Help required - apply within...(GFX card overheat/SG03 related)

hughythomas · 8 Jul 2010 at 13:10

Hi guys

I just upgraded my Micro-ATX system which we lovingly refer to as the "Sugo" for obvious reasons...

First the specs:

Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD4
Intel Core i5 750 @ 4.00Ghz (1.375v) with Corsair H50 watercooling
4GB G.Skill Ripjaw 2000 @ 2000mhz
XFX Radeon 4890 with Akasa Vortexxx cooler
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1 PCI soundcard
Crucial C300 64GB SSD (System disk)
Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB (Data disk)
Silverstone ST50EF-Plus SC (short cable edition)

I previously had a Silverstone SG01 which I was using to house this system (bar the upgrade of the motherboard/cpu/ram/ssd).

I wanted to move case as my mate broke the front USB of the SG01. I needed another Sugo as I have the Silverstone carry bag which I use to take the system to work so I can teach off it (YER LIVING THE SILVERSTONE DREAM!!!!).

If anyone is interested I have the SG01 on the MM here (with some other goodies) for a very cheap price:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=16901517#post16901517

Anyhow, onto my problem!

"LYNN, THIS GRAPHICS CARD IS HOTTER THAN THE SUN!!!!!!"

Yer, you heard!

My graphics card (XFX Radeon 4890 with Akasa Vortexx cooler) is IDLING @ 63c! OMFGWTFBBQ????!! etc etc.

I upgraded this system to a quad core so I can play GTA 4 in my room on a big widescreen TV but I am too scared to load up a game when the graphics card is so hot!

The PCB of the board is nearly too hot to touch. I see two possiblities:

1) The case hasn't got enough/adequete airflow
2) The Vortexx cooler has lost contact with the Radeon

I've ordered a slimline 120mm fan to go in the bottom of the front mesh of the case to try and address the lack of airflow as currently I only have one system fan in the case and its the fan attached to the H50 radiator sucking cool air from the front. Unfortunately, there is no place in the SG03 for an exhaust fan

Perhaps a new after market cooler is a good idea for the Radeon 4890? I heard the Arctic Cooling Acceleros are good - would this fix my issues do we think?

A picture says a thousand words (so get ready for a 4,000 word sensory overload!):

Obviously I am going to have to move my cables someplace to accomodate the new slimline fan going in the bottom of the front mesh. I was thinking just above the PSU as there is space behind the DVD drive (see picture 4). What would you guys recommend? I need to tame this 4890! I'm too scared to even load any 3D app atm!

Thanks in advance for any replies guys!

Tom

hughythomas · 8 Jul 2010 at 17:16

No one?

EnderXi · 8 Jul 2010 at 17:26

Has this happened suddenly or has it always been this hot since you bought it, if so it would suggest to me that there is a problem with the thermal paste/pads between the cooler and the card, now you have 2 options, try and RMA the card for replacement claiming its faulty due to excessive temperature or you dismantle the card clean the thermal paste off and apply new store bought thermal paste and reseat the cooler (this will void your warranty if you have any left)

In terms of cooling options with a case that size there is little you can do, I would suggest if you have the money possibly investing in a slightly more roomy case with a couple of fans (one intake one exhaust) that will assist with the temps and see if you can mount the H50 externally to the case to assist in cooling the whole thing down abit.

hughythomas · 8 Jul 2010 at 17:38

Thanks for the reply EnderXi.

The card was never this hot in my previous Sugo SG01 - are the SG03s renowned for lacking in the GPU cooling department?

Yes, I am starting to think that reapplying the cooler (and TIM) would be a good idea as surely idling at 60c is not good?!

Also, the fact that the PCB of the board is hot leads me to believe the cooler is not doing its job properly. I will dissmantle it and see if there is any difference and post back.

Cheers!

hughythomas · 9 Jul 2010 at 00:48

OK so reapplied paste and cooler - absolutely no change. Must be the lack of airflow in case.

Got a slimline Sythe fan coming through the post tomorrow and an Arctic Cooling Accelero on order. If this don't work I am out of ideas!!!

radar19 · 9 Jul 2010 at 06:12

Might be the airflow but dont 4980 run hot anyway?

EnderXi · 9 Jul 2010 at 09:31

They do run hotter than most yes but that is slightly on the warm side for an idle temp, they only thing i can suggest is to try and cable tie all the cables together as tightly as possible out of the way and possibly try and mount an external exhast fan below the graphics card on the outside of the case to try and pull some more air out of the case.

hughythomas · 9 Jul 2010 at 13:23

Well I've just installed the slimline fan below the radiator in the front mesh and tidyed the cables out of the way to allow it some space - I am currently idling @ 50c.

Woop!

Got the Accelero coming through tomorrow as well which I think will help things along. Hopefully, that'll seal the deal!

EnderXi · 9 Jul 2010 at 14:57

well thats a good drop in performance, makes my 30c idle on the 5870's look practically refrigerated! i top out at 64c under full load with them

Im glad the temperatures are improving hopefully that cooler will improve things for you.

hughythomas · 11 Jul 2010 at 16:15

Ha!

30c idle is fantastic - I am idling 34c on my main rig with a single 5870 under an EK block but 30c is very impressive!!!

As for my Sugo, I managed to shave off another 3 degrees by installing the Arctic Cooling Accelero cooler onto the 4890. I think one of the main problems is that my soundcard is so close to the graphics cooler but I'm not willing to give it up as I am a bit of an audiophile!!

I'll post some pictures when I get a mo.