how hot is too hot ?

[c.ruel]

I have my 1GB HD 6950 currently mining 24/7, I did have the fan on 100% constantly but it was hurting my ears so I put it on auto. With it on auto the temperature hoovers around high 80s to low 90s ... should I put it back on 100% constantly so it sticks around 85 and never breaks 90?

This will be running like this 24/7.

[Tattysnuc]

GPU's are less sensitive to heat than CPU's so as long as you keep the heat below 100C I believe that you should be ok.

[c.ruel]

Cool (not pun intended ). I am a bit worried something might be wrong with the card though it seems to be running very hot indeed. I have a HD 5850 in the system as my main card and the Hd 6950 is just mining for fun, but my HD 5850 never seems to break about 75 degrees and the fan is running a lot lot lot slower. I know the HD 6950 is more powerful but it has a custom heatsink and it sounds like a jet taking off in comparison to the HD 5850.

I did have some issues installing the HD 6950, I had to remove some screws on the bracket because the interfered with my expansion slot. But I can't see how it would have made the heatsink lose in anyway as the heatsink has a bracket on the back of the pcb insuring good contact. So I doubt those two screws are the explanation. Any ideas or is it just a loud card!?

Maybe I will just have to bring my plans for watercooling closer ... more money

[Terbinator]

If it's an external exhaust type card I personally would raise an eyebrow at anything over 75c.

[c.ruel]

The Hd 6950 idles at the same temperature as my Hd 5850 with a slower fan speed at the same downclocked idle speed. So I don't think it is anything to do with the screws I removed as it would surely be a lot hotter than the card which I know is fine. I reckon it must be an airflow thing but again it has about a similar amount of breathing room to my HD 5850 (about 2 expansion slots) ... it just makes no sense :S

EDIT: yeah they are both sort of exhaust style cards.

Here is the HD 6950.

Here is the Hd 5850

Update: Looked on the internet .... seems like a card to avoid! Going to try and return/RMA it. Fustrating that when i looked for information on the card before I bought it I found none of this ... but then I didn't look that hard :S.