does this seem right? - overheating issue

[Hipnotic_Tranz]

The skinny:

Shuttle SN27 AMD 6000+ / 2gig ram
HIS x1950PRO

I never used to have any issues with my rig (more specifically in this case--the video card). Then again, I've kinda fallen out of the gaming scene and haven't played much since HL2 if you can believe it. Recently though I've come across Far Cry 2 (yeah, I get it...I'm behind the times but wow!).

It's here that my rig started locking up and I narrowed it down to the video card. The temps according to my catalyst suite shows an average of 73-75c idle. I can simply go into Far Cry, go no further than the main screen and watch those temps steadily climb above 110c. When it locks it's usually around 125c which is outragous. I've given it a good cleaning and so the heatsink isn't clogged with dust or anything.

It simply seems odd that a games MENU can stress a card so much? I guess I'm hoping someone can come in here and tell me the card may be defective though I have a feeling I'll just hear that I need a better ventilated case, which won't be happening anytime soon.

Thoughts?

[FlyingPenguin]

All games nowadays are running in full 3D when you're in the menu so that doesn't surprise me, however your temps are hard to understand.

First off I am doubting the temp of 110 C. If it's actually gotten that high then the GPU may be damaged. Transistor junctions in most chips start deteriorate at 90C although GPUs tend to be more heat resistant.

Fan is working I presume? When it starts getting over 70C the fan should throttle up. It should be wailing at 90C.

It's possible the heat sink compound has dried out or that the HSF isn't flush on the GPU.

It is vaguely possible it's only a Far Cry 2 issue. Maybe the game is putting the GPU into a loop. Have you tried another game?

If it only seems to be Far Cry that's making it overheat then make sure you have the latest firmware for the card and the latest drivers.

Hope this helps...

[Hipnotic_Tranz]

That makes sense about the menu part. I've also noticed the same issue with it locking up in HL 2 recently (in game). Again, it never did that when I lived back in the dorms and those rooms didn't have AC--or not very good AC.

I too was/am sceptical of the temps but I downloaded the ATI Tool and it is reporting very similar temperatures as the catalyst drivers. Now, I don't know how they find or where they take the temp at so it's only a reference but I'd guess it's fairly close. I've also tried over-rideing the fan control w/ ATI Tool to ensure that the fan is running 100% (which it is) but it doesn't cut it.

What is interesting is I don't see any artifacts or any signs of it over-heating prior to it simply locking. And what happens is, my monitor goes into standby, the sound plays for a few more seconds and then it finally locks.

I have the latest drivers, not probably not the latest firmware. I'll take the card out in a bit and see if I can get the heatsink off to spread some arctic silver on it. If there is some crusty goo then that'll confirm the temps.

[Hipnotic_Tranz]

Well, tore it down and re-seated the heatsink with some arctic silver and it appears to have solved the issue. Now idles ~55c and doesn't go above 78-80c when ran hard.

That old goop must have just been worn out. With as much as they had on there, it didn't appear that there was a place with no contact but with that large of a range in temps, there must have been. It did have a different consistency...but that may just be because it wasn't what I'm used to workin' with.

Amazing how much of a difference it made. Thanks for the encouragement FP. I should never assume something from the factory would stay ok for a few years, heh.

[Key Keeper]

Damn, My 4850x2 idles around 48c and tops out at 65-68c when running vantage or crysis. Your temps still seem high to me.

[FlyingPenguin]

Naw his temps are normal for that card. The x1950 does run hot.