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XFX 6600GT Running Too Hot?

Rogue 2

Member
I called up XFX tech support and asked what a "normal" idle temp should be for the 6600GT with the "new" silver HSF. I'm getting 58C upon bootup, 60-62 idling after playing some games. Haven't checked it during games (need to get the Riva software yet).

Tech guy said "we don't have any normal temperature ranges".

(Hey, at least I got a real live person after 3 min on hold...)

What's everyone else's 660)GT running at? Should I return mine? Can I get an aftermarket HSF instead? Should I just re-seat the stock HSF with screws or something?

Any advice is appreciated...
 
yes, it is DEFINITELY running way too hot

my bfg is low 40's upon bootup/idle and mid 50's after some intense graphics processing
 
Hmm... not good... so what do I do now? Any suggestions? Again, upon calling XFX, they said simply "we don't have any target temperature ranges" or something to that effect.

I don't have any video artifacts, but I've been reading about all the HSF issues with 6600GT's (even tho mine is AGP, and Anand reviewed the PCIe's). I was hoping XFX's new HSF would be an improvement... guess not.

FYI my CPU runs at about 43C, case amb temp is 98F.

Barton 2500+
512 PC400 Geil Value Series PC3200 2.5-6-3-3 w/ heat spreader
Thermaltake PurePower 420W
80GB Samsung IDE
Nothing OC'd
Aspire Black Turbo Case (somewhat cheapo)
 
Tagging along for this one. Does anyone know of an alternative cooling solution for the 6600GT? I cant find a NV that fits.
 
You should try to return the card from where you bought it because from what ive heard XFX has really sh^tty service
 
I was reading the XFX support forums and lots of others are idling at 55-60C like me - people are saying it's because it's AGP, that the PCIe's run cooler because they don't have the bridge chip to worry about. Could that be an issue? I just don't want to melt my GPU!
 
I'll chime in....I just bought a XFX 6600GT, and I'm seeing idle temp of...well let me check...yup 52C. I have noticed, however, that watching the temp DURING full load, I usually only get up to 60C or so. I would think it would be higher for that high an idle temp.

Will these idle/load temps decrease the life of this new card?
 
Originally posted by: Ahill
Tagging along for this one. Does anyone know of an alternative cooling solution for the 6600GT? I cant find a NV that fits.

I don't think they make an NV silencer for the 6600 (Yet?). they have other coolers that are much more "universal" that claim to fit on "most" cards. You might want to write to some of their manufactures (such as Zalman, and Cooler Master) and see if they can confirm.

60 degrees seems a little warm to me, but nothing to get TOO worried about. I've seen many (including my own, before the NV Silencer upgrade) reach 70 at full load, which I think is well below the threshold.
 
60C is nothing to worry about, my XFX 6800 was hitting 80c load before i got my NV5. it idled at about 62-65c. i don't know if this can be related to the 6600GT, but i'd expect it to run hotter than the 6800.
 
Bottom line - I just don't want to fry my GPU when playing games. That would just suck. I hope, though, that someone will come out with an aftermarket cooler that I can install so I can overclock it someday. I just don't feel good about cranking up the MHz's at these temps.
 
I run my XFX at 562/1.13

The ambient is 42c

The idle is 51c

I've never seen it higher than 70c, after hours of play.

The default core slowdown threshold is 127c, so what's the problem with temps in the 60's?
 
having or not having a well ventilated case would certainly influence that reading of yours too. under the gpu is a dead spot in most cases.
an pci-fan slot would probably help a lot.

btw try to find out if the heatsink makes proper contact with the gpu-die!
if the back of the card behind the gpu core is scorching hot while the Heatsink is not that warm it probably is bad contact/bad thermal compound etc by he manufacturer.

like the people mentioning anand's article there were mounting issues with some models causing those high temps!!
 
Well, my computer has a BFG 6600GT OC (overclocked) AGP card and at boot-up I'm always around 41c, and after having been on all-day-long, my idle is around 47c (mind you, this is an overclocked card too!).

I wouldn't worry too much though... my "old" BFG 5900 (vanilla) that I had for over a year IDLED at around 70c... yes... IDLED at 70c! My BFG 5900 still idles hot and is now in my wife's system... never could explain it, but it always ran fine.

I'd say heat is only an issue if it starts becoming a problem (like games locking-up from heat).

Do note that XFX has changed the cooling solution on their AGP 6600GT cards, and the newer cooling solution is better then the old one, so if you do somehow swap it out, you'll end up with the newer cooling solution and lower temperatures.
 
Mine IS the "new" HSF, and from what I gather, it's worse than the original... oh well. Maybe I'll try re-seating it w/ some Ceramique I have left over.
 
I also have the XFX 6600GT and you know what....I'm not going to worry about it. Why are people saying to return the thing? I mean give me a break, nothings wrong with it right? So stop worrying! Start enjoying some games for crying out loud - that's what you bought it for right?

If your games start locking up or you start to get artifacts and your 'not' overclocking the card or AGP then is the time to worry....until then chill out. :roll:
 
I say its fine. I also have the XFX one with the silver heatsink, I have a vantec slot card next to it running on low and it never goes above 60C during gaming (checked with rivatuner). Idle's at around 45C. I might try taking the heatsink off and applying AS5 later but I want to learn how to do that properly 1st.
 
Originally posted by: Rogue 2
Bottom line - I just don't want to fry my GPU when playing games. That would just suck. I hope, though, that someone will come out with an aftermarket cooler that I can install so I can overclock it someday. I just don't feel good about cranking up the MHz's at these temps.

Rogue 2, relax I've seen cards running at 90 degrees for a few months without issue, I do suggest you upgrade your computer case though, nowadays high end cards really need lots of cooling and normally the cooler on the card itself can only do so much, air flow in the casing is more key now.

 
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