Video Card Temperatures...

[Cool1Net6]

Good Afternoon.

I recently purchased an ATI Radeon X1650 (AGP 256MB) to replace a failing Radeon 9800 Pro in my computer. Its a decent card, and I am happy with my purchase, except I have a few issues.

First off, the card runs like the sun. From stock, my temperatures are 69C idle, and as much as, 88C under load. Somehow 190.4 degrees Fahrenheit doesn't seem like a safe temperature, so I tweaked the fan speeds some, and got it down to 64C idle and 81C under load. If I crank the fan to 100%, it dives no lower than 57C idle. Is this normal?

My other issues include having trouble keeping underclocked settings. I use ATI Tray Tool and somehow my card likes to crank its GPU & Memory speed back to stock. I am having Vista driver issues, along with some qwerkyness with XP video (like long delays opening video files).

Oh and is there a way to offload all video processing to the card when watching video files? I see my CPU maxing at 100% when trying to play high-def content, but my video card sits there bored.

Thanks.

-Cool-

[ESX]

Well, it sort of depends on the ambient temp. (Case temp, outside temp)
Right before I change my drivers (now the CP doesnt function for some reason.. damn you nvidia) my half-load temp was around 56C or something like that.
Ambient case temp was probably around 50C or more. Summer here sure is hot.

So check the fans, clean stuff, oil them, change the thermopaste and various other tweaks that can cool it down a bit.

Overall, I'd say 88C is a lil' bit too much.

[Spawn-Inc]

i to have a hot ati card, not as hot as yours but still to hot. its 63 on 75% load or so. i tried underclocking with the ATI Tool but it wouldn't stay, i've got xp. what i did to help, though i'm thinking its not working, is change the thermal paste to Artic Sivler 5 and put a120mm fan next to it so when i game i turn it on. i was looking at this after market cooler (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=014575&cid=FN.251) its only $25. it will fit your card and is fanless. you can add a fan (i would) to cool it even more.

[Greco101]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118117

[.Maleficus.]

My X1600PRO is extremely hot too. I'm not sure why. I think it's just how the card is. I'm not too worried though because I haven't had artifacting or restarts or anything.

[Exley]

I have the x1800 which is vary simalar to your card. The problem the cards have is that they have nice fans but ati keeps them running really slow to cut back on noise. I downloaded ATI tool (http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/) and set it up to dynamicly turn up the fan speed as the card got hotter. Here is my setup if it helps give you a base line

http://exleysystems.com/atitool.jpg

currently i idle around 50 and full load at around 60

Edit:Sorry i didnt read you whole post looks like you already tried this. in responce to your first question, is 57C at 100% fan under load or at idle? if thats idle its too hot.


My other issues include having trouble keeping underclocked settings.
if your using ATI tray tools or ATI tool there is some sort of service you have to disable to keep catalyst from swiching from 2d clock to 3d clock

[Crazy Buddhist]

My ATi Radeon X850PE too runs hot. Perhaps they regularly underspec their cooling components? I'd plan on changing from the stock cooler but I'm getting rid of the card. I want 2 Nvidia something :D

[Spawn-Inc]

I have the x1800 which is vary simalar to your card. The problem the cards have is that they have nice fans but ati keeps them running really slow to cut back on noise. I downloaded ATI tool (http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/) and set it up to dynamicly turn up the fan speed as the card got hotter. Here is my setup if it helps give you a base line

http://exleysystems.com/atitool.jpg

currently i idle around 50 and full load at around 60

Edit:Sorry i didnt read you whole post looks like you already tried this. in responce to your first question, is 57C at 100% fan under load or at idle? if thats idle its too hot.


if your using ATI tray tools or ATI tool there is some sort of service you have to disable to keep catalyst from swiching from 2d clock to 3d clock

dude +rep for shwoing me that! i changed over two 100% and its slightly noticable when no other sounds are present and it dropped my temps 6 degrees! thanks!

[Airbozo]

We have a customer that is using the 1650 in a Redhat box and there _seems_ to be no way to force the fan speed thingy in Linux. This is such a big issue that they will more than likely be replacing all 16 of the ATI cards with an nVidia equivalent. We just cannot keep them cool enough without disturbing their work mates with fan noise. ...sigh...

[Greco101]

they will more than likely be replacing all 16 of the ATI cards with an nVidia equivalent.

It'd be sweet if you could get your hands on them!

[.Maleficus.]

We have a customer that is using the 1650 in a Redhat box and there _seems_ to be no way to force the fan speed thingy in Linux. This is such a big issue that they will more than likely be replacing all 16 of the ATI cards with an nVidia equivalent. We just cannot keep them cool enough without disturbing their work mates with fan noise. ...sigh...
There is also no way to do this with ATITool or ATI Tray Tools on my Sapphire Radeao X1600PRO. Which sucks because this thing is hot!

[Airbozo]

It'd be sweet if you could get your hands on them!

yes, if we have to swap out the cards, my company will be stuck with them since we will not be able to return them to our vendor (been in use too long). Good thing though, our customer understands this and will be paying a HUGE restocking fee and we will end up putting them up on fleabay... I should know more next week. (too bad I don't have a mobo that would take them, since I am still using agp...)

[Greco101]

yes, if we have to swap out the cards, my company will be stuck with them since we will not be able to return them to our vendor (been in use too long). Good thing though, our customer understands this and will be paying a HUGE restocking fee and we will end up putting them up on fleabay... I should know more next week. (too bad I don't have a mobo that would take them, since I am still using agp...)

awesome! Make a note to keep us updated in this thread :D

[crenn]

If you want lower temps, I would recommend an after-market cooler. Although this does tend to make your warranty void (why I don't know) but it's normally well worth it. Do a little research and always set a budget.

[Greco101]

yes, if we have to swap out the cards, my company will be stuck with them since we will not be able to return them to our vendor (been in use too long). Good thing though, our customer understands this and will be paying a HUGE restocking fee and we will end up putting them up on fleabay... I should know more next week. (too bad I don't have a mobo that would take them, since I am still using agp...)

any news on the cards?:rolleyes:

[Quakken]

I have an ATI x800pro. It used to get into the low 80's under load. While this is technically okay in the short run, such a high temperature can cause it to have shorter life in the long run.

So i went with an arctic cooler 4. http://www.arctic-cooling.com/vga2.php?disc=1&idx=5

IT is really too bad that they don't make them anymore. It works well, gets only up to 60 under load. I've had it for over a year without a problem, and it's quiet enough that i don't ever really notice it. It also moves air out the back like an 8800 cooler does (even if it takes up an extra slot).

And video cards are actually a lot different than cpu's, as they can effectively run at a bit over 80c, maybe even break 90c. I mean, it's terrible for them to do it, but they don't really start to meltdown until the 90's.

But sometimes, you want to get rid of that annoying fan, and i would want to get rid of it too. Stock fans are almost always teh suck when they spool up, polluting your work environment with unneeded sound. If i were you, i would get that passive cooler. Just make sure you have enough air moving, or it won't do a thing.

[rendermandan]

I've been thinking about getting one of these for my ATI 1900 XTX.
http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=217&cat=47&page=1

anyone had any good/bad luck with one?

[Cool1Net6]

Haven't had experience with that block, but it looks decent...

Thanks everyone for the help. I tweaked my fan speeds so now it peaks around 77C, but I still cant get my clock settings to take. I want to clock everything down 50Mhz but it keeps setting itself back to stock, no matter what I do to ATI Tray Tools. Oh well...


But sometimes, you want to get rid of that annoying fan, and i would want to get rid of it too. Stock fans are almost always teh suck when they spool up, polluting your work environment with unneeded sound. If i were you, i would get that passive cooler. Just make sure you have enough air moving, or it won't do a thing.
I find the fan on my X1650 pretty quiet, even when cranked to 100%, which is why I wonder why ATI decided that 90C still wasn't hot enough for even 50% fan.

-Cool-

[crenn]

The clock settings in the BIOS of the card will always take effect after you restart the computer (or shut down and later boot up). You can however set ATI tool to run at startup and load a profile at start up.