I need help!

Sha8doW's picture

Haha, I know what you’re think but no, not that sort of help!

I mean IT help and advice from the trusted IPX Team.
I currently have an Evga GTX 285 classified GPU. Rest of the system is an intel i7, 1336 running on a P6X58D ASUS mobo, 4gig of ram, 2×1.5tb WD Green HDD, 2×180gb raptor HDD, 950w PS.

My issue is, over the last year or so, the specs of a once epic machine have become sub par, espwcially in the GPU department, however it’s been able to handle everything I’ve thrown at it – at medium settings! For certain games which are intense I drop them to low, but the difference is negligible! (Will take more about that later)
Now most know, the gpu card runs hot, real hot, +85 degrees and the fan is at full tilt! (You can hear it when im on mumble – its that jet fighter wngine in the vackground) It’s always been like this. It goes hard or goes home!
So with the ever aging hardware, increasing quality games and the increase of ambient temperature at my house in summer… Going home is happening more often!
It’s getting annoying more recently and some things are unplayable even at low settings
When it craps out at 100 degrees (and stutters te game it’s normally a sign to drop to low settings)
But recently its getting unplayable, The card is crapping out at 100-105 degrees (yeh seriously) on games such as euro truck sim, surgeon simulator (basic games) and its crapping out minimizing to desktop trying to force a game closed to cool down every 20 seconds!
It’s strange, payday 2 is fine, bf3 was fine etc etc

It’s got to be the GPU, rest of my sensors are saying the rest of te system is generally ok!

So my question is, short of throwing water on the fire hazard which is my GPU… And short of buying a new card (which involves wife approval) what are cooling options to cool down a GPU?

I’m asking this before I start looking at a general overhaul of the system! Or partially!

Advice!

Comments

Fuzz's picture

GPU

Hey… I had the EVGA GTX 280 super clocked, a slightly older and slower edition of that card. It was ridiculous. Not quite as hot as yours, but very close. I was finding games that really shouldnt push it, would take it to the edge. Things like sitting in the Dir 2 menu would push it so hard the fans would go to max and it would idle in the 90’s (for my card 90’s was the highest).

I hate to say it, but I just think it was top end GTX 2xx cards that were like that. I heard the 4xx cards were even worse, then after that it started to get better. My next (and current card) was the GTX 680 SC, again EVGA. just a few generations newer. The difference (in cooling) was ridiculous. It ran heaps cooler. Occasionaly it will still jump into the 80’s and I’ll hear the fan, but on average it’s just heaps quieter and cooler.

I say this because you could easily be thinking (well before I gave u the info above) … sure I can buy a new card, and it will blow my exisitng one out of the water, but I’ll still have the same cooling probelm. Stuff will just perform better. But from my experience, I don’t think you will. Things are a lot better with the newer generation of graphics cards. I havent looked at the 7xx range (which are out now) but the 6xx are great. I’m pretty sure the 7xx will be too.

Now none of that really answers your question, given you’re looking for solutions to keep it cool, but thought I’d just address that first.

ok so options….

After market cooler would be my only thought. Haven’t ever tried to replace a GPU cooler but from searching online it sounds like it’s possible for the GTX 285’s.

Sha8doW's picture

it comes down to the fact that

it comes down to the fact that the GPU can handle it, if its kept cool!
so i thought if i could spend a couple of dollars just to cool it, it would be better than getting a tempory card while i wait to get a full card!

Sha8doW's picture

i mean

it was working at 40% capacity… but 98degrees just now!

HarassmentPanda's picture

Compressed Air

Buy a can of compressed air and blow it up in the fan space.

For a couple of bucks you’ll probably get some more life out of the baby.

It’s electronics lube.

Sha8doW's picture

Shad asnt got time for lube!

Ha, have managed to butcher my card and get a damn good result!
as fuzz pointed out, worst that can happen? i screw it and get a new card… its time anyway!
So drilled out all the “tamper proof screws” – You fools cant stop me! (despite tring very hard 9i’ve got alot of drivers, but not this one)
took off the outer case, and found MASSIVE amounts of stuck on microdust, there was NEVer goting to be airflow. Compressed air out of a scuba tank at 250bar wouldnt have dislodged this shit.
I scrubbed the card witha toothbrush, and then vaccummed up the dust.
thought it wasnt worth putting the case back on as a test.
Booted it up and BAM its idleing at 60degress… thats 25degrees cooler after a clean and a case removal!
and VERY Stable!

Thanks to all for the advice!
Hack a Card!

n0mad's picture

s0und

Great newz and any db s0und difference Shad ?

I 0nce gamed 0n a pc 0utside my flat and the quietness was awsum 0nly pr0blem was when it rained :P

n0mad
IPX are smarter than sum

Sha8doW's picture

People have describe the

People have describe the noise generated by my GPU fan as many things!
From only last week when somtin & Dinorump + others asked me why the toilet was flushing/water running in the back ground on mumble… To as early as week 1 when a former collegue of ours asked if I was using a hair dryer?

Also I’ve had the side of my PC case off for ages…
So sound wise… No real difference in overall sound level increase since removing the gpus case.
If anything it’s maybe quieter cause the fan of the GPU isn’t maxing out!

My key concer is that the GPU case was some soft of heatsink… So we will see what happens. If it buys me a few months great!

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