GF2 heat probs / lockups

[cyKey]

I'm getting lockups with my GF2. I didn't with the same card in my old PII system, but I do now in my Athlon system. I've done many fresh installs of Win2k. Followed by VIA4-1, then GeForce 2 drivers, then C-Media drivers. No luck, still lockups. Thanks to the external thermal probe when the lockup occurs the temp rockets.

I've noticed that Winamp keeps playing, but doesn't go onto the next song when that one finishes. Someone has suggested that its like the GF2 just stops working, and stops displaying to the screen.

I think i've narrowed down the problem to case heat. Maybe... I've tried various major driver release for the GF2, in Win98SE, Win2k and WinXP and they all give me lockups after a while. I've removed the case and stuck a desk fan next to it and that helped a bit. Instead of locking up after 10-30 mins with the case on, it lockups after about 2-3hrs. I replaced the GF2 with a TNT and no probs. I tried a ATI PCI and no probs. I've replaced the hsf on the GF2 with a Blorb, and the problem still exists. I've put a system exhaust blower on top sucking the air from the top of the GF2, and no diff. I've tried it under the GF2 and no diff. I've tried the exhaust blower on top sucking the heat from the side of the CPU hsf and no luck. It locks up quicker with the case on, than off. If its heat, how the hell can i fix it without buying a hell of a lot of fans to get rid of that heat. I'm looking at dumping the GF2 and getting an ATI Radeon All In Wonder, cos I want to do some video editing. But there's supposedly no support for that model under XP!! Ahhhh. I'm now stuck to using an ATI All In Wonder Pro PCI in XP just so I can do some PHP coding without the machine locking up.

The lowest the voltage on the +3.3 line has gone down to is +3.31, which I've been told means that it isn't a PSU problem. Any ideas?

[Pinky]

Welcome to the forums.

I dunno what drivers you are using, or if you've already tried different nvidia betas, etc... if not, it's worth a try since you've obviously addressed any heat issues.

I figured I'd reply and send this post to the top of the heap and hopefully some of our other members could jump in and give their $0.02

[Silversinksam]

Pinky is the resident expert on Radeons (he is a rogue ex Nvidea user but we still like him even though he jumped the Nvidea ship :mad:

Anyway if heat is the problem here is a good thread for you:

http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35853

Any of these will kick the Blorbs @ss and all are less than 25 millimeters with the fan ( a blue orb is 15 millimeters)

$28

http://www.coolerguys.com/pictures/pal15.jpg

$15

http://www.nexfan.com/images/bu0tnmv6.jpg

http://www.ocshoot.com/ultra/hot/assy.jpg

Just recently found this to add to the list of awesome GPU heatsinks:

Price Unknown?:

Link to the Dynatron (http://4.33.248.150/proddetail.asp?cid=6&sku=DC1206BM-R)


http://4.33.248.150/productImages/DC1206BM-R.jpg :mad:

[.. AE 86 ..]

erh
nice pics........................................

[cyKey]

Thanks Pinky, but I've tried like all the major Detonator's beta and official. No dff :(

This is the fan i've got blowing onto the GF2 :: http://us.st3.yimg.com/store5.yimg.com/I/igadget_1655_169686420 , and although it does slow down the proble, like instead of locking up after 10 mins with the case on, it happens after about 2/3 hours. A fan of that size should easily cool it, but it locksup like when the case is on, only it takes longer. I can only think that its heat, but it can't be cos of the big fan. Its right next to the GF2. I don't get any probs with the ATI PCI, so it must be releated to the GF2, somewhere, some how. I am tempted to get the ATI Radeon All in wonder so i can test the machine with a similar speck card. But i've had my GF2 for only 1 year, seems like a waste. I could easily get another year outa it.

[oc jason]

if it worked in intel box, but now in amd box it dont=HEAT, an amd system makes more heat by far than any intel system, and there fore case temp is higher, there fore video card temp is higher

[cyKey]

That's for sure. I saw the Toms Hardware vid recently :) But still with the 80mm exhaust fan, 80mm intake fan, system exhaust right on the GF2, a blorb, dual 60mm fans on the heat sink, and a large desk fan, with the case off. You'd think that'd cool it to a usable temp. Its not even o/c or anything.

[Mr.Lansing]

Looks like u need a betta HS for ur graphix card
maybe a Piii Stock HS

[-=UR=- Ranger]

I would try to remove the Standard heatsink, clean up the generic thermal paste and reattach it with a thin Layer of AS II. Perhaps the generic Paste has dried up over the year and the HS is not making good contact to the GPU anymore. In that Case even your big Fans wouldn´t help much.

[ThermaGoth]

i actually have the same problem. it locks up after a while. i have 6 fans in my computer to cool it down. it works sometimes...
I'm using a Gf2 mx 400 with the newest Detonator drivers. and directx 8.
but as i use D3D is seems to lokc up more quicker than if i use OpenGL
o can runt Unreal with OpenGL for hours without problem and then i switch to D3D and if i'm unlucky it can lock after 10 minutes :/
and i have a temp of 40 celcius idle and 48 full

[ThermaGoth]

i seem to have fixed the problem
i changed drivers
before i used the detonator XP aswell but changd to some other o found and i installet coolbits and a program called MultRes that changes the HZ on your monitor to match the GF and now since that it all workd great. i even get more outta my gf 2 card now then before :)