Using a PCI-E Connector

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 19:04

Thanks - Here are some pics of the stuff I'm describing. Probably normal but never seen it before?

cmndr_andi · 1 May 2012 at 19:08

That does look a bit weird, it almost looks like bits of the solder have been rubbed off and onto the PCB. Though tbh I wouldn't be worried about it - especially if you aren't having any actual problems with the card (apart from slightly high temperatures under extreme load).

Rusty0611 · 1 May 2012 at 19:13

Need to get your case airflow sorted first and foremost. It can really have a bad effect on temperatures if not right.

Can you describe how the fans are all pointing air flow wise?

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 19:37

Well I have a Zalman Z7 Case. I have never touched the front or the back fan. However I no longer have the side part that the Z7 has. I asume the front fan on the Z7 is intake and the back is exhaust.

The 2 120MM Fans that I have on the side I have just turned around so they are now blowing air at the GPU, however it hasn't made a slight bit of difference. Straight up to 90C in FurMark.

Any more suggestions? I'm a bit worried about using the card for gaming now incase the temps ever go over 90... Temp is currently at 39c idle.

Thanks

cmndr_andi · 1 May 2012 at 20:00

If you are worried about temperatures in gaming I would suggest setting up MSI aferburner (or GPU-Z) so that it monitors the GPU temperature while running in the background. With MSI afterburner I think you need to go to "settings", "monitoring" tab and enable "log history to file".

Then load up a graphics-intensive game and play it for a couple of minutes and see what the GPU temperature reading said during this small test. I'm pretty sure you will find that the load temperatures are significantly lower than those in furmark/kombuster.

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 20:06

cmndr_andi said:
If you are worried about temperatures in gaming I would suggest setting up MSI aferburner (or GPU-Z) so that it monitors the GPU temperature while running in the background. With MSI afterburner I think you need to go to "settings", "monitoring" tab and enable "log history to file".

Then load up a graphics-intensive game and play it for a couple of minutes and see what the GPU temperature reading said during this small test. I'm pretty sure you will find that the load temperatures are significantly lower than those in furmark/kombuster.

I shall give that a go, thanks.

The 5850 I have is the one with the egg cooler, I don't think they are known to cool as well. Maybe I should look for another gpu cooler?

Rusty0611 · 1 May 2012 at 20:08

You shouldn't need to. Any cooler should deliver levels of cooling which are at a point where the GPU isn't throttled.

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 20:11

Rusty0611 said:
You shouldn't need to. Any cooler should deliver levels of cooling which are at a point where the GPU isn't throttled.

Well what else can I do?

Rusty0611 · 1 May 2012 at 20:13

What are the temperatures like while actually gaming? As above, I would treat my temperatures in Furmark with complete disdain. Surely all you need to worry about is the temperature while gaming?

If it's throttling then you do have a problem. It could be the fan is knackered.

cmndr_andi · 1 May 2012 at 20:15

To be clear - the HD 5850 isn't designed to pass furmark without thermal throttling. Furmark is an outlier which puts the GPU under far more strain than any game can.

The HD 5850 is designed to play games. If it can do this effectively without thermal throttling then it is performing correctly.

If it still hits high temperatures and throttles itself when playing games then you have a real problem. The first thing I would do is re-do the thermal paste. If that doesn't have the desired effect then I would replace the GPU cooler with an aftermarket one that is more effective.

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 20:17

I'll get a log file done now playing some Tribes Ascend. I'll play for about 20 mins and post the results back here.

Cheers

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 20:37

Ok guys - Just done a quick session and it stayed flat at 87c. To me that still seems much higher than it should be tbh... Only 3c away from a throttle. :S

cmndr_andi · 1 May 2012 at 20:43

Yes, 87 degree just when playing a game is far too high.

I would strongly recommend you either replace the thermal paste + flush the heatsink with compressed air - or contact the seller about your issues and ask for a refund (since the component isn't fit for purpose).

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 20:45

Thanks, I'll contact the seller. He seems like a nice enough fella although I have sent him a few emails already.

I really don't want to mess with the thermal or heatsink yet, hopefully the seller will be cooperative.

krooton · 1 May 2012 at 21:06

Tom_D said:
Ok guys - Just done a quick session and it stayed flat at 87c. To me that still seems much higher than it should be tbh... Only 3c away from a throttle. :S

Are you sure the overclock has been disabled?

I've had it in my machine for over a year, in crossfire so sitting next to another card pumping out heat, and I maxed out at 74ºC in games.

I'm aware that my case has got considerably better airflow, but what is the ambient temp in your case, and the cpu?

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 21:19

krooton said:
Are you sure the overclock has been disabled?

I've had it in my machine for over a year, in crossfire so sitting next to another card pumping out heat, and I maxed out at 74ºC in games.

I'm aware that my case has got considerably better airflow, but what is the ambient temp in your case, and the cpu?

The overclock is definitely disabled mate. I don't know what will monitor my ambient case temp but my i5 2500 generally goes anywhere between 29c and 35c when idle.

Cheers

krooton · 1 May 2012 at 21:27

GPUs run considerably hotter than CPUs though, my 2500k is idling at 35ºC right now, and my 7850 is 49ºC.

Can you also try with the side of your case off please?

I'm just stumped as to what is causing this, it's been fine in my machine for ages, and initially you were getting a solid 78ºC when playing Tribes.

cmndr_andi · 1 May 2012 at 21:28

Tom, would you be able to upload a picture of the inside of your case? Maybe there is an issue with adjacent card placement or cable routing.

Also, as krooton says - a test with the case side off would be useful.

Drake5 · 1 May 2012 at 21:30

Tried with the side of my case off earlier. Absolutely no difference. I didn't leave Tribes running for as long as I did the 2nd time around though.

Also any idea of what the white stuff is on the back of the GFX Card I linked pictures of on the last page?

Cheers

krooton · 1 May 2012 at 21:34

I assumed it was just a bit of dust, and didn't want to try and wipe it for fear of staticing the card in to an early grave. I did want to give it a compressed air blast, but don't have any