XFX 260 B.Edition going crazy @ 75c ?

[nemezote]

Hey guys, I just purchased this card and so far im very happy with it.

But ive found that I have some problems (or maybe its just user error, thats what im here to find out) with some games.

For example, when running Bioshock, Vsync was on as default, and it gave 60 FPS most of the time, but sometimes it dipped in the low 40s. So I think "wait...this isn't right, this card should have no trouble with this game at 1280..."

So I disable Vsync and voila! The frame rate never dropped below 90, staying in the 185s most of the time. So there I go gaming away, and after about 50 minutes of it I get a pink-ish screen in the middle of the game. So I reload a last save (was worth a try) and still the same.

I exit the game to restart it and a quick look at always-on-my-system-tray speed fan tells me that the GPU has reached 75 degrees celcius.

So now im thinking that the pink screen was due to the GPU reaching critical temperatures.

The dilema now is that with Vsync enabled (or with lower frame rates if you will) the temperature is WELL within check (around 58c most of the time) but the gaming experience isnt as good as it could be.

And with Vsync OFF I get a hell of an experience with framerates well above 90 but I can only play for an hour or so until the GPU gets hot and starts to show visible sign of trouble.

Is there a problem with my card? Or is this normal behavior? What can I do (if anything) to have 60+ FPS without getting so much heat?

Thanks a lot.

[mattspalace]

Need a list of ALL your hardware. Also, how's your cooling?

[sandyduff]

Why dont you increase the fan speed on the card using something like rivatuner.. that should sort it out...

[nemezote]

All my hard:

CPU: Q6600 SLACR
MOBO: Asus Rampage Formula
Cooler: Thermalright ultra extreme 120+thermaltake thunderblade 120mm
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932
PSU: Cooler Master 750 Real Power PRO
RAM: Corsair Dominator 2x2 GB 1066
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200.11 (with fixed firmware)

About raising the fan speed on the card. Ive set it at 50% a while ago (10% over stock). But honestly I wouldnt like the solution to be to raise it even more as my room is very quiet and I can hear it as it is now. Also, raising it would shorten its life and I dont know when would I be able to change the card.

Is there any other option?

Thanks a lot.

[sandyduff]

Im pretty sure you wont be decreasing the lifespan of the fan by increasing the fan speed... surely when you are gaming that drowns out the sound of the fan...?

Doesnt the HAF have a lovely big side fan?

[mattspalace]

You must have the fan hard set at 50% or something. I have the same case and have zero problems. Have you tried putting it back to auto and just letting it throttle up as the temps increase?

[nemezote]

You must have the fan hard set at 50% or something. I have the same case and have zero problems. Have you tried putting it back to auto and just letting it throttle up as the temps increase?

I just went to the nVidia contol panel an set the GPU fan back to AUTO.

But im not sure thats what you meant. Im dont know that much about computers =P Could you please elaborate on that?

Thanks a lot.

EDIT: I just went back to playing Bioshock with the fan set on auto and Vsync off and the GPU is still going over 70 degrees

[mattspalace]

Got it overclocked any? Maybe try gaming for awhile and see what happens. 50% might be too low if you have it overclocked by a good bit.

[nemezote]

Got it overclocked any? Maybe try gaming for awhile and see what happens. 50% might be too low if you have it overclocked by a good bit.

Well the card is factory overclocked, I thought you guys knew.

I havent done any overclocking of my own.

I just tried gaming in bioshock with the fan set at 80% and the temps never got over 66 degrees.

It still puzzles me because if I remember correcltly from the reviews Ive read the card should funcion just fine at stock cooling. Weird, ill have to look into it some more, maybe on some reviews they ramped up the fan and forgot to mention it. No idea.

Any suggestions?

[ratbuddy]

75C is on the low side of normal. Don't start worrying until you see it hitting 90-95C...

[sandyduff]

I was thinking that 75 degrees was quite low for it to start artifacting....

[nemezote]

I was thinking that 75 degrees was quite low for it to start artifacting....

Apparently its not. At least not for my sample.

Any ideas?

[Special7]

75C is on the low side of normal. Don't start worrying until you see it hitting 90-95C...

My card gets to 91C with my fan set to 100% while playing Lost Planet, any other game is below 75C usually in the mid 60's.:confused:

[iLoki]

Honestly, as far as I know its a bug within Bioshock, I get black boxes on screen from time to time, I've never had a pink one that I can remember... Are you playing in DX10 or DX9?

[nemezote]

Honestly, as far as I know its a bug within Bioshock, I get black boxes on screen from time to time, I've never had a pink one that I can remember... Are you playing in DX10 or DX9?

Its possible but I dont think so. Ive had the same pink screen on Crysis.

Im playing DX9

[soundbarrier]

I have the XFX 260 BE (216sp) and I use Rivatuner to run the fan at 100% before starting up any game...don't want to take any risks. Temps never exceed the late 60s even under load (FO3 @1920x1200, 4xAA,15XAF, DX9).

[Special7]

Honestly, as far as I know its a bug within Bioshock, I get black boxes on screen from time to time, I've never had a pink one that I can remember... Are you playing in DX10 or DX9?

I have only seen them in the intro video, otherwise haven't seen them.

[deathman20]

Man all your temps seem high. If I break 70C on my GTX285 im running Furmark otherwise mid to upper 60's, 65% fan speed. This is with a more power hungry card too.

Just set the fan to auto and let it climb during gaming and it will be nice and quiet when not gaming. Even though it reaches into the 70's at stock clocks doesn't mean you'll get artifacts unless you still are. If your getting artifacts at your stock clocks and fan settings, thats a call to RMA that card.

[Dapman02]

If you are getting anything over 80 degrees load, I would be worried
Make sure that you have plenty of air flow going to the card

[Rich'[ard]]

do you have all your fans pushing/pulling in the right direction? have you checked your temps with another program? GPU-Z or the nVidia software (not sure).

my ATi card runs 80C and that's a great load temp :p

[ratbuddy]

If you are getting anything over 80 degrees load, I would be worried
Make sure that you have plenty of air flow going to the card

80C is still pretty low for a GPU load temp, unless you have the fan cranked up or it's watercooled. 85-90C is normal.

[Rich'[ard]]

how come gpu chips can withstand more heat than cpu chips? cos cpu at 80c is like toasting, while 80 on a gpu is quite normal

[deathman20]

80C is still pretty low for a GPU load temp, unless you have the fan cranked up or it's watercooled. 85-90C is normal.

Well for ATI yes thats quiet low unless you turn up the fan speed a little. Not a lot just a little. Same I guess I'd say for some nVidia cards as well but still.

4850's where hot GPU's with there single slot cooler, 80C no problem without good airflow in the case to get cold air and rid the heat, but a GTX260 pushes that air right out of the case. Should be cooling it nicely, bump the fan speed to 50-60% during gaming or what not and that should be running like a dream.

[Badbonji]

Some cpu chips are starting to not mind temps as much (core i7 as an example) as mine has been at 90C running fine before @ close to 5Ghz... When my GTX295 reaches above 80C on the sensor it can freeze, but I am thinking it is just due to drivers as sometimes it is at much lower temps.

[asinger93]

download EVGA Precision. Increase the fan speed to 100%. Or, if you want it quiet AND cool, I would recommend replacing the thermal paste on the GPU itself with high quality arctic silver 5. I did this to my 9800GTX Black edition, and the idle/load temps dropped by about 5C.

[necrokiller]

Regardless of fan speed, 75C is not a critical temp... my X1950XT reaches 110C before it breaks down.

[Rattle]

all 3 of my gtx 260 loaded out about 60c with dynamic fanspeed control.

[iLoki]

My GTX 285's during furmark hit the upper 80s, in Crysis max is right around 80C

[MadMan007]

Those temps in and of themselves shouldn't cause any artifacting ime with GTX 260s. Run Rivatuner's temp and fan speed vs time graph (the chip+magnifying glass icon) and see how the fan speed ramps compared to temperature. Although it's not great - I have a compact case with good but not great cooling - I've run video stress testing and the GPU gets up to the 80s with no artifacts and the fan ramps up quite a bit.