HD6970 running hot

[Edwe]

I have a dual-fan Sapphire HD6970, about two years old, which reaches temperatures upwards of 85+ degrees when I so much as start an older game like Mass Effect 2 or even GTA SA (ambient temp is 20 degrees), and ramps up to 95+ degrees during play. I have never bothered to check the temperatures before, so don't know whether this was always the case, but I have recently found that the graphics card is actually causing other PCI cards to overheat.

Is this normal? In other words, should I just get a better case fan to try to mitigate the problem, or is there actually something wrong with the card?

I cleaned the fans with an anti-static brush in an attempt to solve the problem, but it made little difference.

 

[ponder]

Fresh thermal paste.

 

[EmileS]

HD6970 is one hot baby in general, but shouldn't be like that. I actually think it might be on a software side or the actual GPU acting up.

MSI afterburner should help you track the temps. Maybe run a GPU benchmark with the afterburner.

Did you google the problem yet?

 

[Edwe]

Thanks. I did google the problem, but there's a lot of conflicting information, most of it posted a few years ago. The reason for posting a new thread, is to see if people will recommend that I get rid of it

 

[Edwe]

Also, I see people say that 90 degrees isn't that hot, but my sound card (two PCI slots away) is being affected by the heat, so was wondering whether my case fans should be able to get rid of this degree of heat.

 

[Pitbull]

Thanks. I did google the problem, but there's a lot of conflicting information, most of it posted a few years ago. The reason for posting a new thread, is to see if people will recommend that I get rid of it

But that's just a given

 

[EmileS]

Also, I see people say that 90 degrees isn't that hot, but my sound card (two PCI slots away) is being affected by the heat, so was wondering whether my case fans should be able to get rid of this degree of heat.

Can you post a pic to illustrate the airflow in your case currently?

Just to see if it is actually airflow:
1) Run a benchmark on your GPU with MSI afterburner.
2) Analyse the temps and results
3) Open your PC case, put a fan next to it and let the fan blow into your case (this will represent the best case scenario if you install more fans in your case)
4) Run the benchmarks on your GPU again and monitor the temps.

If the temps drop drastically, it's definitely airflow. However, I doubt it will actually be airflow.
If the temps don't drop, then you have a different problem.

Also, when did you install the soundcard? If you recently added the soundcard and for some reason the soundcard actually reflects a lot of heat, that could also be a problem.

 

[Edwe]

Can you post a pic to illustrate the airflow in your case currently?

Just to see if it is actually airflow:
1) Run a benchmark on your GPU with MSI afterburner.
2) Analyse the temps and results
3) Open your PC case, put a fan next to it and let the fan blow into your case (this will represent the best case scenario if you install more fans in your case)
4) Run the benchmarks on your GPU again and monitor the temps.

If the temps drop drastically, it's definitely airflow. However, I doubt it will actually be airflow.
If the temps don't drop, then you have a different problem.

Also, when did you install the soundcard? If you recently added the soundcard and for some reason the soundcard actually reflects a lot of heat, that could also be a problem.

I'm at work now so can't right now, but I have already verified that the problem is 100% solved by leaving the side panel of the case off. The GPU temperature drops by only a few degrees, but the CPU temp goes down 10-15 degrees. The sound card doesn't have a sensor, but I assume its temperature also drops significantly, as it doesn't go haywire. The sound card has outlived two other graphics cards, and there has never been an issue before.

So I am pretty sure a different case + better fan will solve the effects of the problem. I'm just trying to determine whether it really is normal for a graphics card to get that hot.

 

[Pitbull]

I'm at work now so can't right now, but I have already verified that the problem is 100% solved by leaving the side panel of the case off. The GPU temperature drops by only a few degrees, but the CPU temp goes down 10-15 degrees. The sound card doesn't have a sensor, but I assume its temperature also drops significantly, as it doesn't go haywire. The sound card has outlived two other graphics cards, and there has never been an issue before.

So I am pretty sure a different case + better fan will solve the effects of the problem. I'm just trying to determine whether it really is normal for a graphics card to get that hot.

Mine does the same. I have added more fans and it's a lot better now. I created a similar thread not too long ago I'll try find it.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/703434-R9-290-temps

 

[Edwe]

Thanks. Pretty clear my ventilation is just bad. The case is also pretty compact, which makes things worse. I think I should just buy a bigger case with decent fans.