7800 Cold Bug?

[Shinjion]

I've been reading alot about how the Nvidia 7800GPU loses like 90% of its performance when it gets too cold, supposidly the fan doesn't kick on if its under 39C...Apparently a ton of people have this problem, so i was going to ask you guys...since my house is really cold...Any ideas on how to make mine not suck what a stupid bug..

 

[deathwish]

warm, it up by overclocking it

just a sugestion don't have a clue if it would work though

 

[Ham]

For the fan control just alter the bios/rivatuner. Cold bugs dont kick in till you get into - figures, youll be fine.

 

[Shinjion]

Nope, this one, as told by a BFG Tech Rep i actually called, kicks in around the 38C mark.

 

[deathwish]

just overclock it that will make it run at a higher temp

 

[FarFarAway]

Well I don't see what's the problem if it doesn't kick in until 38°C? Just means it's quieter

 

[BigD]

do what i did... volt mod it (softmod)

then you can get gpu clocks in the mid 500's

http://www.planetamd64.com/lofiversion/index.php/t15247.html

and do the pencil mod and ull get another 100-200mhz on the memclock

 

[Ham]

My 7800GT used to load about 40 (under water), factory overclocked to 450/1010. And my frame rate was constant from start and end of any game/benchmark. And it idled at ~30.

I think you should test your card under every condition you can, and post some results.

Ive found a mention of a bios that fixes a 7800 cold bug, but that would leave me to belive it is simply the fan shuting off thats the problem as i fail too see how the chip getting below 38 would halt/hinder the movment of electrons.

 

[Shinjion]

Well, i did some tests with Quake 4. If the processor stays above 36C, it's fine, it runs great. But if it falls below 36C, to 35C, i go from 50FPS to about 2.8 FPS. I tested this 3 times by changing my room temperature; and it happened every time. I called a BFG tech rep again today and they told me that it happens frequently with the 7800 series GPU's. He said there is fixes for it; but all of them will void the warrenty of the card. So i guess 36C is the threshold, If it drops below that it loses all of its sexiness. Guess i have to overclock it or turn the fan speed down. Bye bye warrenty..Not like it'd do me any good anyway >.>

 

[Ham]

Hmm, imo just over volt it by modifying the bios a little and that should raise your temps enough. Save the original and if anything goes wrong, flash back and just don't mention it on the RMA.

Guide here

Im going to re-do the pics for it now..

Very odd, ive never experianced this out of the 3 G70 based cards ive used (2 7800GTs and llwyds GTX).

 

[llwyd]

yep, my 7800GTX has been down to about 28 and not had the slightest of probems.

 

[Shinjion]

Thank you guys, that worked perfectly Ham, thanks so much. <3 Now it's runnin' great, stayin above iding at 42ish, thanks much guys.

 

[llwyd]

Thank you guys, that worked perfectly Ham, thanks so much. <3 Now it's runnin' great, stayin above iding at 42ish, thanks much guys.

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[Ham]

Glad too hear its working ok.

One odd problem.