WTF is going on with the temps and power consumption of Powercolor's 4830 at idle?

[ruu]

Hi all,

I'm extremely obsessive about any kind of fan noise coming from my computer: fans over 800 RPM are usually too loud for my tastes.

That said, nothing but the stock fan+cooler seems to be able to cool my new Powercolor 4830, and even then, the crazy thing idles at about 58C and shoots up to past 85C after a few hours of games (I haven't put it under artificial load yet).

I realize that 85C is nothing to start freaking out about, but the 58C at idle is really irritating, because it's driving up the total noise output of my system. Both my HDDs idle at 30; my CPU idles at 36, so it's not like I have an airflow problem (my CPU is passive, even).

I am convinced that the reason the Powercolor runs so hot at idle is because its 2D power management is non-existent. Reviews show Sapphire's 4830 idling at about 36C, and the Sapphire is clocked at 160 MHz core and 250 MHz memory at idle (compared to Powercolor's 453 MHz core and 750 MHz memory at idle).

This non-existent 2D power management also causes my whole system to sit at 118W when it's doing absolutely nothing, which I find a bit ridiculous. I run a C2D and only have 1 optical and 2 HDDs; I see no reason why I can't idle under 100 watts. I tend to leave the computer on for months at a time, so idle power consumption matters to me.

My questions:

1) Am I right about the broken idle power management as the reason the card is so hot all the time?

2) If I am, how do I "fix" it? BIOS mod? New card?

3) If I'm not right, what else could be the problem?

I know it's lots of text; thank you for reading.

 

[Schmide]

Something is wrong with that card. Most likely bad contact with the HSF.

techpowerup 4830 temps

The question is do you want to void your warranty and fix the HS or return it?

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Schmide
Something is wrong with that card. Most likely bad contact with the HSF.

techpowerup 4830 temps

The question is do you want to void your warranty and fix the HS or return it?

That's with a non-stock cooler though.

Which card exactly do you have OP?

I use ATI Tray Tools to underclock AND undervolt my 4870 for 2D. Give that a shot. Hopefully you don't need to mess with the BIOS.

 

[Schmide]

That's the standard el cheepo Aluminum cooler in teh techpowerup article. Actually not bad but comes with a thick pad that sometimes doesn't do a good job.

techpowerup Page 2

Newegg Listing

 

[Schmide]

BTW I've taken a few cards apart and on some cards you can kind of dislodge the metal shim that protects the core. If that gets out of wack you'll never make good contact with the core.

 

[kmmatney]

Those sound way too high. My card idles at 36C. Even gaming for a while, I can barely hear it over my other fans, even heavily overclocked. I have the Sapphire card, though.

There is an ATI Bios editor program on Tech Powerup that should let you set the 2D speeds and voltages.

 

[Binky]

If you're obsessive about noise, why in the heck do you not have an Accelero S1 on that thing already?!?!?!

Try one. You'll love it. I'm also noise-obsessive.

 

[AzN]

Hell my 8800gts idles at 68C.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: Schmide
Something is wrong with that card. Most likely bad contact with the HSF.

techpowerup 4830 temps

The question is do you want to void your warranty and fix the HS or return it?

You can't compare it with some review site expecting similar temps. Techpowerup test system might have better case cooling, better ambient temps, etc...

 

[Schmide]

Sure you can. It's called a baseline - a specific value or values that can serve as a comparison or control. There are always mitigating factors, that's what you try to eliminate.

The original poster has a passively cooled CPU. I think she knows a bit about case airflow. Context is everything.

 

[ruu]

Originally posted by: Binky
If you're obsessive about noise, why in the heck do you not have an Accelero S1 on that thing already?!?!?!

Well, someone on another forum (SPCR, actually) had an Accelero on theirs, and it did nothing to change their temps. So I was reluctant to put much hope in the Accelero.

Anyway, 10 minutes ago I decided to try it anyway, and temps in fact have dropped to 41C idle. Thank god!

...still doesn't solve the wattage-gobbling in 2D, but I'm beginning to think that the Powercolor cards were cheaper for a reason and were physically altered to not allow very aggressive power management and automatic underclocking.

I will report back about the undervolting business, but for now, the temperature issue is under control. Many thanks to all who suggested solutions!

 

[daveybrat]

I'm also obsessive about noise, so i picked up the HIS HD 4670 card. I cannot hear that thing for the life of me. Sometimes i really wonder if the fan is even spinning!

And i'm using it with a 350watt power supply with no issues at all. Excellent card.

Not as powerful as a 4830, but for my basic gaming needs, it's fine.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: ruu

Originally posted by: Binky
If you're obsessive about noise, why in the heck do you not have an Accelero S1 on that thing already?!?!?!

Well, someone on another forum (SPCR, actually) had an Accelero on theirs, and it did nothing to change their temps. So I was reluctant to put much hope in the Accelero.

Anyway, 10 minutes ago I decided to try it anyway, and temps in fact have dropped to 41C idle. Thank god!

...still doesn't solve the wattage-gobbling in 2D, but I'm beginning to think that the Powercolor cards were cheaper for a reason and were physically altered to not allow very aggressive power management and automatic underclocking.

I will report back about the undervolting business, but for now, the temperature issue is under control. Many thanks to all who suggested solutions!

My Accelero AC S1 has no trouble cooling a 4870, so I would be surprised if it were insufficient for a 4830. There's the option of tying on a slow case fan, which should be much quieter than many stock coolers.

If you're happy with it as-is though, it's all good.