Is my Video Card too Hot?

[CowboyK]

About 2 days ago, my computer started to get these red and blue dots on the screen and the Blue Screen Of Death, but I later found out that it was because the fan on my video card stopped working (XFX 7600GT AGP 256mb DDR3). I cleaned most of the dust off of my video card, but the fan just twitches when I boot up my computer, so I'm assuming that the fan is just failing.

I managed to get the fan working again by spinning it a bit with my finger, but I seem to have to do this every time my computer boots up.

Well ever since this happened, I've been loading up a program (EVEREST) to check my GPU temperature, and so far my idle temperature has been around 58°-60°C. When I'm playing Guild Wars, I get 74°-79°C, but this is only after 15-30 minutes of playing.

I was just wondering if these temperatures are normal, or should I get some type of heat sink or something. I've been looking into the Zalman VF700-Cu, but I don't know if I want to spend $30 more on my video card. It's already 2 years old (the video card), and I feel like I might have to get a new computer in a year or two (my computer is like 4-5 years old).

If you guys do recommend getting some sort of cooling for my GPU, do you guys know any good+cheap heat sinks?

I just doing some Googling and a person recommended this for about $22 shipped, and I was just wondering if it's any good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835887007


Any help is appreciated!

 

[aigomorla]

u shouldnt have to worry until you start seeing high 80's to low 90's.

cpu's and gpu's are completely different and were designed for different stress tollerances..

oh if your fan is failing.. then i would definitely replace the sink.

Almost any Aftermarket GPU sink which is compatable will be enough for that card. So id get whatever was the cheapest...

 

[VirtualLarry]

My fourth 9600GSO in this rig died, after being exposed to temps up to 96C for about two weeks straight.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
My fourth 9600GSO in this rig died, after being exposed to temps up to 96C for about two weeks straight.

F@H?

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
My fourth 9600GSO in this rig died, after being exposed to temps up to 96C for about two weeks straight.

F@H?

Video cards are considered acceptable losses for members of AT's F@H team.





For that card, you could probably just pick up a new ~$100 and see a nice boost in performance, along with cooler temps.


Otherwise, that used cooler should be fine, just make sure you get some thermal grease to mount it.

 

[CowboyK]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
My fourth 9600GSO in this rig died, after being exposed to temps up to 96C for about two weeks straight.

F@H?

Video cards are considered acceptable losses for members of AT's F@H team.





For that card, you could probably just pick up a new ~$100 and see a nice boost in performance, along with cooler temps.


Otherwise, that used cooler should be fine, just make sure you get some thermal grease to mount it.

I considered getting a new video card, but my computer can only take AGP, so I was just wondering if I upgraded, would there be any GPUs that would give me a significant improvement?

Anyways I decided to purchase a heat sink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...text-_-N82E16835887006

After rebate and cashback, it cost me $12.28.

I hope this was the right decision to make.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: CowboyK

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
My fourth 9600GSO in this rig died, after being exposed to temps up to 96C for about two weeks straight.

F@H?

Video cards are considered acceptable losses for members of AT's F@H team.





For that card, you could probably just pick up a new ~$100 and see a nice boost in performance, along with cooler temps.


Otherwise, that used cooler should be fine, just make sure you get some thermal grease to mount it.

I considered getting a new video card, but my computer can only take AGP, so I was just wondering if I upgraded, would there be any GPUs that would give me a significant improvement?

Anyways I decided to purchase a heat sink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...text-_-N82E16835887006

After rebate and cashback, it cost me $12.28.

I hope this was the right decision to make.

Cool, good luck.

 

[Zap]

I personally would have RMA'd the video card. XFX has a lifetime warranty.

 

[CowboyK]

Originally posted by: Zap
I personally would have RMA'd the video card. XFX has a lifetime warranty.

I was looking into the XFX warranty, but they said that I only get the lifetime warranty if I had registered my GPU within 30 days of purhase. If not, then I only have one year. I believe I purcahsed this videocard about 2 years ago.. Yeah, I wish I knew about this earlier. :X

 

[Andrew1990]

XFX is really good with their service, I am sure if you are polite they would allow the RMA to go through. It wont hurt to try at least.