quake 4: after few mins video goes funny...

[user3657]

hey, just upgraded everything(fresh install of xp too). video is 6800 gt.

i can run quake 3 just fine, but anytime i run q4 after maybe 5-10mins the video gets all funny. if i do a video_restart it is fine again for a few mins. overclocking does not affect the problem, if system/gpu isnt overclocked it still happens.


what is going on? is this caused by heat? running q4 gpu temp = about 86c. i dont think thats high, if the "core slowdown is 130". its a bfg card, and i dont know what to do.

 

[Nextman916]

Yah thats pretty hot, im pretty sure its your card heating up and acting goofy. Most gpu's shouldnt excell 90c and 86c is really pushing it. Your card may be deffective, but ive hear that BFG's 6800gt's with the custom hsf isnt all that great and does run pretty hot(especially at its stock oc'ed speeds). You should either contact bfg about your heat problem or just buy an aftermarket solution, personally BFG is a reputable company with outstanding customer support so ide go with that.

 

[user3657]

well, i cant do anything aftermarket, all my slots are filled. i guess i will have to contact them.

 

[Nextman916]

Well your aware that there are many single slot aftermarket solutions right?

Edit:nvm just trying to inform you, but dont listen to me contact BFG, good decision :thumbsup:

 

[user3657]

doh......got any sites for single slot?

 

[Nextman916]

Well i recommended to call BFG because i thought about it and there really arent that many single slot aftermarket hsf's that are worth the money. Zalmans are the only ones that come to the top of my head, but those dont cool the ram on your video card but cool the core extremely well, but if you grab a couple ram sinks- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835126051 and stick em on you will have a silent cool running card.


-Also is there any posibility to free up any of your slots, because an artic cooling NV5(dual slot) Would drop your temps significantly, and would empty all the hot air outside your case lowering ur case temps as well. BTW that does cover the vc's ram. That or an Artic cooling Accelero X1.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186133

 

[Matt2]

Doesnt the Zalman come with RAM sinks? Or are those not good enough to bother with?

 

[Nextman916]

No im afraid it doesnt, im not really quite sure if ramsinks are worth the hassle because ive never actually owned any. I know that if you do plan on buying them, read the reviews first to get ones with quality thermal tape so they dont fall off in use. I think it would be easier all around to get an NV5 or something by artic cooling that way you dont need to bother.

 

[Remedy]

Just wanted to chime in. Had the same problem with a clients PC I built where the Radeon and Quake4 would just either lock up or flake up with Quake4 during game play. My assumption is that, Quake4 being GPU bound, attacks the GPU aggressively and causes a increase in GPU tempeture no matter which card you use.

To fix the problem, I had to take the side of the chassis off to observe it. Eventually, end up going with a Arctic Silencer for the Radeon from SVC. They are on sale there right now for the 6800 series.

 

[user3657]

thanks guys, the only way i can add one of those huge fans is if i either get a usb nic or turner. that being the case, if the geforce 7900's are 299$ like everyone is reporting my hoping is the smaller die will allow it to run cooler and not have this problem. what do u think?


so i have 3 choices:
1)rma it and hope for the best.
2)turner or nic usb + fan =$$
3)ebay card and get 7900 for about 120$ diff.

 

[Nextman916]

RMA since BFG has lifetime warranty, you did purchase from a direct seller right? Meaning not from a friend or ebay, because they will ask for your invoice(which usually can be pulled up from the site, considering you did buy from a website). If all that is accounted for nothing should go wrong and they should replace your card accordingly, this might even work out for the better because since 6800gt's in agp are no longer being made, they may have to give you a 7800gs free!!!

Also wait are you running pci-e? 7900's are in pci-e only and most 7800's also, excluding only the 7800gs in agp.

 

[Painman]

RMA, the card should perform faultlessly without user intervention into its cooling if it's not overclocked. It's not up to you to fix it if it's inadequate for stock operation.

Quake 4 killed an X1900XT of mine that had a cooling fault, I sent it back and got another.

 

[user3657]

it is pci-e

 

[user3657]

and ya, it is from an online retailer.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Remedy
Just wanted to chime in. Had the same problem with a clients PC I built where the Radeon and Quake4 would just either lock up or flake up with Quake4 during game play. My assumption is that, Quake4 being GPU bound, attacks the GPU aggressively and causes a increase in GPU tempeture no matter which card you use.

To fix the problem, I had to take the side of the chassis off to observe it. Eventually, end up going with a Arctic Silencer for the Radeon from SVC. They are on sale there right now for the 6800 series.

That seems to fall in line with what J.C. said about the D3 stressing parts of the core that other titles before it did not.

I have used the AC silencer series, and they are excellent, single slot is a no go though. I'd have BFG make things right.

 

[HardWarrior]

I had heat issues with two BFG 6800GT's, first the retail and then the RMA as well. I didn't try an aftermarket solution, just the stock cooler, and it sucked. Everything cleared up as soon as I went to water. I suggest you bring the issue to BFG. Their support is top-notch.

 

[Nextman916]

my Advice to you is:
1.)RMA the card and get a new one
2.)Once confirmed new card has no deffects, play games with it
3.)When your no longer happy with its performance, then sell it
4.)Take the money you made and buy a new card

 

[Remedy]

Do you have any pics of your internal cable management? It may not help much (I know personally), but if you can tidy up your cable management somewhat, it can achieve some airflow to GPU and somewhat settle down the tempeture. May not be effective. But, it's worth a try. For my client, it wasn't much I can do in that area. So, the new heatsink was justifiable.