I have what I suspect to be a cooling issue similar to the one recently posted here. I too have been fine with games that don't really tax my hardware, but then when anything remotely fancy was played, my PC would lock up - I'd see a screen filled with coloured bands, but still hear game sounds in the background as if everything was OK.
I assumed that it was a dodgy graphics card, which I replaced - swapped a 5870 for a 7970, and all was well. Obviously, the previously taxing games on the 5870 were a breeze on the 7970, so it looked like things were fixed.
Until I'm now trying some games that tax the 7970 a little, and the problem has returned.
I have;
i7 930 at stock 2.8GHz
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
6GB of Patriot Viper 1600MHz
HIS HD 7970 IceQ X² GHz Edition 3GB
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced Cooler, stock fan
Fractal Design Define R4
Initially, I could play taxing games for around 5 minutes before things locked up.
Took off the side panel, things lasted a little longer, perhaps an hour or so? Then, same symptoms.
I've since gone raiding my old parts box upstairs, added a side 120mm fan and a top 120mm fan, but they're running at full pelt no matter how I set them up in the BIOS. With the room door open for ventilation, I can play games for hours now, but it sounds like I'm sat next to a tumble drier.
What would you consider my best option to be? Right now, graphics card is maxing at 65C during games from what I can see, but the air coming out of the case feels pretty warm to me.
No idea if I'm better getting some better fans and a decent fan controller, then trying to figure out how best to set it up for intake/exhaust. I'd be quite happy cranking up the noise for some stable gaming, but I'd want to turn down the noise when I just want desktop access.
Not really sure where to turn, starting to doubt my own build skills now - considering I put the original machine together almost 3 years ago now, despite an overhaul it's still causing me problems. If it wasn't for the new 7970 I'd be giving up and opting for a new machine built my OcUK, and not me!
I assumed that it was a dodgy graphics card, which I replaced - swapped a 5870 for a 7970, and all was well. Obviously, the previously taxing games on the 5870 were a breeze on the 7970, so it looked like things were fixed.
Until I'm now trying some games that tax the 7970 a little, and the problem has returned.
I have;
i7 930 at stock 2.8GHz
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
6GB of Patriot Viper 1600MHz
HIS HD 7970 IceQ X² GHz Edition 3GB
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced Cooler, stock fan
Fractal Design Define R4
Initially, I could play taxing games for around 5 minutes before things locked up.
Took off the side panel, things lasted a little longer, perhaps an hour or so? Then, same symptoms.
I've since gone raiding my old parts box upstairs, added a side 120mm fan and a top 120mm fan, but they're running at full pelt no matter how I set them up in the BIOS. With the room door open for ventilation, I can play games for hours now, but it sounds like I'm sat next to a tumble drier.
What would you consider my best option to be? Right now, graphics card is maxing at 65C during games from what I can see, but the air coming out of the case feels pretty warm to me.
No idea if I'm better getting some better fans and a decent fan controller, then trying to figure out how best to set it up for intake/exhaust. I'd be quite happy cranking up the noise for some stable gaming, but I'd want to turn down the noise when I just want desktop access.
Not really sure where to turn, starting to doubt my own build skills now - considering I put the original machine together almost 3 years ago now, despite an overhaul it's still causing me problems. If it wasn't for the new 7970 I'd be giving up and opting for a new machine built my OcUK, and not me!
Last edited: