Beefy gpu in small case To hot.. What's the best plan?

[413x]

So I have an amd 6950 in my Htpc that I cannot keep cool. (case height and depth means the card practically touched the top of the case and is end to end)

Do I
A) swap it for something cooler? (cpu is I3 2120) possibly a 7850
B) go crazy and try to water cool it?

I have never attempted to do anything with water Cooling before

 

[eyetrip]

Your cheapest option might be chaning to an htpc case that will offer better cooling...

 

[CaNsA]

Depending on the position of the card in the case, cut a hole and chuck a filter on there.

Job done.

 

[minicle]

Well you need to get heat out the case if you want to keep that card in there.

I do not think that watercooling is necessarily the best route. As has been mentioned either a case with better circulation, or, a more reasonable card for the job. A 6950 is a little OTT for watching tv.

 

[steve258]

Maybe downclock and undervolt the card first?

 

[Doomedspeed]

Maybe downclock and undervolt the card first?

Try this first..

If it doesn't cut temps try something else..

Is it 'too hot' at idle or under load, if so, what load?

 

[413x]

I thought water might be an option as the heat could be taken out of the case with external cooling

The Htpc isn't just for watching tv. I do play games on it as well. The 6950 is in there as I had it spare. It isa llittle ott but it's all I had at the time. The card is a rear exhaust

I will try and under volt it. I have removed from couple of hdds from the case too

I don'treally want tto change the case.. I really like it tbh.

I'drrather cut a hole, change the card before the case

It's too hot in general really

 

[Jakus]

What sort of temps are we talking here ? and what case is it ?

 

[413x]

It's Silverstone GD06

It's apartright now will check when reassembled

 

[Jakus]

Looks to have enough fans, whether they are blowing in the right direction working with the GFX cooler is another question.

I have found with small cases the secret is to stop individual components getting too warm in the first place rather than then trying to deal with the whole case cooking after the effect...if you follow