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It's gettin hot in here...

cainey

cainey

cainey

Associate
Joined
31 Jan 2007
Posts
62
... my room that is. It's reaching sauna like temperatures.
I have recently purchased 2 GTX580's that are running in SLI and are performing well enough. However they're pumping out so much hot air it's actually caused an unseasonal heat wave in the UK.
Now I understand that you won't want me to cool my system down as you'll no doubt be enjoying the lovely weather. However its becoming somewhat uncomfortable for me when playing BF3.

Current Temps

Idle
Bottom Card: 40-50c
Top Card: 45-55c

Under Load
Bottom Card: 75-80c
Top: 80-90c

Now this doesn't look too excessive but I want to bring these temps (and noise) down.
With my current motherboard and case the cards are sat right next to each other with about 2mm gap between them.
The way I see it have the following options... (listed in what I think would be most expensive first).

Option 1

Water Cooling.

Option 2

New motherboard with better PCI spacing.

Option 3

Sell the cards and get 1 GTX590

Option 4

Go back to 1 GTX580

I'd like to look at the watercooling option but it's not something I've done before. I'm also worried about voiding the warranty on the cards and that there may not be enough room in the case.

Any advice would be appreciated :)
 
The thing about watercooling is that while it will lower the temp of the cards, it won't reduce the amount of heat that get dumped out from the case...and your room is still gonna be a sauna :p

Solution? Get a air-conditioning unit for your room may be, then both the graphic cards AND you will stay cool...or live inside a fridge :D
 
Unfortunately the cards will still be pumping out the same amount of heat no matter how you cool them or your case.

They generate heat and it's got to go somewhere. They don't generate less heat just because you use a different cooling method.

As has been said, the only solution is to cool the room.
 
No side fan on mine as its the windowed version. I don't think it would make a huge difference with a side fan really. This photo shows the air cooling flow I currently have (its an old photo showing 2 GTX460's)

airflow-1.jpg
 
The fact the rooms getting hot is a good thing. The heats leaving the cards, leaving the case and filling your room, the coolers are doing their job.

Open a window :p
 
Marine-RX179 said:
The thing about watercooling is that while it will lower the temp of the cards, it won't reduce the amount of heat that get dumped out from the case...and your room is still gonna be a sauna :p

Solution? Get a air-conditioning unit for your room may be, then both the graphic cards AND you will stay cool...or live inside a fridge :D
Click to expand...

Surveyor said:
Unfortunately the cards will still be pumping out the same amount of heat no matter how you cool them or your case.

They generate heat and it's got to go somewhere. They don't generate less heat just because you use a different cooling method.

As has been said, the only solution is to cool the room.
Click to expand...

Hmm yeah I didn't really think that through did I? Basic physics really. Does everyone have this issue then?
Only advantage to watercooling would be less noise and cooler card temps then I gather (but still a hot room).
 
Surveyor said:
Unfortunately the cards will still be pumping out the same amount of heat no matter how you cool them or your case.

They generate heat and it's got to go somewhere. They don't generate less heat just because you use a different cooling method.

As has been said, the only solution is to cool the room.
Click to expand...

Agreed - or reduce the heat produced ( I'm thinking here of the move to 590/580 - just to mention that I have no idea how much heat such would produce so no idea if it would make a major difference)

Just a thought - my box sits below an open window - does help in keeping the room cooler :)
 
MooMoo444 said:
The fact the rooms getting hot is a good thing. The heats leaving the cards, leaving the case and filling your room, the coolers are doing their job.

Open a window :p
Click to expand...

Oh trust me the window is as open as it can be. I may move the PC onto the window ledge and point it's arse out the window :D
 
Try getting some directional fans or PCI slot fans - like the Antec Spot coolers (I've got one) and point it/them at the gfx card(s). So cool air is blown onto the gfx fans which in turn blow onto the heatsinks. Theyre nice and quiet and have speed settings.

I saw my gfx temps drop a bit with them.

Also, just something else that may help, if you have any unused PCI slots, change the solid PCI blanking back plates to vented ones. OCUK sell them and try google. This will help with air circulation in the case.
 
neoglow said:
Try getting some directional fans or PCI slot fans - like the Antec Spot coolers (I've got one) and point it/them at the gfx card(s). So cool air is blown onto the gfx fans which in turn blow onto the heatsinks. Theyre nice and quiet and have speed settings.

I saw my gfx temps drop a bit with them.

Also, just something else that may help, if you have any unused PCI slots, change the solid PCI blanking back plates to vented ones. OCUK sell them and try google. This will help with air circulation in the case.
Click to expand...

None of that is going to stop the OP's room from heating up.
 
You could take the approach of - leave as is, strip to ..... and take advantage of the sauna you have.:) NO photo's (please):eek:
 
Last edited:
I get uncomfortable with just the 1, so I can feel your pain with 2 :)

My room is on the shade side of the house in the afternoon though so it's not as bad as it could be.

Only annoying thing about leaving window open is the darn bugs ^^
 
AgedIdiot said:
You could take the approach of - leave as is, strip to ..... and take advantage of the sauna you have.:) NO photo's (please):eek:
Click to expand...

I have looked to see if B&Q have some wood panelling for my walls.

neoglow said:
Hang on, so the issue here is the room is getting too hot because of the two gfx cards pumping out too much hot air?!? What room is this, a dungeon?!

Just buy a floor standing fan.
Click to expand...

It is actually a dungeon. My parents built it for me after I was born. Due to my horrible deformities they felt it necessary to hide me away from the public. The chains chafe my ankles a bit but I'm used to it now.
I do have a large desk fan pointing at me which brings some slight relief. Not much though.

MooMoo444 said:
I get uncomfortable with just the 1, so I can feel your pain with 2 :)

My room is on the shade side of the house in the afternoon though so it's not as bad as it could be.

Only annoying thing about leaving window open is the darn bugs ^^
Click to expand...

My room is on the corner of a semi detached (strange place for a dungeon I know) and it's pretty small. Due to this when its hot outside it's gets hot inside too and likewise when it's cold. I probably won't be moaning if we have another winter like last years.
If I could convert this heat into electrical energy the PC could almost power itself.
 
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