Issues remain with HD 4870 heat

[Xoni]

Despite the relase of the 8.512 Catalyst drivers, my 4870 has still been overheating and causing the PC to crash.

This isn't during high performance graphics requiring games but whilst on the desktop carrying out general admin stuff such as installing mods, copying files between hard drives, etc.

Crashes during games are very rare and I think only caused by the software I'm using. In other words, if the driver increases the fan speed to keep the temp down during gaming etc, it's working.

So it would seem that the fan idle speed is insufficient to keep things cool enough. I use a P180 case, with one 120mm input fan and two 120mm output fans. Of course, the main heat from the 4870 cooler is ejected from the rear of the case.

After one such crash yesterday, I felt the exhaust plate at the back of the case and it was scorching hot. I have removed the dust filter from the front case fan and opened the louvred door and my sys temp has dropped by 4° C, so hopefully this will help.

This is the coolest room in the house - that's why I have my gaming PC in here, but the hot air ejected by my PC is making it the warmest! Probably a lot of this is due to the warm weather here (25-30° most days).

Incidentally, I never had this issue with my previous card - the X1950XTX, either with the stock cooler or the VF900 I put on it, and that ran regularly at over 90°C. So far I'm not totally convinced by the alternative cooling solutions for my 4870 (or the price!).

Funnily enough, the only time I ever hear the fan going at high speed is when it's doing it's checks at/shortly after booting.

[Triplea4UK]

Stick another fan at the front and install ati tool it has a few tests and should let you see the temps.

The other option is to buy another cooler for it the accelero s1 is a very good option.

can you post up a picture of the inside of your case.

[Hottentot]

You can increase the default fan speed using a utility like riva tuner. I have had to increase the fan speed on my 8800 GTX to 75% (constant) during spells of hot weather. Does the job though if you can put up with the noise

[Xoni]

Yeah I use att for the temps, but when I'm busy on something I don't really notice what it's at when it crashes. I suppose I could have a fault log saved somewhere. Noise is no issue here - already have 3 case fans at high speed!

I just realised that the card didn't do this for the first two weeks. I was using a spare MoBo, as my P5K was off for replacement. The board I had in before was a Gigabyte one, which is smaller (more space for air movement) and due to it's configuration I had to have the fans set up differently.

The CPU fan (Freezer Pro7) was facing the rear of the case, with the rear case fan also blowing forwards (ie into the case, directly to the Pro7, over the RAM and out the front), along with the roof-mounted fan. The front fan was blowing the warm air out. This gave me no heat-related crashes. Maybe I ought to try that config wth the P5K.

I would only use an after market cooler if it is specifically quoted as working with the 4870 - just in case it goes pop. I've only seen 2 that do so far and they are both £30 plus p&p - which is too much in the current financial climate. Ahem.

I can't post a pic now, but will when I change the fans.

Thanx for the replies/interest.

[Hemp Knight]

Hi all. I found the following tip on another forum, I have tried it myself and temps went down by about 15C at 40% fan speed. I've got an Antec 300 case with 3x 120mm intake fans (2 front, 1 side) and a 120mm rear exhaust and a 140mm top exhaust, both set to low and I've not had a problem with heat yet.

Make a profile in catalyst after turning on Overdrive and make sure clock and memory settings are correct.
You will also have to set Windows to view hidden files and folders

/tools/folder options/view/show hidden files and folders

(edited as written by watto)
For Vista

Then go to the following location and open the following file for editing "C:\Users\Your Windows ID\AppData\Local\ATI\ACE\Your CCC Profile.XML. The xml file will have the same name as the Catalyst Profile you saved. right click and hit edit.

For XP

Then go to the following location and open the following file for editing "C:\Documents and Settings\Your Windows ID\Local Settings\Application Data\ATI\ACE\Your CCC Profile.XML. The xml file will have the same name as the Catalyst Profile you saved. right click and hit edit.

Now go down the page until you see the following lines in the XML file ...

<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_0">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="23" />

Change the "Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value=" from "Automatic" to "Manual"

Then change "Property name="Want" value=" from "23" to your desired fan speed.

Save the file then reload the Profile you just edited in the CCC

[PiracyX]

Sounds like not enough air flow is getting to it which is causing it to overheating etc.

The stock cooler should be ok though but i know the 4870 does run very hot.