cold air, but I moved and can't do that anymore..so I'll try what you suggested.

As for the all the advice about replacing your GPU fan, please consider that this would void your warranty. Since your card is already showing signs that it's malfunctioning, are you sure you really want to do that? My advice would be to RMA it if the case air flow correction doesn't solve your problem. Good luck!

Do we actually know there's something wrong with it, or is just that it's getting too hot? I think if the card were bad, I'd get artifacting everywhere, but so far it's only been in WoW and one time in BF2.

 

[JRW]

My 6800GT developed dust build up over time which caused temps to hit 65C idle / 90C load , cleaning it returned temps to normal ..you just have to take the metal cover off the card and clean the heatsink etc. mine was pretty bad to the point airflow was nearly 100% blocked.

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: theslug
Do we actually know there's something wrong with it, or is just that it's getting too hot? I think if the card were bad, I'd get artifacting everywhere, but so far it's only been in WoW and one time in BF2.

Your card may be fine, and it may simply be overheating at the moment - but persistent overheating can lead to permanent damage. I agree with all the replies about thoroughly blowing out all the dust in the HSF with compressed air - this could easily be a culprit. You might also want to consider adding another air intake fan for the front of the chassis, if your case temps remain high (which I suspect they are).