R9 290 Referance hitting 95c on VRM safe?

spat55

Senior member
Jul 2, 2013
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Just put on a Gelid Icy Vision, much better than my stock cooler except for the VRM temperature, VRM #1 is hitting 92c should I be worried?
 

spat55

Senior member
Jul 2, 2013
539
5
76
Anyone got any ideas on lowering the temperature? Maybe some extra airflow into the case would help?
 

iiiankiii

Senior member
Apr 4, 2008
759
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Do you have any vrm heatsinks on them? If you don't, you need to use these ACCESSORIES ENHANCEMENT KIT OF REV. 2 ICY VISION FOR AMD R9 .
 

spat55

Senior member
Jul 2, 2013
539
5
76
Do you have any vrm heatsinks on them? If you don't, you need to use these ACCESSORIES ENHANCEMENT KIT OF REV. 2 ICY VISION FOR AMD R9 .

Yes I got the standard heatsinks on them, but it is only just enough. At least I get no throttling now :)
 

iiiankiii

Senior member
Apr 4, 2008
759
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If you're planing on not using your stock cooler ever again, you can put the stock cooler in the oven and bake it. It will desolder the heatsink block and leave the memory and vrm heatsink in tact. You can use that to cover the whole card. Check it out here
 

spat55

Senior member
Jul 2, 2013
539
5
76
If you're planing on not using your stock cooler ever again, you can put the stock cooler in the oven and bake it. It will desolder the heatsink block and leave the memory and vrm heatsink in tact. You can use that to cover the whole card. Check it out here

Thanks but that looks like a bit to much hassle, was just wondering if there was an easy way of lowering the temp of it but it isn't to bad.
 

Mand

Senior member
Jan 13, 2014
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From my understanding, R9 290 is designed to get that hot - and start throttling once it hits 95.

I can't say it makes me feel good about it, but that's apparently intentional.
 

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
12,015
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The Gelid heatsink is pretty good for the rear VRMs but the one at the front of the card is tiny. I ended up making my own larger heatsink and while X11 mining, both VRMs stay below 50C with ~22C ambients. I also have a fan blowing from the back of the card to the front, so that may also help in my case.
 

spat55

Senior member
Jul 2, 2013
539
5
76
From my understanding, R9 290 is designed to get that hot - and start throttling once it hits 95.

I can't say it makes me feel good about it, but that's apparently intentional.

That is the core mate not the VRM's, that is why I changed cooler as I was throttling at 85c but now it is like having a massive overclock in AC: Black Flag :eek:

The Gelid heatsink is pretty good for the rear VRMs but the one at the front of the card is tiny. I ended up making my own larger heatsink and while X11 mining, both VRMs stay below 50C with ~22C ambients. I also have a fan blowing from the back of the card to the front, so that may also help in my case.

Got a spare Corsair 120mm fan that I don't use so might stick that on blowing at my GPU.
 

Stuka87

Diamond Member
Dec 10, 2010
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95C for those VRM's is fine. They are rated for 125C operation. Sure cooler is better, they will be more efficient. But you are not at risk of damaging them.
 

spat55

Senior member
Jul 2, 2013
539
5
76
95C for those VRM's is fine. They are rated for 125C operation. Sure cooler is better, they will be more efficient. But you are not at risk of damaging them.

Thanks that is what i wanted to hear, I thought they would be fine but just wanted to double check. Guess I can't put anymore voltage through them :( never mind.