Overheating problem on 6800 GT

[ttron]

I've been having problems playing counterstrike source lately, having the game randomly freeze for several seconds at a time, then resuming normally, (with no artifacts however). Running Process Explorer shows a cpu spike in DPCs, so I know it's a driver/hardware problem. After looking at the temperature gauge on my GPU (evga 6800 GT), I see that I'm idling at 85C, and running at over 120C while gaming. I assume it's hitting the core slowdown threshold of 120, which is causing the game to freeze.

I ordered a fan to go beneath the card, though I think it'll be fruitless if I'm really running this high temps idle. Does anyone think it's possible that my temperature gauge is innaccurate? The nvidia panel lists the ambient temperature at aroud 55-60C while idle, which seems fairly ridiculous to me. Is it more likely that my heatsink isn't properly seated on my GPU?

Thanks to anyone with advice,
~Tim

 

[Markbnj]

Ouch! 120c? I'm surprised it isn't smoking. I can't imagine why it would be running that hot. The 55-60c idle doesn't sound so bad, and if that is the nVidia control panel reporting that, then I would tend to trust it. Mine idles at 50-53 c, with an Arctic NV Silencer 5. Peak under load playing BF2 is about 55c - 60c. If you're going from 55c to 120 c something is way wrong.

Anyway, a good solution to a warm 6800 in general is the NV Silencer 5. About $45 at Newegg.com. Not too hard to install either.

 

[ttron]

I think you misread. It's running 80C idle. 60C was ambient temperature (which seems wrong to me).

 

[ttron]

See, the other thing is, I've been having problems with countrstrike source for months now, so I can only assume it thinks it's been running at 120C for months. If it really has been running at 120C, then I'd think it would be smoking by now, but it still works perfectly in everything else (just really really really hot). At the very least I'd think I'd see artifacts.

Chances are this fan isn't going to help much, and I'll end up getting a new heatsink... I saw a thermaltake vga cooler for a few bucks less, I might try that out. Never installed a vga cooler, but I assume it's not much more difficult than a CPU cooler.

 

[Markbnj]

Oh ok, sorry. Yeah 60c seems a high ambient, but on the other hand if the card is running 80c idle it could damn well be heating the inside of the case up that high, so I wouldn't assume it is wrong.

You have the slot next to the card clear, so it can get good airflow? I assume you've determined the fan is spinning. The NV Silencer will cool it down, but there has to be some reason why it is running that hot to begin with.

If you want to test the sensor on the card pop the side off the case and see if the ambient drops.

Edit: didn't see your last post. I've heard those cards can run pretty damn hot without being damaged, but yeah, 120c is up there.

 

[ttron]

The temps I listed were with the case off, no pci cards remotely near, and fairly good circulation. I dont know where the ambient sensor is, but with the side of the case off, is it really possible that a 60C reading could be accurate?

I'm pretty close to just ordering an NV Silencer and praying it heals my system. Found it for around 25 on a non newegg site.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

How many fans do you have in your case? I'm running two front (intake) two rear (exhaust) Ambient is around 35c and GPU is at around 50c idle.

 

[JRW]

My 6800GT started running very hot to the point games were artifacting (91-94C GPU temp during gaming / 80C Idle) after taking the card out and cleaning the fan with compressed air I noticed a slight decrease in temps but something still wasnt right..so I took the card out again and removed the thin metal shroud off the top and was shocked how dirty the heatsink was, it was so bad the airflow was *completely* blocked..after cleaning out the heatsink my temps were back to normal and havent seen any artifacts for 2 months now.

Some pics I took:

Card before doing any cleaning.

Card with shroud removed, note the blockage

Opposite angle - Im pretty sure there was some Cat hair involved here (nasty).

After cleaning.

 

[ttron]

JRW, thanks much for the advice. I'll try that in the morning when my roommate isn't asleep. Hopefully that'll save me 30 bucks

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

JRW..

All I have to say to that is...OMG :Q

 

[MX2]

:thumbsdown: to the NV Silencer. Known issues with those things causing bigger problems because proper contact is not made along all points of the memory and GPU.


Get a Zalman VF700-CU

 

[lifeguard1999]

Originally posted by: ttron
The nvidia panel lists the ambient temperature at aroud 55-60C while idle, which seems fairly ridiculous to me.

That temp is normal. 120C at load is not.

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: ttron
JRW, thanks much for the advice. I'll try that in the morning when my roommate isn't asleep. Hopefully that'll save me 30 bucks

No prob hopefully it helps ..One other thing I didnt mention was that the videocard Heastink itself wasnt tightened down very well,all of the screws were very lose, the screws are spring loaded so I wasnt sure how tight I should go..I just made sure they were 'snug'

I also flipped around the side panel intake fan on my case so it is now pulling air out rather than sucking air in directly onto the videocard ..while im sure this slightly reduced the cooling of the card at least this way it no longer has dust & cat hair being blown on it all day,the only remaining (2) intake fans are on the front of the case and they are behind an air filter.