ATI/AMD 6970 Overheating

[Mad Professor]

Good day all.

My mate has been having a lot of problems with his computer crashing while playing games.

I told him it sounds like an otherheating related problem, and to run GPU-Z and ATI-Tool.

And let just say I now know why it's crashing.

One of the temp readings reaches a whooping 140c just before the system crashes.

The video card in question is a ASUS HD 6970 (EAH6970 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5).

I am an nVidia person myself.

I have removed the cooler / heatsink / heatpipes, cleaned it all up, put new TIM paste on, and put it into my own computer for testing, but GPU-Z is still reported stuipd high temps, around 100-110c, and you dare not touch the video card pcb as you will burn your fingers, as I have found out.

Any ideas?

 

[Gregster]

I take it the fan is spinning properly? Also is it still under warranty if need be?

 

[Mad Professor]

The card is out of warranty, otherwise I would not of even bothered removing the cooler from the card.

As for the fans yes they are working fine, and even if I set the fans from auto to 100% speed this temp is still around 80-90c.

 

[HankScorpio]

Using any overclocking software where volts may have been put up high?

 

[Mad Professor]

As far as I know the card has not been overclocked, but that is something I will need to look into more.

Regarding TIM paste, once opened does it have a shelf life? as mine tube is a few years old.

And if this is the case that my TIM is to old to use, what would be the best TIM paste to use?

Best Regards.

 

[Avathar77]

I use MX4 on my 6950(70),
But even with a default fan profile and stock cooler it should not hit even 90C in this weather at idle!

 

[Mad Professor]

I have ordered some new TIM paste to reseat the cooler again.

We regards to overclocking, as far as I can see the card is running at stock settings.

when the GPU is at 99% load, GPU Core Clock = 890.0Mhz, GPU Memory Clock = 1375Mhz.

 

[Gregster]

Maybe a faulty sensor reading also...Seems strange to report that temp and yet card works ok?

 

[IC3]

What about the thermal paste ?

 

[Mad Professor]

I have put on some new MX-4 TIM paste.

I have been running GPU-Z and the built in Render Test, for just over an hour now.

GPU load is 98-99%, and the highest temp seen so far is 81.5c, this is with the fan speed profile on auto.