Do I need to be worried about my graphics card cooking the innards of the comp?

[Eden Marel]

So I finally got the XFX Radeon HD 6870, one fan... to replace the Radeon HD 7570 that came with the computer well monitoring the temp for that card I get about 85*C when playing Lineage 2. I am still using the same old settings for the graphics as the 7570, but unfortunately I never monitored anything with that card. I do see an improvement with the graphics though, seems sharper, crisp, and more 3D-y.

I have the fan set to run at 90% when at 80*C. And 100% when it hits 90. So my room is a ton more noisier than when I had the 7570 which was basically silent doing anything.

After the installation, yea I guess it's a little bit cramp, maybe about 2 inch space between the card and the power supply. And kinda cramp at the other end cuz of the wires.

I opened up the PCI slot on the back of the computer to let some more air in. The case itself has some vents strategically placed at the PSU, GPU, HDD locations. Tempted to open the case, but want to limit the nasties, so I'll just open up the pci slot for now.

I dunno if I'm just being a worry wort, I mean everyone else with factory made computers are using stuff like this.... but I know...I should built my own or got a Cyber Power PC; but that is what I get for being a cheapo.

HP Pavilion HPE h8-1240t with Corsair Hx650w PSU, XFX Radeon HD 6870 GPU. The HP comp was customizable when you first order it, and it did have option for a Radeon HD 6850 (not sure what brand they'd use, so I figured my computer could probably handle the 6870.

Also now they have an option for the Radeon HD 7950 which seems to be a humungous card and much higher end card, but I'm not sure what other changes they would've made to the base configurations to handle that kind of card/heat.

[JasonG75]

You might have to use BETTER Thermal paste..

Also if you are a modder you can possible find upgrade kits at Xoxide.com or FrozenCPU.com for heat seperators or better options than the noise

I use to be a HUGE OCer

[JasonG75]

You simply remove the stock HSF, use a good thermal paste and apply this




or you can go the heatpipe method




or if you just wanna go NUTS (water cooling)

[cawolf86]

I had a graphics card that was consistently getting to over 100 C. It did not have controllable fans though. I bought a $20 2 slot fan at best buy that has 3 speed settings and a little blue LED light. It keeps my card at about 65 C installed right above it. It's the cheap way but it worked for me.

[JP55g]

Originally Posted by cawolf86

I had a graphics card that was consistently getting to over 100 C. It did not have controllable fans though. I bought a $20 2 slot fan at best buy that has 3 speed settings and a little blue LED light. It keeps my card at about 65 C installed right above it. It's the cheap way but it worked for me.

+1

Cheap, easy and effective.

Although they can be had for less than $20

[Eden Marel]

Okay I will think about those items, I'm not sure if I should or could shove anything more in this computer. Remember it's just an HP comp, not a custom one with gigantic case! I put a pic of my card on my FB and friend said my case is way too small for this card.

But anyhoo, I put an table top fan on low about 2 feet from the computer, and have it blow air at the vents and now it runs at at 71*C when playing Lineage2. Now it only sounds like my room is a mini airport! And probably will have a dust problem later down the road since it's blowing air into and not sucking the hot air. Temp fix til I figure things out.

[jeremyTR]

Your GPU isn't going to cook anything except itself.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G

[jaafaman]

Originally Posted by Eden Marel

...HP Pavilion HPE h8-1240t with Corsair Hx650w PSU, XFX Radeon HD 6870 GPU. The HP comp was customizable when you first order it, and it did have option for a Radeon HD 6850 (not sure what brand they'd use, so I figured my computer could probably handle the 6870.

Also now they have an option for the Radeon HD 7950 which seems to be a humungous card and much higher end card, but I'm not sure what other changes they would've made to the base configurations to handle that kind of card/heat.

I do not see any mention of either case fans or case ventilation at all, particularly in their list of hardware options.

None of the Pavillions I've ever owned (thorugh five years ago) had any sort of proper ventilation, depending on convection for the most part. That doesn't work out so well when you start packing out the case...

[Kyrol]

I've always just stuck a box fan on the side of the opened case. Water cooling is still something I haven't messed with in my personal systems but when the system is at idle I just turn the box fan toward my bed at night.

[Willamette]

You've got nothing to worry about. If the case has crap for ventilation, just open it up and run it without the side on during the summer months. Stays cleaner that way, too.

[Aquaticfan]

Originally Posted by jeremyTR

Your GPU isn't going to cook anything except itself.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G

True dat!!

I run a Pair of sapphire radeon hd 7970 oc cards with Ho2 cooling. Processor and vid cards are all water cooled) I like my PC silent and very cool.

[jeremyTR]

Water cooling is badass but only worth it if you're into massive OC'ing. Or if you're just rich and wanna spend money lol.

Also just a little side note GPUs and the like are designed to take the heat.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G

[xenxes]

Video cards naturally run hot, you card should be safe unless constantly going to 100C+.

CPUs on the other hand should not be Idling at 50C+.

[Aquaticfan]

Originally Posted by jeremyTR

Water cooling is badass but only worth it if you're into massive OC'ing. Or if you're just rich and wanna spend money lol.

Also just a little side note GPUs and the like are designed to take the heat.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G

I used to do MAJOR Ocing in the day. I used to have one of the first 4ghz AMD A64 FX chips. I actually used to build custom cooling from water cooling, Liquid Nitrogen, and Phase change. But thats been some time ago. Now I enjoy just having my PC run quiet, Cool and fast. I do some FPS on it here and there but still enjoy being a techie. And no... im NOT rich. lol

[Eden Marel]

I'm not rich either... wish I were.

I don't do OCing (at least that I'm aware of) and don't plan to. The games I play are nice looking but probably not too extreme.

The game that probably asks for a GPU with benchmarks closes to the 6870 is Skyrim if it goes 75% off during the Steam summer sale. I'm not sure what games people play when they OC or crossfire, the Radeon HD 7570 and 6870 are my first real graphics cards anyways.

Anyways, I'll try worry less continue to use MSI Afterburner and Speedyfan to monitor the temps, it's just my first time upgrading and actually noticing noise and heat. Noticed yesterday that the GPU didn't go pass 60*, but it may have been a slightly cooler day or I wasn't killing as many monster.

Also for that PCI exhaust fan, I notice a lot of the pics have it below the graphics card, but all the avail slots left in my computer are above my GPU and below the PSU, so I'm not sure how that'lll work out.

Also there are two fans, one is on the mobo below the GPU, and one is attached to the bottom back of the case (probably to take some hot air out?).