Sappire 5450 Silent Overheating issue

justin4pack

Senior member
Jan 21, 2012
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Hello everyone. i Just bought my wife a new video card for her comp, she plays sims and mine craft and such and needed something other then on board. So i picked up a sapphire 5450 silent. Now i have never bought a silent version before but i figured it its made silent then it would have any overheating issues. well after about 30 min on sims 3, computer shuts off... so i pull off the side panel and i swear i dont know how it was not on fire. it was sooo hot. so i turn the comp back on and install AB and the temp with panel off is sitting at 85c. ?? is this high for an silent version? am i safe in thinking it was the video card heat? thanks.

Also 315w PS and it has 2 12v lines @ 15amp each
 
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Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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I have the same card, and was also blown away by how hot it gets. Honestly, having used it, I would never buy another budget passive card - they just aren't made for the long haul.

I'd see if you can set up a case fan to give it some more ventilation.
 

jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
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I have the same card in one of my bedroom HTPC builds.

It's a Athlon II 405e with that fanless 5450.

It sure does like to get hot. Mine has never got so hot it shuts down though. I've honestly never checked the temps of it, but I have noticed its hot to touch. Its in a Mid Size tower hidden in a closet running 3 80mm case fans and a seasonic 350w PSU.
 
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Stuka87

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Dec 10, 2010
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These cards REQUIRE a case fan to be blowing on them. If they are in a case with poor airflow they are going to get incredibly hot.

What kind of case are you using? Does it have decent airflow?
 

justin4pack

Senior member
Jan 21, 2012
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well its an Asus setup here is a pic to the case. I know it doesn't have any fans but i figured it wouldn't matter? the side panel doesn't have a fan mount, so will just a rear vent fan keep it cool enough?
knkwj.jpg
 

Zxian

Senior member
May 26, 2011
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Install a fan in the front of the case blowing air backwards. You'll need some movement of air past the video card, or else it will overheat. Passive solutions assume that something else is moving the air for them.
 

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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Install a fan in the front of the case blowing air backwards. You'll need some movement of air past the video card, or else it will overheat. Passive solutions assume that something else is moving the air for them.

This. There's no way I'd put a passive card in there without an intake fan giving it some ventilation. In fact, if anything, I'd compromise on an intake fan and no exhaust fan, since the exhaust fan probably isn't providing any airflow at all to the video card area. If you can spare the change, though, just buy another fan.
 

Towermax

Senior member
Mar 19, 2006
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I have an Asus fanless version of the same card in my HTPC. It gets hot, but not bad--never goes over 57-58C.

There are two quiet fans in this mid-tower--a 92mm in the front blowing in and one 120mm exhaust fan blowing out. Both are spinning at 800 rpm--it doesn't take much air movement to keep the card in an acceptable temperature range.