Sapphire X1900XT - Running too hot?

[Daze]

My Sapphire X1900XT 512Mb idles at ~70 degress but has topped 100 degress when pushed (such as the new C&C3 demo). I suspect this is running way too hot? Is it worth me replacing the stock cooler?

Thanks in advance.

[Ham]

That a bit toasty yeah. Aftermarket coolers are (mostly) very good (AC & zalman ones ftw), but you could try picking up some ceramiqee and re-seating the stock cooler. Alot cheaper.

[Daze]

Thanks for the info Ham.

I was just looking at the Arctic Cooling Accelero X2. Sounds promising for less than £14 (and a lot quiter from what I'm reading).

[Ham]

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.p...x1_vga__cooler

i know thats the X1 but theyre basicly the same.

Id recomend that or the zalman VF900

[Daze]

Thanks again Ham - I've decided to go for the AC X2 (just ordered now).

My stock cooler is really noisy. From reading that review, the X2 is much quieter as well as cooler. Perfect!

[FragTek]

They are VERY nice coolers and I think you've made a wise choice. Please let us know how you like it, how much the temps dropped for you, and how much quieter it is once it comes in

[Daze]

Will definitely post my findings. Hopefully the combination of this and a new case (my Antec Sonata seems to trap heat) will result in a much cooler system. I'll test the X2 in my current system so that I can measure any improvements.

[equk]

My Connect3D X1900XT wasn't even using the fan.

When I dumped the BIOS image I noticed the fan only reached 30% or something and didn't go up until it hit 88°C which I think is a bit late

So I ended up editing the BIOS.

Altho first I setup ATITool to change the fan speeds to see what sort of setting was best for the noise etc.

Now it only hits highs of 70°C before I think it hit 85°C or something

Before spending money on a new fan, I'd setup ATITool with some proper fan settings.

[Daze]

Funnily enough I downloaded ATI Tool earlier today, primarily so I could monitor the GPU temp. I haven't really played around with it much yet though. My ATI's stock fan is too noisy at anything above 65% tbh, so a quieter fan is really appealing anyway (and for very little money).

Editing the BIOS sounds scary? How did you do that - Via ATI Tool?

[equk]

Originally Posted by name='Daze'

Funnily enough I downloaded ATI Tool earlier today, primarily so I could monitor the GPU temp. I haven't really played around with it much yet though. My ATI's stock fan is too noisy at anything above 65% tbh, so a quieter fan is really appealing anyway (and for very little money).

Editing the BIOS sounds scary? How did you do that - Via ATI Tool?

Using my edited BIOS image, the fan only reaches 45% as 65% is noisy.

Originally Posted by edited BIOS

Cooling table:

0°C > 27%

60°C > 40%

65°C > 45%

80°C > 86%

To edit the BIOS you first need ATIWinflash to dump the image (& program when finished) and you need RaBiT (Radeon BIOS Tuner)

My card is 50°C atm