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Do High Temps Cause Damage? (6970)

Anesthetize

Anesthetize

Anesthetize

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Joined
14 Apr 2011
Posts
179
So I was looking at the 6970 (HD6970? not sure if there's a difference), and noticed that the temps under load can get quite high. Seen this on a few benchmarks now. What I wanna know is, would things get hotter in Crossfire? and can temps like these (80/85+) damage your GPUs or any other part of the rig?

On a side note, I've seen a few bench tests where they've tested both a 6970 and a HD6970 in the same test, so I was wondering what the difference between the HD and non-HD version was?, if any at all.

Thanks :)
 
'Really' high temps can cause damage. Temperatures of 80 / 85, although quite warm, are within safe limits, the cards are designed to handle that sort of temperature. Of course the lower the better, but I see no reason to worry.
 
arc@css said:
'Really' high temps can cause damage. Temperatures of 80 / 85, although quite warm, are within safe limits, the cards are designed to handle that sort of temperature. Of course the lower the better, but I see no reason to worry.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks!

Would the cards get hotter in Crossfire, or would both remain at their load temps as if they were individual?

Also, any idea if the 'HD'6970s are any different to the non-'HD'6970s? or is it just a name thing?

Thanks again.
 
The card above will get much hotter in crossfire as there is little space between them. Extra air flow onto them will help a lot. The HD is just the name thing, they will all be HD.

Edit: It will warm up your system a little, but not a problem unless you have overclocked components that are right on the limits of safe temperatures.
 
I thought they were all capable of 'HD'?

Ideally, you want a slot free inbetween the cards, or at least some space so they the top card can breathe a little. What is your case cooling / size like? Most modern cards these days vent most of the hot air out the back of the case. Some non reference models won't exhaust all the air out the back, so in some situations yes it can affect the case temps.
 
arc@css said:
I thought they were all capable of 'HD'?

Ideally, you want a slot free inbetween the cards, or at least some space so they the top card can breathe a little. What is your case cooling / size like? Most modern cards these days vent most of the hot air out the back of the case. Some non reference models won't exhaust all the air out the back, so in some situations yes it can affect the case temps.
Click to expand...

I don't have any parts yet, just pricing up specs for a full build. Looking at a Cooler Master HAF X, but I've not entirely settled on it yet, though it's looking likely. Not sure if I'll be able to have a slot between them or not, not really decided on a mobo yet either. Looking at the Gigabyte P67A-UD4 though.

Any idea which models exhaust heat out the back? (I'm a bit of a hardware noob, so please bare with any silly questions :)
 
Your choice of case is excellent, one of the few I would consider if I were to buy now.


These are an example of cards that will exhaust heat out of the back :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-248-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752


These won't :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-113-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

Both are great cards that have different pros and cons, but the first will vent heat out the back better than the MSI ones. It doesn't mean to say that a case with good cooling and stable components wouldn't be suitable for cards like the second example, though it could and probably would raise temps somewhat.
 
arc@css said:
Your choice of case is excellent, one of the few I would consider if I were to buy now.


These are an example of cards that will exhaust heat out of the back :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-248-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752


These won't :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-113-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

Both are great cards that have different pros and cons, but the first will vent heat out the back better than the MSI ones. It doesn't mean to say that a case with good cooling and stable components wouldn't be suitable for cards like the second example, though it could and probably would raise temps somewhat.
Click to expand...

Those are 6950s. I understand flashing them could unlock them to 6970 speeds, but as a hardware noob, I'd feel much more comfortable going with an actual 6970, preferably one already overclocked (might aswell get the most out of it) as again, I wouldn't feel comfortable overclocking myself.

Also, looking around myself, a lot of people are complaining about fan noise. This could be a serious issue for me as I have to sit the rig on this table right next to me. So if you can recommend 6970s that exhaust heat out the back and run pretty quiet (a tall order perhaps?), that would be great.
 
Anesthetize said:
Those are 6950s. I understand flashing them could unlock them to 6970 speeds, but as a hardware noob, I'd feel much more comfortable going with an actual 6970, preferably one already overclocked (might aswell get the most out of it) as again, I wouldn't feel comfortable overclocking myself.

Also, looking around myself, a lot of people are complaining about fan noise. This could be a serious issue for me as I have to sit the rig on this table right next to me. So if you can recommend 6970s that exhaust heat out the back and run pretty quiet (a tall order perhaps?), that would be great.
Click to expand...

These pre-order MSI's caught my eye :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-127-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752
 
Generally from what I've read the reference 6900's aren't particularly loud, nor are they the very quietest of cards either. So if you are very sensitive to noise a case with good cooling (the one you mentioned would be a worthy consideration), should be fine with two non reference 6970's. It's cases that are a little on the small side which provide average cooling at best that may bring temperature issues.
 
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Personally I'd try and keep 85*c at most. Anybody remember the G92s that were rated for 105*c or something like that at the time? Anybody else noticed how many dead ones have been coming up a few years down the line? :p
 
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