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Argonath RPG Community => Hardware/Software support => Resolved issues => Topic started by: Webster on November 29, 2011, 03:49:30 pm

Title: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on November 29, 2011, 03:49:30 pm

Hey guys,
Well I bought a new computer in March, 2011.The computer has the following components,
AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.20 GHz
3x2GB Kingston 1333Mhz
AFOX ATI HD6850 PCI-E 1GB DDR5 256bit
HDD 1TB WesternDigital

Alright, once I got it, it was like a mother to me because all of the badass specs.But after some time, I installed a heat-overview program and I noticed that the GPU usually went over 50C temperature.So it got me worried, I tried cleaning it out, the fans, everything but it kept going on.Now whenever I play GTA SA for some time and I like turn on some ENB Settings and all that stuff, I listen to the noise from the computer like it's a big ass fan and my game blocks for 2 seconds, returns and the computer totally shuts down.

I would like some advice on what should I do, should I take it back for repairs(P.S I forgot to say that after the overheating started, I bought 2 small fans and put them on the back of the case, but no results) or what?

Please help, sincerely
Webster

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Julio. on November 29, 2011, 05:26:02 pm

50 degrees is not particularly high.

Before I changed my fan settings on my GTX 280 my PC crashed when it hit about 110 degrees celcius.

You need to download some fan speed software to ensure that when the temperature goes up, the fan speed does too.

Whats your PSU?

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on November 29, 2011, 06:38:14 pm

Chicony HPE 3509F5WR 350W is my PSU

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Ted on November 29, 2011, 07:08:31 pm

I'm surprised by that 350w power supply (PSU) for that card alone you need a minimum of 500w (Some manufactures) as well as 25A. The card will not be reaching it's full potential with such a low wattage.

Anyway, 50c as already said above would be quite normal for most cards if under quite a load. Mine hovers around 70 under full load it even crept over 80 before. Currently it's sitting at 39c.

Did ENB work well previously?

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on November 29, 2011, 07:11:21 pm

Yes it did.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Aldo on November 29, 2011, 07:24:59 pm

Get a Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power Modular(Awesome PSU also its Modular = less cables inside your case) PSU as your current PSU is no where near powerful enough with the specs you listed you need at least a 500w but get a 550w to make sure all you components get all the power they need including any items you plug into the USB ports etc.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: 9r2e5i3k on November 29, 2011, 09:37:13 pm

Quote from: Ted on November 29, 2011, 07:08:31 pm for that card alone you need a minimum of 500w

[citation needed]

AMD Radeon HD 6850 is 127W, according to gpureview.com - amd.com says 500W is recommended, not minimum
The Phenom II X4 955 is 125W, according to amd.com
That's not even 300W in total

Quote from: Webster on November 29, 2011, 03:49:30 pm

Now whenever I play GTA SA for some time and I like turn on some ENB Settings and all that stuff, I listen to the noise from the computer like it's a big ass fan and my game blocks for 2 seconds, returns and the computer totally shuts down.

So it started acting up after you tried to clean it?

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Julio. on November 30, 2011, 12:24:54 am

Yeah, 350W is nowhere near enough if I'm honest.

PSU claims that it produces 350, peak 380, looks like a fairly cheap brand too.

Nothing wrong with cheap ones, but they tend to supply less power on the 12V rail than expensive ones.

If you buy a cheaper one, go for at least a 600 is my advice.

Personally, my card needs 40A on the 12V rail, so I went for a 40GBP (cheap) 750W PSU.

Grz, you haven't even taken into account the fans, HD, disk drive, RAM etc...

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: TheRock on November 30, 2011, 12:37:15 am

127W (130W~) is once it's idle. When on full load, it uses 230W... so Considering 230W on full GPU load, with CPU 125W, plus fans, ram, mobo, hdd and disc units, it needs a better PSU to be honest..

PS: Great card.

Quote from: joedaman633 on November 29, 2011, 05:26:02 pm

50 degrees is not particularly high.

For such a card it is, 50C should be only once it's fully used (a.k.a on peak), on Idle it should be 20-25C...

Quote from: joedaman633 on November 29, 2011, 05:26:02 pm

Before I changed my fan settings on my GTX 280 my PC crashed when it hit about 110 degrees celcius.

110C = Killing the card.

Quote from: joedaman633 on November 29, 2011, 05:26:02 pm

You need to download some fan speed software to ensure that when the temperature goes up, the fan speed does too.

The Catalyst Control Center does that by the overdrive menu.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on November 30, 2011, 03:13:33 pm

Yes Grze, once I cleaned it, using small pieces of cotton removing the dust away from the fans.

So I guess the problem is the PSU?

PS. When playing GTA IV on fullscreen on the lowest settings the GPU reaches to 95C+

EDIT: Here's a picture of the temperatures, my GPU is now sitting on 85C without any game on, just internet browser
(http://i39.tinypic.com/1zgqbfk.png)

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: 9r2e5i3k on November 30, 2011, 06:25:19 pm

Quote from: Webster on November 30, 2011, 03:13:33 pm

Yes Grze, once I cleaned it, using small pieces of cotton removing the dust away from the fans.

Did you clean only the fans or other parts too?
Did you take the fans out or did you clean them while they were still inside the PC?
Did you clean your PSU fan too?

Quote from: Webster on November 30, 2011, 03:13:33 pm

So I guess the problem is the PSU?

I'd out-rule that since, as you said, it worked fine before you cleaned your PC. Unless you actually fiddled with the PSU.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on November 30, 2011, 06:49:51 pm

1.As I looked inside my PC case, the GPU fans or on the bottom, so I lean down and cleaned them, I pushed the soft cotton around the graphic card, cleaning the fans and a little bit on the inside.I also cleaned the CPU's main fan on the outside.
2.I cleaned them while they were inside the PC.
3.No I haven't.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Julio. on December 01, 2011, 12:48:23 am

Another theory could be that theres two problems.

By twiddling the fan you can damage the card, as it essentially becomes a little Dynamo.

What would make sense is getting a temperature sensor to check it, temp sensor could be shot.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Ted on December 01, 2011, 11:28:51 pm

Yes that may very well be but different brands state different power requirement guides. Anyway if problems persist and it's definitely confirmed it's not the power supply, the only way you will know is if you purchase a new and more capable power supply in terms of wattage. Then it may very well be the card in which case you can simply RMA the card. Just don't tell them that you've been fiddling around with it nor that you've done any overclocking if you have done that too.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: 9r2e5i3k on December 02, 2011, 01:11:40 am

Ted why are you so persistent that the PSU is the problem?

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on December 02, 2011, 08:16:59 pm

Alright, I'll be sending an e-mail to the company that built me the computer and hopefully get myself a new card, and buy myself a new PSU for Christmas.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Roadkill on December 04, 2011, 12:01:26 am

Anything above 85c under full load is worrying. 50c is great.
If above 85c make sure you've not overclocked it, if it's still like that on default settings then remove heatsink remove dust, clean the surface of the GPU and the surface of the heatsink with isopropyl alcohol on a swab. Re-apply thermal paste, Arctic Silver 5, Arctic Cooling MX-4/MX-2, Cooler Master High Performance etc...
Still like that? Make sure you have good airflow in the case, google case airflow for some cool tips.
Still? :conf: Upgrade your heatsink with an aftermarket one. Arctic cooling do some amazing ones.

 :ps: 350w PSU is criminally stupid. I wouldn't use any PSU less than 500w in any system I build.
Upgrade your PSU, cable manage the cables well, you can cable manage almost any case (even cheap shitty ones) to make them look like this...

(http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2847/dsc00153ya.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/dsc00153ya.jpg/)

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on December 04, 2011, 06:29:06 pm

I'll try doing what Trojan said, gonna start off by cleaning the heatsink.Can I just like, blow off the dust or use little ear cleaning sticks with cotton on top of them? Because I usually use that to clear it.

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Post Merge: December 04, 2011, 07:23:49 pm

---

Oh sweet lord, the GPU cooled down to 50C after cleaning out all the dust in the heatsink.In the meantime my CPU was 50C when idle.Cleaned the heatsink too and cooled down to 42C

Thanks Trojan, but I'll wait and see if it starts doing it again I am taking it to the company I got it from.

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on December 10, 2011, 12:17:28 am

WEll it started acting up again.I am going to take it back to the shop and probably get my card changed.Which one of these you think can replace my card? My card is worth about 200 Euros, I would like you guys to see at this list of cards and tell me which one of these is worth to replace it.

http://set.com.mk/setClient/productgroups.asp?group=11&sortby=Opis&onpage=105 (http://set.com.mk/setClient/productgroups.asp?group=11&sortby=Opis&onpage=105)

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Roadkill on December 10, 2011, 10:28:08 am

Quote from: Webster on December 10, 2011, 12:17:28 am

WEll it started acting up again.I am going to take it back to the shop and probably get my card changed.Which one of these you think can replace my card? My card is worth about 200 Euros, I would like you guys to see at this list of cards and tell me which one of these is worth to replace it.

http://set.com.mk/setClient/productgroups.asp?group=11&sortby=Opis&onpage=105 (http://set.com.mk/setClient/productgroups.asp?group=11&sortby=Opis&onpage=105)

I'd go with...

http://set.com.mk/setClient/productdetails.asp?subitem=&brand=Asus&bybrand=&group=11&productid=16647 (http://set.com.mk/setClient/productdetails.asp?subitem=&brand=Asus&bybrand=&group=11&productid=16647)

or...

http://set.com.mk/setClient/productdetails.asp?subitem=&brand=Asus&bybrand=&group=11&productid=16637 (http://set.com.mk/setClient/productdetails.asp?subitem=&brand=Asus&bybrand=&group=11&productid=16637)

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Webster on December 20, 2011, 10:40:48 pm

Would both of them be able to run games such as GTA IV, MW3, MW2, BF3 etc..

Title: Re: Graphics card problem
Post by: Roadkill on December 22, 2011, 11:50:35 pm

Quote from: Webster on December 20, 2011, 10:40:48 pm

Would both of them be able to run games such as GTA IV, MW3, MW2, BF3 etc..

Yes. The 560 TI is such a good card for the price. It will run any modern game easily.