GPU....way too hot!

CLAY_JoE · 02-13-2009, 04:40 AM

Hi guys

Came back today to find my GPU beeping, never a good sign. So I opened up GPU-Z and was in shock when I found it idling at 90C!!!.

Strangely enough the temp has since reduced to 65C since I have been using the computer (5 mins) so don't quite understand whats going on there.

I know what the problem is, I just don't really know how to solve it.

I have just installed a new Sound Card (Asus Xonar DX) which runs hotter than my GPU, its so hot I can barely touch it, and that sits around 8cm below the GPU, the GPU fan is sucking all that hot air up. I have placed a temperature probe on the floor of the case, that reads 37C.

Problem is I cannot move the Sound Card above the GPU as it uses the really tiny PCI slot of which I only have one.

Firstly, can anyone fire some suggestions at me to try and bring my GPU/Ambient temps down. I do have 1 spare 120mm fan but I can't really see where to put it.

Secondly, can anyone hint a guess as to why since writing this post its now idling at 55C wheras when I wasn't using the computer it was at 90C. I have changed nothing since then.

My GPU is an Nvidia 8800GTX
My Case is a Thermaltake Shark

I have a picture of the layout here, btw, the cathode tubes are only giving off a tiny amount of heat.

ANy help is greatly appreciated.

Btw, all other temps are fine, CPU/HDD etc. running cool, there is a wind tunnel at the top/mid of the case, its just the bottom that seems to be locking in heat.

**Snoopdogie187** · 02-13-2009, 09:33 PM

Hi, not my expertise or anything, but should the snound card be that hot? If it is, one idea I have is a little slot fan inbetween the gpu and sound. This might be enough to keep the heat off of the gpu. Really any fan movng the air away from the gpu would help.

What did probably happen is when the computer was idealing, not many fans were on (since the temp pobably never got too hot) but that one area held all of the heat in. When you come home, it probably got a little warmer, and some more fans kicked on. This is just my thought though.

roadsweeper · 02-14-2009, 03:19 AM

OK, for a start.. 90degrees on a GTX actually isnt that hot... yes, I agree its hotter than ideal, but a lot of people report the 8800GTX running at 70-80 under a heavy load if only fan cooled. OK, yeah its too hot, but my point being is you probably havent damaged it.

One thing you could do is download a copy of Riva Tuner or a similar overclocking tool. The default fan speed for the 8800GTX is only 60%, push this up to 100% so the fan is running flat out all the time. Why it only runs at 60%, god knows, prob some kind of power saving feature or something, or to reduce noise.

37 degrees isnt bad for case, maybe slightly warm. Take out all your cases fans.. clean them (especailly the front ones, most people forget these), clear the filters and make sure they are all going the right way.. ie the front fans are drawing in air and the rear ones expelling air... the number of cases you come accross where they are all pulling in air and working against each other is amazing. You want to achive an efficient airflow, Make sure theres no bulky bus cables blocking fans or anything, use cable ties to pull them out the way if you have to, although your case looks pretty clean.

I see you have quite a large gap inbetween your GFX card, and the cards below it. Is there a spare PCI slot in there? If there is, you may want to invest in an exhaust blower, available from most PC stores or Ebay for pretty much nothing, they arent expensive. Its simply a PCI powered fan that will redirect hot air outside the case. That may get rid of some of the excess heat generated in the case.

That should lower your case temperatures a bit.. as for the sound card CPU, keep an eye on that, snoopdoggie is right, that sounds kind of hot. If it persists have a look about other forums, see if anyone has had the same problem with that model of card. One thing I would check.. get on the floor while the PC is running and check the sound cards fan (does it have one?) make sure the fan is free and working as it should be, and running at a decent speed.. ie not struggling and barely turning. If its only got a heatsink, make sure its free and not full of dust, dust usually accumates at the bottom of the case.

OK most of this is to bring your ambient temp down, your main priority is to find out why that sound card cpu is working so hot, I will look into this further, see if I can spot anything in the meantime.

roadsweeper · 02-14-2009, 03:34 AM

Another thought.... you mentioned the temp was running high when you got back... had your computer gone into a standby mode or a power saving mode? Sometimes if not configured properly, the computer reduces power to important things, including fans. Me personally, I turn the power saving modes off.. OK its not as energy efficient and a bit nosier, but it stops your PC cooking when you are away from it for a while.

roadsweeper · 02-14-2009, 04:18 AM

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...fm/954291.html

About a 6th of the way down the page, a post by a guy called Masika

"I am interested in getting a sounds card for the first time in a long time. I have not run on for 4 years.. I have been living with on board sound. I just have to work out the cooling arrangements. A few reviews as the DX2 running very hot."

I havent been able to find these reviews, but apparently they are out there somewhere.

So you're not the only one having a problem. Interesting thing is, that model of card, even though only a year old is now regarded as obsolete, Suppliers no longer stiock it and when asked about it say its discontinued and no longer available. Maybe it has further hidden problems.

With regards to your problem though, all I can suggest is what I already have, maximise your case cooling efficiency and airflow, and try and get as many extra coolers down the bottom of the case as you can

CLAY_JoE · 02-14-2009, 06:45 AM

Thanks for your advice guys.

The fan on the GPU is running constantly at 100%, which usually keeps it at around 55C Idle. All the fans in the case are brand new, Scythe S-Flex and Noctua fans which are pushing an incredible amount of air. But like you said its the bottom of the case where it seems to retain heat. Recently took the computer apart so its free from any dust.

I like the idea of that PCI slot fan, yea there is a free slot, I will probably buy one today thanks :)

Sound card doesn't have a fan or a heat sink which is how it comes.

One thing I haven't payed attention to up till now is that I had a screensaver running while I was away, a very graphical one, which may of been why, so the GPU was effectively under load.

I'll keep an eye on that sound card, I didn't think it was right that it was running so hot. I have a spare temperature sensor which I can put on that and I'll report back.

I don't suppose putting my spare 120mm fan on the bottom of the case, pointing up would do anything would it, all it would be doing is pushing the hot air up?

Thanks again for your help, I'll try out the things mentioned.

02-13-2009, 04:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
CLAY_JoE Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 51 OS: Vista 32bit SP1 My System	GPU....way too hot! Hi guys Came back today to find my GPU beeping, never a good sign. So I opened up GPU-Z and was in shock when I found it idling at 90C!!!. Strangely enough the temp has since reduced to 65C since I have been using the computer (5 mins) so don't quite understand whats going on there. I know what the problem is, I just don't really know how to solve it. I have just installed a new Sound Card (Asus Xonar DX) which runs hotter than my GPU, its so hot I can barely touch it, and that sits around 8cm below the GPU, the GPU fan is sucking all that hot air up. I have placed a temperature probe on the floor of the case, that reads 37C. Problem is I cannot move the Sound Card above the GPU as it uses the really tiny PCI slot of which I only have one. Firstly, can anyone fire some suggestions at me to try and bring my GPU/Ambient temps down. I do have 1 spare 120mm fan but I can't really see where to put it. Secondly, can anyone hint a guess as to why since writing this post its now idling at 55C wheras when I wasn't using the computer it was at 90C. I have changed nothing since then. My GPU is an Nvidia 8800GTX My Case is a Thermaltake Shark I have a picture of the layout here, btw, the cathode tubes are only giving off a tiny amount of heat. ANy help is greatly appreciated. Btw, all other temps are fine, CPU/HDD etc. running cool, there is a wind tunnel at the top/mid of the case, its just the bottom that seems to be locking in heat. Last edited by CLAY_JoE; 02-13-2009 at 04:42 AM.

02-13-2009, 09:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,542 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: GPU....way too hot! Hi, not my expertise or anything, but should the snound card be that hot? If it is, one idea I have is a little slot fan inbetween the gpu and sound. This might be enough to keep the heat off of the gpu. Really any fan movng the air away from the gpu would help. What did probably happen is when the computer was idealing, not many fans were on (since the temp pobably never got too hot) but that one area held all of the heat in. When you come home, it probably got a little warmer, and some more fans kicked on. This is just my thought though. __________________ Infected computer? click here Has TSF Helped You? Posting System Specifications Please Donate to TSF

02-14-2009, 03:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
roadsweeper Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dingwall, UK Posts: 45 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Re: GPU....way too hot! OK, for a start.. 90degrees on a GTX actually isnt that hot... yes, I agree its hotter than ideal, but a lot of people report the 8800GTX running at 70-80 under a heavy load if only fan cooled. OK, yeah its too hot, but my point being is you probably havent damaged it. One thing you could do is download a copy of Riva Tuner or a similar overclocking tool. The default fan speed for the 8800GTX is only 60%, push this up to 100% so the fan is running flat out all the time. Why it only runs at 60%, god knows, prob some kind of power saving feature or something, or to reduce noise. 37 degrees isnt bad for case, maybe slightly warm. Take out all your cases fans.. clean them (especailly the front ones, most people forget these), clear the filters and make sure they are all going the right way.. ie the front fans are drawing in air and the rear ones expelling air... the number of cases you come accross where they are all pulling in air and working against each other is amazing. You want to achive an efficient airflow, Make sure theres no bulky bus cables blocking fans or anything, use cable ties to pull them out the way if you have to, although your case looks pretty clean. I see you have quite a large gap inbetween your GFX card, and the cards below it. Is there a spare PCI slot in there? If there is, you may want to invest in an exhaust blower, available from most PC stores or Ebay for pretty much nothing, they arent expensive. Its simply a PCI powered fan that will redirect hot air outside the case. That may get rid of some of the excess heat generated in the case. That should lower your case temperatures a bit.. as for the sound card CPU, keep an eye on that, snoopdoggie is right, that sounds kind of hot. If it persists have a look about other forums, see if anyone has had the same problem with that model of card. One thing I would check.. get on the floor while the PC is running and check the sound cards fan (does it have one?) make sure the fan is free and working as it should be, and running at a decent speed.. ie not struggling and barely turning. If its only got a heatsink, make sure its free and not full of dust, dust usually accumates at the bottom of the case. OK most of this is to bring your ambient temp down, your main priority is to find out why that sound card cpu is working so hot, I will look into this further, see if I can spot anything in the meantime. Last edited by roadsweeper; 02-14-2009 at 03:26 AM.

02-14-2009, 03:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
roadsweeper Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dingwall, UK Posts: 45 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Re: GPU....way too hot! Another thought.... you mentioned the temp was running high when you got back... had your computer gone into a standby mode or a power saving mode? Sometimes if not configured properly, the computer reduces power to important things, including fans. Me personally, I turn the power saving modes off.. OK its not as energy efficient and a bit nosier, but it stops your PC cooking when you are away from it for a while.

02-14-2009, 04:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
roadsweeper Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dingwall, UK Posts: 45 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Re: GPU....way too hot! http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...fm/954291.html About a 6th of the way down the page, a post by a guy called Masika "I am interested in getting a sounds card for the first time in a long time. I have not run on for 4 years.. I have been living with on board sound. I just have to work out the cooling arrangements. A few reviews as the DX2 running very hot." I havent been able to find these reviews, but apparently they are out there somewhere. So you're not the only one having a problem. Interesting thing is, that model of card, even though only a year old is now regarded as obsolete, Suppliers no longer stiock it and when asked about it say its discontinued and no longer available. Maybe it has further hidden problems. With regards to your problem though, all I can suggest is what I already have, maximise your case cooling efficiency and airflow, and try and get as many extra coolers down the bottom of the case as you can

02-14-2009, 06:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
CLAY_JoE Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 51 OS: Vista 32bit SP1 My System	Re: GPU....way too hot! Thanks for your advice guys. The fan on the GPU is running constantly at 100%, which usually keeps it at around 55C Idle. All the fans in the case are brand new, Scythe S-Flex and Noctua fans which are pushing an incredible amount of air. But like you said its the bottom of the case where it seems to retain heat. Recently took the computer apart so its free from any dust. I like the idea of that PCI slot fan, yea there is a free slot, I will probably buy one today thanks :) Sound card doesn't have a fan or a heat sink which is how it comes. One thing I haven't payed attention to up till now is that I had a screensaver running while I was away, a very graphical one, which may of been why, so the GPU was effectively under load. I'll keep an eye on that sound card, I didn't think it was right that it was running so hot. I have a spare temperature sensor which I can put on that and I'll report back. I don't suppose putting my spare 120mm fan on the bottom of the case, pointing up would do anything would it, all it would be doing is pushing the hot air up? Thanks again for your help, I'll try out the things mentioned.