Upgrading 7800GTX

[suklee]

I didn't get a hold of compressed air yet, but I took out the card and on visual inspection it does not seem too clogged with dust. I took some pics, but they are from my phone so the quality is low.

Could it be that my temp sensor is broken on the card?

http://img183.imageshack.us/my...?image=imag0232da4.jpg
http://img373.imageshack.us/my...?image=imag0233nx3.jpg
http://img514.imageshack.us/my...?image=imag0234dl4.jpg

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Kai920
I didn't get a hold of compressed air yet, but I took out the card and on visual inspection it does not seem too clogged with dust. I took some pics, but they are from my phone so the quality is low.

Could it be that my temp sensor is broken on the card?

http://img183.imageshack.us/my...?image=imag0232da4.jpg
http://img373.imageshack.us/my...?image=imag0233nx3.jpg
http://img514.imageshack.us/my...?image=imag0234dl4.jpg

Doesn't look like there is much dust caked in there from those pics. Its possible that the thermal compound is cracked between the heat sink and the GPU core, preventing good thermal transfer and allowing heat to build up. You could remove the heat sink, clean the core and ram with 99% rubbing alcohol, reapply some MX-2 or arctic silver and reattach to see how that helps.

I'd spend the little extra money and go with a Radeon 4850 for the upgrade as well.

 

[suklee]

I sprayed some air, and some dust came out - more than i thought, but still not a crapload of it - and now my card's idling at 53C. That still sounds too high right? If I touch the mount on the back of the card, I can keep my finger on it for ~5 seconds or so before it gets too hot.

So no chance the temp gauge is broken?

I can't see all the way into the GPU core, but I see some "white stuff" that looks hardened and slightly cracked near the edges of the heatsink, and also under that black mount on the back. I'm not sure what it covers - is that the RAM underneath. Is that stuff heatsink paste?

I'm a bit scared to take off the heatsink, the last time I tried taking off some heatsinks glued onto my Radeon 9700, I pulled the RAM right off.

 

[suklee]

Just got done with a bit of TF2, highest it went was 80C. A big improvement, but is 80C still too high under load? Mind you, it was with the cover off so once I put it back on the temps might soar again.

 

[AmberClad]

Have you tried GPU-Z to see what temperature readings it gives you? I see a lot of flaky readings from your mobo sensors using SpeedFan.

GPU-Z, not CPU-Z.

 

[suklee]

Just tried GPUz (what an easy to use program. Even includes image uploading?? I'm impressed!)

http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/08/08/29/e65.png
http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/08/08/29/g3n.png

 

[AmberClad]

Looks pretty good for idle temps.

 

[AmberClad]

Btw, I believe you need to download and install nTune separately if you want the "official" way of seeing your card's temperatures. Last time I checked, it's not included with ForceWare. I never liked it much myself because it's a fairly large download, and it has a lot of unneeded functionality (for nForce boards?).

In practice, I find that GPU-Z readings are accurate and in line with either nTune/Rivatuner or CCC (for ATI cards), unlike SpeedFan (I always seems to get some "mystery" readings that don't correspond to anything in reality). But you know, if you want to make absolutely sure, etc.

 

[suklee]

Thanks man, I'll continue to monitor the temperatures...

Temps after TF2 (case open)
http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/08/08/30/3ca.png

 

[MrStryker]

How are things going right now?

 

[suklee]

In GPU-Z, I am getting these readings at idle:

Core Clock: 275MHz
Memory Clock: 1200MHz
GPU: 58C
GPU: 50C
PCB: 46C
Fan Speed: 42%
Fan Speed: 2136RPM

Do these sound normal?

What are your temps like with your 7800GTX?

 

[suklee]

After TF2

430MHz

74C
63C
54C

 

[wanderer27]

I'm not sure why you're showing two GPU temps, but generally my 7800TGTX idled around 56-58C, and after gaming it could get up to about 78C.

Overall it looks like you're running pretty much normal.

It's surprising how much a little bit of dust can cause temps to run up.

 

[MrStryker]

My BFG 7800 idles at around 40-43c. Its one of those custom BFG copper heatsinks which help a little.. highest load temp I've seen was 65c.

 

[suklee]

OK, thanks guys. I guess I'm on the high side but looks okay overall. So I learned 2 things:

1) My 7800GTX is still okay for TF2... can ride it out longer until I *really* need to upgrade.

2) I need to periodically monitor temperatures and check for dust

 

[SolMiester]

Kai920, did you notice the FAN SPEED when under load........43%, a little low I would of thought?

 

[suklee]

Yeah I saw that, I thought it was automatic/normal. Should it be at 100%, or does it mean my fan is "dying?"

PS. Here's the log from HWMonitor during TF2. Looks like hovers around 80C at load.
http://img360.imageshack.us/my...800gtxgpucoretedy7.png

 

[Chaotic42]

My 7800GTX gets to around 100C and then starts producing errors.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

You can push the fan speed up with Rivatuner.

 

[suklee]

Just downloaded the latest Rivatuner (2.10) and "Enabled low-level fan control". Changed it to 100% duty cycle, is this what I want?

Found this link, seems to have a lot of info: http://www.vaguetech.com/users...g/tutorials/rivatuner/

edit - core temp dropped 3C in idle by moving the fan speed from 42% to 100%

 

[Narynan]

yeah, but your not going to see a HUGE difference in idle for the most part. Start gaming and, sence that's when all the heat is produced.... let's see what kind of difference we are looking at then. It will be alot more than 3C I think

 

[suklee]

Definitely cooler now with the fan at 100% - about a 10C difference.

 

[suklee]

Final update: sold my 7800GTX and changed to a 9800GTX+. TF2 looks gorgeous in 19x12 with everything maxed out

Chose this card b/c it seemed to be the fastest around that is also OS X compatible.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Final update: sold my 7800GTX and changed to a 9800GTX+. TF2 looks gorgeous in 19x12 with everything maxed out

Chose this card b/c it seemed to be the fastest around that is also OS X compatible.

Don't leave the 7800 club, man! I was going to hold out for the GT280, but it seems lacking. I guess I'm waiting until the Fall of 09.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
]

Don't leave the 7800 club, man! I was going to hold out for the GT280, but it seems lacking. I guess I'm waiting until the Fall of 09.

? How so?