Graphics card problem

[Webster]

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

[Julio.]

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?

[Webster]

Chicony HPE 3509F5WR 350W is my PSU

[Ted]

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?

[Webster]

Yes it did.

[Aldo]

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.

[9r2e5i3k]

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

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?

[Julio.]

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...

[TheRock]

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.

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...

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

110C = Killing the card.

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.

[Webster]

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

[9r2e5i3k]

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?

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.

[Webster]

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.

[Julio.]

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.

[Ted]

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.

[9r2e5i3k]

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