So, last week my GPU started overheating and causing BSOD's. When I start a game it runs up and up in temperature until it gets to 110c and the card automatically kills itself. The temp never levels out. It doesn't overheat during Windows or with Source games, weirdly, but anything else and it just drives itself to the killswitch point.
What I've tried:
1. increasing airflow in and around the case (No effect.)
2. reapplying thermal paste to the GPU (-15 degrees idle temp, but it still just increases in temp until death when playing a game)
3. dusting the card fan, case fans, and the case itself. (No effect.)
4. increasing/decreasing card/case fan speed. (No effect.)
5. downclocking the GPU (No effect.)
6. turning down game graphic options (Slows down the overheat, but doesn't prevent it.)
7. leaving the case open, with a desk fan pointed at it. (No effect.)
8. updating drivers. (No effect.)
[quote]Specs:
Operating System
Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 25 °C
Windsor 90nm Technology
RAM
4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 301MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard
ASUSTek Computer INC. M2NPV-VM (Socket AM2 ) 40 °C
Graphics
Philips 170C (1280x1024@75Hz)
1024MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 (PNY) 40 °C
Storage
465GB Western Digital WDC WD50 00AAKX-001CA SCSI Disk Device (SATA)[/quote]
Peculiarly, throughout all of this, my CPU has only gotten cooler.
[quote]1024MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 (PNY) 40 °C[/quote]
A GT 240? Maybe it's time to get a new GPU.
If this is your card:
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133306[/url]
Did you disassemble the heatsink shroud when you cleaned it? Because those tiny fins are going to have the same problem as laptop heat bricks, a dust mat will block the fins and prevent the fan from moving any air over them, thus insane overheating. Even fins on a normal two slot GPU cooler will eventually get clogged up.
I couldn't find any way of getting the heatsink shroud off, so I flushed it out with air. This hasn't happened until recently, mind, so I have no idea why it'd suddenly be an issue now.
I'm aware my specs are pretty shit, but that's really not the issue right now. My parts have served me pretty well for about a year now, doing everything I need them to, so.. yeah.
[editline]26th May 2014[/editline]
If you mean just taking the heatsink off the card, then yes, I've done that to reapply the thermal paste. I cleaned all the dust off the card and out of the heatsink fins with air.
Just throwing the new GPU idea out there. If what you have works, no sense in spending money.
Unless you disassembled the heatsink shroud, you can't be sure if it's clear or not. If a thick enough mat of dust has formed, canned air and even an air compressor sometimes won't remove the blockage. Also, are you sure the fan is actually spinning properly? You might want to look at it while it's running to be sure it's spinning fast enough.
GPU heatsinks with shrouds usually have the screws that hold them on the under side of the heatsink, and the screws are usually really small. They're easy to miss. It could also be held on by clips or by screws under the fan.
Just get a radeon 5450 for $30
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;44914159]
Unless you disassembled the heatsink shroud, you can't be sure if it's clear or not. If a thick enough mat of dust has formed, canned air and even an air compressor sometimes won't remove the blockage. Also, are you sure the fan is actually spinning properly? You might want to look at it while it's running to be sure it's spinning fast enough.
[/QUOTE]
The fan IS spinning. Spinning properly? No idea. It's definitely actually spinning, though. I have no clue how to check its RPM and make sure it's up to spec.
[quote]GPU heatsinks with shrouds usually have the screws that hold them on the under side of the heatsink, and the screws are usually really small. They're easy to miss. It could also be held on by clips or by screws under the fan.[/quote]
I'll have a look soonish, thanks. I couldn't find any way to unscrew it from the bottom. I'm guessing I'm going to have to reapply the thermal again after I take off the heatsink?
[QUOTE=Drsalvador;44914208]The fan IS spinning. Spinning properly? No idea. It's definitely actually spinning, though. I have no clue how to check its RPM and make sure it's up to spec.[/QUOTE]
It looks like a constant velocity fan (only two wires to the fan) so you won't be able to read or set the fan RPM. You can put your finger on the fan hub while it's running to see if the fan is weak or not. You can also hold your hand at the heatsink exhaust to see if there's any airflow.
[QUOTE=Drsalvador;44914208]I'll have a look soonish, thanks. I couldn't find any way to unscrew it from the bottom. I'm guessing I'm going to have to reapply the thermal again after I take off the heatsink?[/QUOTE]
In most cases, yes.
I reapplied the thermal paste literally about 24 hours ago. Should I just apply a little more to what's already on there, or totally clean it off and start from scratch?
You only need to remove it if you have too much or the paste is really old.
Oh man, you're a lifesaver. I just cleared it out and now it's 30c min, 37c max so far. I need to test it with a game, but this is a good outlook.
[editline]26th May 2014[/editline]
Borderlands 2 = middle 50's to 55c. Please come kiss me, GiGaBiTe.
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