Graphics Card Heat Help

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barman09

38 posts

Geek

#37970 22-Jul-2009 16:07

I have just about finished my desktop computer, but I am afraid to run it for long enough to install anything because my graphics card seems to be overheating. I don't know the normak heat for my card (ATI Radeon 4890) but it seems to be emitting a tremendous amount of heat. I am not sure, but I think this could be because my power supply and graphics card fans are pointing at each other from a close distance. Can anyone verify this?

Cheers

Ragnor

8223 posts

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#237973 22-Jul-2009 16:54

Graphics cards routinely operate at 70C+ under load. You can use GPU-Z to check the temps: http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

Sensible case air flow is very important for getting the heat out of the case, what case do you have?

Take a picture of how you've set it up if you can.

barman09

38 posts

Geek

#237980 22-Jul-2009 17:16

Blue box is power supply. red is the space between the 2 and green is the graphics card. ignore the tumble of wires I am sorting those out atm.

Ragnor

8223 posts

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#237982 22-Jul-2009 17:21

The effect wouldn't be that huge, the PSU fan is usually low rpm. You can always turn the PSU over the other way and have the fan on the bottom, there's usually just enough space for doing that.

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#237987 22-Jul-2009 17:28

The 4890 series are known to be loud and hot. I think your best bet would be to replace the stock fan and get something like the Zalman VF1000 (it should be compatible) - it's not cheap (around $90) but will cool things down and will be a lot quieter.

The other option is to install a fan in the side window. Your case looks like an Antec 1200 so the fan slot is already there. This would pump cool air into that zone which should also help.

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barman09

38 posts

Geek

#237989 22-Jul-2009 17:28

well, any ideas why it would be so hot then? When I say I have just finished it, I mean it doesnt yet have an operating system on it.

Ragnor

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#237991 22-Jul-2009 17:32

The higher end video cards run hot that's what they do, video cards often run over 70C under load it's normal.

Install Windows and run GPU-Z and see what the temp actually is.

Case looks too short to be a Antec 1200, what make and model is it?

barman09

38 posts

Geek

#237995 22-Jul-2009 17:36

Antec nine hundred two. sorry about poor picture quality.

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Ilmarin

94 posts

Master Geek

#238030 22-Jul-2009 19:21

The fan on the top of the PSU is an intake fan, so it's not blowing hot air towards the video card. As others have said, you just need to get your OS installed and something to monitor the temps in order to determine whether you should be worried or not.

The Accelero Twin Turbo from Arctic Cooling is another decent aftermarket VGA cooler you might consider if you're not comfortable with temps/noise.

Rudimentary video card cooling is a pet peeve of mine. There are hardly any cooling solutions for contemporary cards that exhaust the hot air out the back of the case, and while some of the better aftermarket coolers give you decent GPU temps, the ambient temperature of the case remains a lot higher than it ought to be.

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#238099 22-Jul-2009 22:44

Its quite normal for the 48X0 series to run quite hot, like in the upper 70 degrees range. It should be fine.

phlegmboy

59 posts

Master Geek

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#238996 26-Jul-2009 02:10

I was just reading a review of some of the newest video cards and under load they can reach upwards of 90 degrees C in the case of the GTX275.

My own veteran 7800GT card hit 100C in the last summer and did not give me issues with any video artifacts at all. So as long as the card is displaying things correctly, I would say leave things well enough alone.

I'd go on a Vegan diet but the delivery time from Vega is too long.

Ragnor

8223 posts

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#238997 26-Jul-2009 02:29

Assuming you have 120mm fans in the two front intakes and the top rear (can't tell for sure from the pic) I would suggest:

1: Turn the PSU over so the fan is on the bottom against the bottom of the case
2: Put a low rpm 120mm fan in the side panel slot, pulling air into the case
3: Put a low rpm 120mm fan in the middle fan slot in front of the hard drives, pulling air into the case