GPU temperature

[Pi rules]

I just looked at my GPU temperature and it says that it is at 91 C, not F! Almost water's boiling point!

Case temp is at around 85 F, and I've been using the CPU intensively, but not the graphics. Should I assume that the sensor is bad, or am I in for trouble? :pray: The monitor says that GPU ambient is 55 C. It's a Sapphire X1300 Pro, so it isn't some powerful card or anything, either.

[dbarrow]

If this is an ATI card, get the Ray Adams ATI Tray Tool.
Not only does it have far more tweaks than the standard interface, you can set the hardware monitor to show GPU temp in the systray.

I don't know what the GPU cooler looks like on an X1300 but, both my X850XT PE cards (one is a Saphire) have tiny little fins on the heatsink that the fan draws the air through. At least once a month, I have to take them out and clean them out as they clog up easily. Both cards will throw temperature fits when they get clogged up and start dumping out of games.
You can't see this without removing the card to inspect it.

[Pi rules]

It also shows the card at 92. :( The card is nearly new, but I'll check the dust out.

[dbarrow]

My cards run about 105 idle and 130-140 under heavy graphics load. It will start doing COD2 dumps in the mid 130F range.

Also note:
Many of these have automatic fan speed by temp.
It was a known glitch that they often ran the fan at idle speeds even under load.
In the Ray Adams tool under Overclocking is a fan speed setting. Set it to run full speed and then save that to your profile to load on startup. It may sound like a little turbo jet winding up and whining but at least it will run cooler.

My cards never jacked the fan up to full speed without it.

[Pi rules]

When you say 105, is that C or F?

[dbarrow]

105F, which is usally the same as the environment temp

[Pi rules]

Fan speed is full now, thanks. It only lowered the temp by 2 degrees, though. That temp would make perfect sense if it were F instead of C. My system temp is around 90 on hot days like today and on normal days ranges from 78-85 F.

[Pi rules]

I have some bad news. I took it out, dusted it, looked for something blocking air intake (wasn't much there, a tiny bit of dust), then turned on my computer and noticed that the display is bad now. It's way too blue, and it has nothing to do with my monitor settings. I'll try to do some stuff here, but does anyone have any ideas? Or, did I wreck the card?

The temperature right now is 85, so it didn't help much.

[Pi rules]

I have another update: I tried using the DVI to analog converter and didn't receive a signal on my monitor at all. I reseated the card and made sure the contacts weren't dirty. The monitor's built-in menu looked normal, so this isn't a problem with my monitor. Everything has a blue tint and is less bright than usual. Temperature starts at around 80 then rises to the lower 90s (Celsius). I don't think Newegg will let me get an RMA because I don't have the UPC - I sent it in for a rebate that I don't think is coming.

Edit: Resolved. The red-out pin on my monitor is broken. The brilliant designers of this monitor built the monitor cable right into the back of the monitor so I can't just buy a new one. :disgust: I noticed that changing the % red on my monitor had no effect and lowering blue and green just made it darker. Sorry about that.

Still, does anyone know what else I can do for temperature?

[Pi rules]

Is it worth getting something like this (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/pcmods/6937/) slot cooling fan? ATI stock VGA coolers are known for recirculating their own hot air.

Edit: I found this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835888309) PCI fan with pretty good specs (no dBA rating, though) at a local store for $10. Newegg has it for R5, but the $5 shipping makes them the same.

[dbarrow]

The fan shroud and heat sink on the fancy ATI (and third party brands) are a real PITA to take off.
I was going to do that on my X850XT PE cards but even after unscrewing one side, I saw that extensive work would ensue to remove the rest.

If I do ever decide to go to that much trouble, I will add a GPU water block to my existing water cooling system and replace the fan/sink assembly completely.

[mommalina]

Pi rules wrote: I don't think Newegg will let me get an RMA because I don't have the UPC - I sent it in for a rebate that I don't think is coming.

Pi, good point!

I'm going to start a new thread in Non-Tech Topics, Promotions about the return of merchandise when UPC and/or original receipt have been sent in for a rebate. I tackle this with grocery rebates and think it may gemerate some discussion.

Lina

[Pi rules]

I bought a PCI slot fan that is a bit too short to reach all the way to the graphics fan, but it is right above the core and should help airflow a bit. I updated the drivers and that made the temp go down to ~64 C on a very humid and warm (later it's going to be hot) day. I'm not quite sure how the driver would affect temperature so much... It could use the card more efficiently, but that wouldn't cause a 15 + degree difference. Possibly an incompatibility? Faulty temp. monitoring? Any other possible explanations?

Thanks a lot for everyone's advice and suggestions thus far. :wave:

[dbarrow]

http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/support/support.php
http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/forums/

I would post in their support forums and look to see if it is a common problem.
Also 'generate a ticket' with the second option and ask Support directly. Sapphire is pretty good for tech support.