Temperature on GFX RAM (I guess) ?

JorisS · 02-08-2007, 04:36 AM

Hi,

currently my system is running pretty nicely, I'd say; I have watercooled my CPU and GPU with the Aseteck Waterchill Xternal, have installed 2 80mm fans at the front blowing in air, one 80mm in the back blowing out, and a 120mm in the side blowing in as well (soon getting a fan speed controller so I can adjust individual for optimizing airflow).

The only thing bothering me is the so-called GPU VRM (Everest), which I assume to the be RAM memory on the GFX? I have an HIS X1900XT 512Mb, which standard was supplied with one of those Arctic Silencer 5 fans. But now it's watercooled. The copper cooling blocks for the RAM are still in place.

Temperatures in idle are reading around 60 degrees at the moment. Have to say room temperature is too high now, 25 degrees, due to some domestic problems, so normally it's lower.

So is such a temperature ok/acceptable, for the GPU RAM? What could I do otherwise? The side fan is blowing in air well above the GFX card, which is located lower in the case. I could remove the Cu block, remove thermal paste and apply Arctic Silver 5 perhaps? Or try and add yet another fan to the lower section of the case and blow in some cool air there which then hopefully would cool down the RAM there somewhat? Or leave things as they are since it's ok for GPU RAM?

Here's an overview from Everest:

Quote:

Sensoregenskaper
Sensortyp ITE IT8712F (ISA D00h)
GPU sensortyp National LM64 (ATI-I2C 18h)
Moderkortsnamn Asus A8N32-SLI / A8N5X Series
Chassiintrång upptäckt Nej

Temperaturer
Moderkort 45 °C (113 °F)
CPU 36 °C (97 °F)
CPU 1 / Kärn 1 26 °C (79 °F)
CPU 1 / Kärn 2 38 °C (100 °F)
GPU 38 °C (100 °F)
GPU omgivning 39 °C (102 °F)
GPU VRM 60 °C (140 °F)
Seagate ST3200826AS 41 °C (106 °F)
Seagate ST3200826AS 39 °C (102 °F)
WDC WD2500JD-75GBB0 33 °C (91 °F)

Voltvärden
CPU kärna 1.39 V
+3.3 V 3.22 V
+5 V 4.92 V
+12 V 12.29 V
VBAT batteri 3.10 V

Thanks for any advice/help!

**Rashiki** · 02-08-2007, 06:54 AM

Just for clarification, VRM is voltage regulation module, not the memory.

This takes power from your PSU and, well, regulates the voltage to the processor. Given the performance nature of your video card, it's bound to be high.

The VRM on these cards is at the right of the card, in the middle. It's a square chip to the left of the power input. You could probably put a little ramsink on it if you want to cool it down.

JorisS · 02-08-2007, 07:37 AM

Aaahhh..

thanks for that clarification, didn't know that.

So factory default those things aren't cooled at all? And in that case I suppose they can suffer the heat?

I'll see what I can do. Those small heatsinks I've seen for GPU cards RAM and such.. do these actually stick due to the thermal paste? Wouldn't want a piece of metal to drop down onto my X-Fi card....

*edit*
Is it the chip I pointed an arrow at in the attached image?

JorisS · 02-08-2007, 03:53 PM

Heck I was playing Heroes of Might and Magic and started getting some odd glitches... didn't think much of it until it got worse and I suddenly thought back to topics I read where glitches are related to temperature of GFX. So I alt-tab'ed back to desktop and saw the temperature for the VRM was at 70 degrees

Now I put in a 40mm fan which is just lying at the bottom of the case and blowing air upwards onto the gfx. Far from ideal, but it seems the card/chip needs some more cooling than it's getting otherwise... Haven't noticed any such problems whilst on CS:Source, but then again I'm playing the HoMM at 1600x1050 high res and all.

So is it the chip I pointed out in the image? And can I simply get a copper cooling body and stick it on with some arctic silver 5?

**Rashiki** · 02-08-2007, 05:04 PM

Yep, that's the chip. Since you've put a water block on it, there is no air movement at all around the chip, where there would be at least a draw with the stock cooler. Putting that fan on there definately will help.

From what I gather, the heatsink should just stick on there with some thermal paste. I'm pretty sure the sinks from manufacturers have a little tiny bit of adhesive on theirs.

I'm not 100%, so we'll wait for someone to chime in w/experience :)

JorisS · 02-09-2007, 12:51 AM

Let me get the heatsink first, then I'll let you know shortly

Although if I'm not mistaken, the Arctic Silencer 5 fan is a closed system and wouldn't cool that chip either?

JorisS · 02-09-2007, 10:58 AM

Ok, I've gotten the Zalman ZM-RHS1. Took one of the larger ramsinks (good investment, buying a pack with 2x4

), stuck it on the chip (it's got adhesive thermal on it or so they claim). Temperature went up to about 54-55 degrees again in no time.

I'd like to point out once more that I have no idea what is normal for this VRM, what I do know is that I started getting glitches/artifacts last night and it was at 70 then (after alt-tab back to desktop).

Then I mounted the 40mm fan on the side of the case where there actually were air holes. Now the temp has been steady at about 51 degrees, not playing anything though, just surfing and such.

Have to say though that the temperature in here still is above par, it's 25 degrees if not more, due to the darn evaporator/air dryer unit with loud as heck fan we have in here due to the leak the other night.

So with cooler room I reckon temp should drop a bit more.

02-08-2007, 06:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rashiki Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 878 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	Just for clarification, VRM is voltage regulation module, not the memory. This takes power from your PSU and, well, regulates the voltage to the processor. Given the performance nature of your video card, it's bound to be high. The VRM on these cards is at the right of the card, in the middle. It's a square chip to the left of the power input. You could probably put a little ramsink on it if you want to cool it down. __________________ ASUS P5WD2 Premium v0709 \| Intel Prescott 3.2ghz \| 2gb Corsair XMS DDR2-800 PC2-6400 \| Sparkle Power 550w PSU \| ATI All-In-Wonder X600 Pro \| Sound Blaster Audigy 4 \| CoolerMaster Aluminum Case \| WD Raptor 76gb 10K RPM SATA HDD \|ASUS CD/DVD RW Combo Drive \| Mitsumi 7-in-1 Floppy Combo Drive \| Coolermaster Copper Heatsink

02-08-2007, 05:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rashiki Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 878 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	Yep, that's the chip. Since you've put a water block on it, there is no air movement at all around the chip, where there would be at least a draw with the stock cooler. Putting that fan on there definately will help. From what I gather, the heatsink should just stick on there with some thermal paste. I'm pretty sure the sinks from manufacturers have a little tiny bit of adhesive on theirs. I'm not 100%, so we'll wait for someone to chime in w/experience :) __________________ ASUS P5WD2 Premium v0709 \| Intel Prescott 3.2ghz \| 2gb Corsair XMS DDR2-800 PC2-6400 \| Sparkle Power 550w PSU \| ATI All-In-Wonder X600 Pro \| Sound Blaster Audigy 4 \| CoolerMaster Aluminum Case \| WD Raptor 76gb 10K RPM SATA HDD \|ASUS CD/DVD RW Combo Drive \| Mitsumi 7-in-1 Floppy Combo Drive \| Coolermaster Copper Heatsink

02-08-2007, 03:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
JorisS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 120 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate My System	Heck I was playing Heroes of Might and Magic and started getting some odd glitches... didn't think much of it until it got worse and I suddenly thought back to topics I read where glitches are related to temperature of GFX. So I alt-tab'ed back to desktop and saw the temperature for the VRM was at 70 degrees Now I put in a 40mm fan which is just lying at the bottom of the case and blowing air upwards onto the gfx. Far from ideal, but it seems the card/chip needs some more cooling than it's getting otherwise... Haven't noticed any such problems whilst on CS:Source, but then again I'm playing the HoMM at 1600x1050 high res and all. So is it the chip I pointed out in the image? And can I simply get a copper cooling body and stick it on with some arctic silver 5?

02-09-2007, 12:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
JorisS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 120 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate My System	Let me get the heatsink first, then I'll let you know shortly Although if I'm not mistaken, the Arctic Silencer 5 fan is a closed system and wouldn't cool that chip either?

02-09-2007, 10:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
JorisS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 120 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate My System	Ok, I've gotten the Zalman ZM-RHS1. Took one of the larger ramsinks (good investment, buying a pack with 2x4 ), stuck it on the chip (it's got adhesive thermal on it or so they claim). Temperature went up to about 54-55 degrees again in no time. I'd like to point out once more that I have no idea what is normal for this VRM, what I do know is that I started getting glitches/artifacts last night and it was at 70 then (after alt-tab back to desktop). Then I mounted the 40mm fan on the side of the case where there actually were air holes. Now the temp has been steady at about 51 degrees, not playing anything though, just surfing and such. Have to say though that the temperature in here still is above par, it's 25 degrees if not more, due to the darn evaporator/air dryer unit with loud as heck fan we have in here due to the leak the other night. So with cooler room I reckon temp should drop a bit more.