Overheating

DirtyBurger · 21 Apr 2014 at 20:42

Hi last week I was given 3x AMD R9 290x and once ive found a main board for them ill get them fitted ,the thing is I keep finding posts saying that these cards will overheat if fitted next to each other.

is this correct?

Five.Stars · 21 Apr 2014 at 20:49

DirtyBurger said:
Hi last week I was given 3x AMD R9 290x and once ive found a main board for them ill get them fitted ,the thing is I keep finding posts saying that these cards will overheat if fitted next to each other.

is this correct?

As with any multi-gpu setup, the cards require space to "breathe", so to speak. As long as the cards have at least 1 slot of space between them, then they should be ok. I would also consider adding a large side-panel fan set to intake to get plenty of cooler air in towards the cards (assuming they are reference?) If they are non-reference design and dump the heat inside the case, then the side-panel fan would be better as an exhaust to get that heat out.

DirtyBurger · 21 Apr 2014 at 20:57

thanks for the reply, they are xfx cards and look reference I think, the board im looking at is the gigabyte g1 sniper 3 but I stil think 2 cards will be side by side.

LtMatt · 21 Apr 2014 at 20:59

DirtyBurger said:
Hi last week I was given 3x AMD R9 290x and once ive found a main board for them ill get them fitted ,the thing is I keep finding posts saying that these cards will overheat if fitted next to each other.

is this correct?

If you've got reference cards then you can under volt them and overclock them nicely and keep temps down in the low to mid 80c range. I recommend changing the thermal paste and using Gelid or MX4 or something high quality. Can help make a difference.

Five.Stars said:
As with any multi-gpu setup, the cards require space to "breathe", so to speak. As long as the cards have at least 1 slot of space between them, then they should be ok. I would also consider adding a large side-panel fan set to intake to get plenty of cooler air in towards the cards (assuming they are reference?) If they are non-reference design and dump the heat inside the case, then the side-panel fan would be better as an exhaust to get that heat out.

I disagree. If you have reference blowers you're much better served providing them with as much cool air as possible, so have those side fans blowing cold air on them.

Uncle Petey · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:01

Are you sure you disagree, Matthew?

Five.Stars · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:02

LtMatt said:
If you've got reference cards then you can under volt them and overclock them nicely and keep temps down in the low to mid 80c range. I recommend changing the thermal paste and using Gelid or MX4 or something high quality. Can help make a difference.

I disagree. If you have reference blowers you're much better served providing them with as much cool air as possible, so have those side fans blowing cold air on them.

Is that not what I said? Lol

I know you want as much cool air fired at "blowers" style coolers as possible, but added that other style coolers dumped the hot air directly in to case, so there has to be a way of getting that heat out.

Apologies to OP if I worded that incorrectly in my reply.

LtMatt · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:07

Uncle Petey said:
Are you sure you disagree, Matthew?

Five.Stars said:
Is that not what I said? Lol

I know you want as much cool air fired at "blowers" style coolers as possible, but added that other style coolers dumped the hot air directly in to case, so there has to be a way of getting that heat out.

Apologies to OP if I worded that incorrectly in my reply.

Sorry Five, must be going blind from years of VIGAROUS masutbation.

Uncle Petey · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:09

I don't know what vigarious masutbation is, but I'm willing to try it.

Kaapstad · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:11

Uncle Petey said:
I don't know what vigarious masutbation is, but I'm willing to try it.

I think it's a hand technique that LtMatt uses to cool his 290s.

Five.Stars · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:11

Uncle Petey said:
I don't know what vigarious masutbation is, but I'm willing to try it.

I'm thinking it would definitely lead to some form of overheating!

LtMatt · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:21

No one quoted me. I think i got away with it.

DirtyBurger · 21 Apr 2014 at 22:42

LtMatt said:
If you've got reference cards then you can under volt them and overclock them nicely and keep temps down in the low to mid 80c range. I recommend changing the thermal paste and using Gelid or MX4 or something high quality. Can help make a difference.

I disagree. If you have reference blowers you're much better served providing them with as much cool air as possible, so have those side fans blowing cold air on them.

You say I can UNDER VOLT them and then over clock? I'd be happy with stock speed if it meant I could run all three.

abbotsmike · 22 Apr 2014 at 00:09

We're all missing the point here. How does one go about being GIVEN three 290x's?!

evohicks · 22 Apr 2014 at 00:16

abbotsmike said:
We're all missing the point here. How does one go about being GIVEN three 290x's?!

Open hands and say "Thanks", now where's the catch!

Uncle Petey · 22 Apr 2014 at 00:34

abbotsmike said:
We're all missing the point here. How does one go about being GIVEN three 290x's?!

Like so

DirtyBurger · 22 Apr 2014 at 21:19

Quite simple really ,I was setting up some equipment for the company I work for and they didn't realise the cards don't have physx and being a typical large company nobody wanted to take the rap for the goof which I pointed out , so they discreetly ordered 3 X 780ti and sent me away happy as long as I fitted the 780's in the machines without letting on.

Uncle Petey · 22 Apr 2014 at 21:22

What a touch. Have they not heard of DSR or were they out of the DSR period?
What does the company do anyway?

DirtyBurger · 22 Apr 2014 at 21:29

Uncle Petey said:
What a touch. Have they not heard of DSR or were they out of the DSR period?
What does the company do anyway?

It's a medical research company and they bought the machines with these cards in them lol happy days.

Gregster · 22 Apr 2014 at 21:41

They needed PhysX or CUDA? Seems strange being PhysX needed.

ubersonic · 22 Apr 2014 at 21:44

DirtyBurger said:
Hi last week I was given 3x AMD R9 290x and once ive found a main board for them ill get them fitted ,the thing is I keep finding posts saying that these cards will overheat if fitted next to each other.

is this correct?

Depends what you mean by next to each other, if you mean putting three R290X in six slots of space then yes they will definitely overheat, to the point where you will improve performance simply by removing the middle card.

If you mean putting three of them in eight slots of space (one slot of space between each pair) then it is doable provided you have enough airflow to them, so make sure the case has decent front/side intake fans.

Uncle Petey said:
What a touch. Have they not heard of DSR or were they out of the DSR period?

DSR only applies to consumers not business customers.