OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

I have a bit of an issue with my desktop computer, where my graphics card overheats, which then causes all output to my monitor to cease, forcing a hard restart. I have a 120mm case fan in addition to all the standard fans, heatsinks, etc.

Basically, what I'm wondering is if there's anything I can do to solve this heat issue. The room the computer's in isn't a particularly hot room, but with summer coming up it'll get hotter and hotter, causing more and more problems http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/Injured.gif

Any suggestions? As of yet I've been dealing with it by taking off the side of the case and having a full-size fan blowing into the case, which evidently keeps it cool enough http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif However, that's not exactly a long-term solution.

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

I had the same problem. I sent the card back to the shop and they gave me a new one. If that's not viable anymore, you can't lose by trying your own sink/fan/silver silicate solution. It might even be fun.

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

Why is this not a long-term solution? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I've been running my system with the side panel off since only a few days after I bought it. Not only does it benefit the CPU and graphics card, but the motherboard itself will last longer for being kept at a lower ambient temperature. (Capacitors die quicker at higher temps.) If your running the machine at home, why does it matter if the case is open?

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

From my research, supposedly the cases, and the placement of fans, and equipment like the cpu, memory, video cards etc, are taken into account with airflow and cooling. If you remove the case side panel, you may be interupting the required airflow for certain components. If your computer is overheating, opening the case is only a temporary fix. You probably have a hardware issue you should look into, or find a new cooling solution. Another reason to not have the case open, is to prevent, dust, hair, lint, smoke, etc. from readily getting into and on the internal components. Of course it does make for easier cleaning at that point, just remember to turn it off and unplug the PC before you do this.

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

Get a better heat sink for the GPU? Heat sinks are the primary method of cooling. You don't actually need a lot of airflow from fans, just airflow in the first place.

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

Good point.

I doubt having the side panel off would really change anything, since I already have to take most of the hardware apart once every couple of months and clean all the dust out, side panel on or not! I live right next to a dusty road, so everything gets gunked up really fast, and I end up taking the CPU heatsink and cleaning it, along with the graphics card heatsink, all the various and numerous fans, etc to get them clean on a regular basis anyways. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Thanks for the various recommendations so far guys! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

Could just be a bad GPU.

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

heat sinks are not that well attached right out of the factory, Overclockers prety much rip them straight off, lap them, then reapply the thermal compound and re-attach them.
out of the factorys they have a sticky foil pad which goes between the heatsink and the chip, this is dead easy and fast to apply, but is not as efficent as using thermal compound if applied correctly. (CPUs anyway, I presume it would be a simular story with GPUs)

you could possibly have a warped heatsink maybe.

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

You might want to buy a new case that has filters in front of all the intake fan slots (or affix some filters to your existing case)... this will help reduce the intake of dust significantly.

Re: OT: Graphics Card Overheating
 

I heard a quick home grown fix for filters. You can tape dryer sheets over your vents and fan openings. This will catch a vast amount of dust and debris. The article said you can use ones that have already been used in the drier, but I can see using new ones as well.