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....1&desc=arctic_cooling_accelero_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]

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.

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

 

[llwyd]

i would give bios editing a miss at the moment mate, just get that cooler and some decent thermal paste and make sure you fit the cooler nice and tight and you should be laughing

 

[equk]

Just download ATITool and change the fan settings tbh, it's free.

Also the replacement coolers don't have a heat exhaust type thing so it heats up the case more than the default one.

I only really edited my BIOS because I wanted the fan speed to change even when in linux.

 

[Daze]

I've gone for an Antec Nine Hundred case too, so hopefully the combination will result in a cool machine.

 

[BigD]

i had the x1 but the temps were no better on my x1800xt, even after reseating it 3 or 4 times with the ac5 break in period... returned it and got a zalman vf900 and my temps never went above 75* but keep in mine i have two 80mm (32cfm) fans and a 120mm(88cfm) fan blowing air on my grafics card

mod your case youll get better results, fresh air is key

 

[Daze]

My Accelero X2 arrived this morning, and I've just fitted it to my X1900XT. What a difference... Lining up the sticky memory cooling pads proved to be a bit tricky, but everything else was really easy. I did worry about over-tightening it though.

The card now idles at ~50 degrees and only reaches ~88 degrees under load - And it's much quieter to boot!

Thanks to everyone who helped me make this descision.

 

[equk]

The card now idles at ~50 degrees and only reaches ~88 degrees under load - And it's much quieter to boot!

That's still quite hot is that 88°C

Still good that it's quieter

 

[darkorb]

88 is still quit warm, are all x1900xt's that warm?

 

[NickS]

No^

I'd use ATiTool to control your fan speed

 

[Daze]

What's the best/standard way to test the GPU temperature under load?

Oh, and I am over-clocking my video card to 688Mhz GPU and 792Mhz MEM. I assume that will make a bit of a difference?

 

[Daze]

I ran 3D Mark 06 and monitored the temp with ATI Tool.

The absolute highest temperature was 76 degrees (and it only ocurred for a brief moment), but the average was more around 70 degrees. Is this a good test?