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GTX 280 Fan issue

FlakMagnet

FlakMagnet

FlakMagnet

Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2006
Posts
179
I've got a BFG GTX 280 and am very pleased with it. However, recently the fan on it has started to whine and now sometimes fails to start when I boot the PC.

When the fan fails to start, I can get into Windows, but when I start a game, it doesn't take long for the card to overheat (unsurprisingly). When it does overheat, the screen gets switched off and I have to power off get get it running again.

The fan is not completely broken though as if I give it a 'nudge' when it's not running, it does start and works perfectly while the PC is on. Someone suggested cleaning out the dust which I will have a go at (although the card is not that old, and therefore not that dusty).

It could be that the fan will continue to deteriate and stop completely.

Is it RMA time, or is there something I can do to help it work properly again?
 
RMA time, BFG are known to be decent when it comes to returns (providing you registerd the card), so with such an obvious fan fault I would imagine you would get new card fairly quick. :)
 
Thanks for that Sean.

On further testing, I think the issue is worse than just then fan :( Today I switched on my PC and it would not start. After several attempts it booted up and I got into Windows. I started RivaTuner to monitor the Graphics card temps and fan speed and everything was fine.

However, after a couple of minutes, the screen just went black and went into standby. I know the PC was working because I could still swicth between the various applications on my Logitech G15 (meaning that the applications that control them were still running), and I could shut the PC down by pressing the power button on the case (I mean a short press causing Windows to shutdown gracefully).

I've just switched out the GTX280 for my old 8800 GTX, and that is what I'm using at the moment to type this (no issues so far).

So I think the card could be dying :(

I'm going to put it back in the machine after some more 8800 testing and see it it dies again. If it does, I think the card is slowly giving up. Do I RMA the card OcUK or do I have to RMA ro BFG? I have had the card since the start of December last year.

Today is not a good day :(
 
Last edited:
OK, just had about 30-40 mins of playing UT3 on the 8800 and everything was great. Just put the GTX280 back in, booted into Windows, and fired up UT3. Managed to play for about 3 minutes before the screen went black and into standby and the machine completely locked (G15 apps not working this time).

I was monitoring the GPU temps with Everest, and when the card died, The core was at 68 and the ambient was low 50's. So not overheating.

Could anything else be wrong, or is the card broken?

Thanks for any help.
 
FlakMagnet said:
OK, just had about 30-40 mins of playing UT3 on the 8800 and everything was great. Just put the GTX280 back in, booted into Windows, and fired up UT3. Managed to play for about 3 minutes before the screen went black and into standby and the machine completely locked (G15 apps not working this time).

I was monitoring the GPU temps with Everest, and when the card died, The core was at 68 and the ambient was low 50's. So not overheating.

Could anything else be wrong, or is the card broken?

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

Mate I would send it back to BFG :)

Explain exactly when things are happening and they have a very good turnaround/testing process! You should get a shiny new replacement card no problem.
 
OK, so should not return to OC then?

Guess I'll visit the BFG site and try and get an RMA number... at least I have a half decent card to use until it's replaced.

Thanks for the advice Sean_UK and jrodga2k5.
 
I think BFG can and do handle RMA's within the UK? Not certain on that, if you purchased it from OcUK then best to send webnote and ask...
 
I have had two bfg 285 gtx cards in the last couple of weeks. Allthough they were not 280's, both have gone back. The fan speed was not increasing with the temprature.(It satayed at 40% no matter what) Same problem as you. card overheating meaning a complete reboot. I have asked for a different replacement (Asus 280 gtx).
I hope its a bfg problem and not an Nvidia one. Sent both mine back to overclockers.
 
That is really interesting. I wonder if it is something with the BFGs, or maybe a specific version of the drivers? I thought the fan speed was controlled by the drivers, but now you've got me thinking it could be the card itself.

Can I return my card to OcUK? I think I'll call tech support and find out...
 
OK, just spoke to tech support, and the guy said to return directly to BFG. I could return to OcUK, but they then just forward to BFG, so quicker just to send to BFG directly.
 
Maybe someone from OcUk or BFG could give us a response on this. They are bound to have had a few cards go back for testing. If it happens again i will be looking at ATI. And I heard their drivers were not the best.

Has anyone bought one of these cards and not had a problem?
 
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