Graphics card overheating?

[Thorsson]

XFX 6800GT. Not OC. Hits around 72 idle according to Everest. Climbs to over 100 when used in 3D game. Fan seems to be working OK.

This looks to hot to me, and I get BSODs in games (not in Prime etc) which suggests that it is overheating.

Why would it overheat? Can't see an easy way to dismantle heatsink fan either (tiny screws).

[ExceededGoku]

Yes that is way too hot for a 6800, you should be looking at getting a program such as ATi Tool to change the fan speed for you, that is if it is not set to 100% constantly. If you cannot manage that then I am afraid you should either RMA the card (see what XFX say), or buy a 3rd party cooler from a company such as artic cooling.
Hope this helps
PS 72oC idle is rediculous, not even my X1900 does that...

[user1453]

how is your case ventalation?

[herulach]

Mine idles at about 60 on water, up to about 85 after extended gaming, its probably a buggy temp sensor. Id go for:
Canned air though the heatsink
Bios Update
Tear down + reapply with new paste

in that order

[Thorsson]

Card is over a year old, so I think RMA is out.

I have set the fan to 100% using Rivatuner, but this makes little difference apart from noise (knocks a couple of degrees off).

Case ventilation is fine. My 4400+ is 32 idle, 40 underload. Mobo 36/39.

I'd think it was a buggy sensor except it didn't used to show so hot and I'm getting BSODs.

Don't understand the BIOS comment. Mobo is up to date, haven't seen Gfx BIOS updates.

Have blown dust out, but no noticeable change. Latest WHQL drivers (81.98).

Can't see an obvious way to take the HSF off. Do I just undo all the multitude of screws?

[herulach]

You can get buois updates for gfx cards yeah.

To remove the hsf then you want to look for the screws on the front that match up to buts/screws on the back and undo those.

[Million]

In my experience stock coolers on GFX cards are rubbish. I went for the Cu Zalman and it works like a dream - worth the cost entirely, and if that's too much then go for the arctic cooling

[teachmech]

In my experience stock coolers on GFX cards are rubbish. I went for the Cu Zalman and it works like a dream - worth the cost entirely, and if that's too much then go for the arctic cooling

I agree my 6600GT (AGP) would not run some games just kept crashing, I replace stock cooler with a zalman and reached an overclock of 595 from 500 on the core. Excellent coolers well worth the £17 from scan. see link below
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=168309

[eUphoria]

Totally agree with teach and million - thats the route i went down with my nasty stock hsf on the 7800gt - zalman is definately worth installing imo

[sawyen]

yeap, VF700 allowed my 6800GT (then..) to hit 450MHz core on air.. load temps were only 70C load..

[Thorsson]

Well I've got it down to about 63/64 on idle. But it's still climbing very high. Now I've always felt that it ran a bit hot - which is probably down to the crap HSF. But it's running a lot hotter now. I've just upgraded to a 4400+ and put in a new PSU to cope - Hiper 580W. I'm worried that the Hiper is overpowering it. I might try running the old PSU and see if it still happens.

Ran OK for a week, but the system feels a little fragile now. If it wasn't for the high temps on the 6800GT I would be suspecting the 4400+.

[Thorsson]

OK I disassembled the booger, and found a bunch of dust had congregated at the "interface" between HS and Fan. After clearing this out and replacing the generic crud with Arctic Silver temperatures are running far cooler. Amazing that it had such an effect!

I may get the Zalman anyway, because I like Zalman (it will go with my CPU HSF) and at least I can see any build up.