Powercolor 7870 Myst - another temperature question (Replace Thermal Paste?)

Bastor

Honorable
Mar 25, 2013
24
2
10,525
My 7870 Myst seems to be running a little hot compared to other GPUs.

First I'll display some data and then ask my questions ^_^

The following tests I did with FurMark at stock clocks with open and closed case at ~23 degrees ambient (it's still early morning and not so hot YET):

15 minutes "Built-in benchmark" option with open case: Max temperature 75 degrees

15 minutes of the same type of benchmark with closed case: Max temperature 78
degrees

Keeping in mind that during the worse heats I'll be mostly on AC but right now around noon I can hit up to 80/81 (closed case and GPU cooler at 40%) degrees and it isn't that hot outside.

Now for the questions:
Is my case poorly cooled? I will surely be buying a nice side fan that is going to blow almost directly on the copper heat-pipes coming out of the GPU so that should help a bit correct?

Should I replace the thermal paste? From what I gather a lot of people have mentioned a 10 degree decrease in the GPU temps which is insane and many agree that the stock thermal paste is either badly applied or of poor quality.

Here is a source I'm looking at (amongst others): http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/10418-how-to-change-your-gpus-thermal-paste-with-pictures/

So in short:
Should I replace the thermal paste?
Is my airflow bad and will a nice extra 120mm fan fix it?
I have only case fan that is mounted in the back and blowing hot air out. If I place on on the lower side of the case it should blow colder air in and make better airflow correct?

Thank you for reading this and for any helpful feedback
Best Regards,



EDIT: Well I got two very good case fans - one to blow air in from the lower side (the incoming air almost directly hits the copper pipes coming out of the gpu heatsink) and one to blow air out from the top back.

The max temperature I'm getting now is 69 degrees with GPU core clocked at 1200 and memory at 1600

Guess what should have tipped me off on "poor windflow" was the fact that the heatsink and pipes were growing very warm which means that the thermal paste was functioning properly.

:D
 
Solution
I would definitely get another case fan, couldn't hurt and there cheap! GPU's can safely run hotter than CPU's but, if you don't mind a little work, you can always get a better cooler like Artic Coolings GPU coolers, they will typically lower temps by 20C and they are much quieter too. A dual fan cooler is only 40 bucks! I have been running one for a year on a 6950 and typically run around 54C, was over 70C! I agree with the others, your temps are not too high, but lower temps can increase reliability and longevity. And if you ever want to OC, you will feel a lot more comfortable with all that headroom! Moddings fun too!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186052

avjguy2362

Honorable
Jun 21, 2012
732
0
11,360
I would definitely get another case fan, couldn't hurt and there cheap! GPU's can safely run hotter than CPU's but, if you don't mind a little work, you can always get a better cooler like Artic Coolings GPU coolers, they will typically lower temps by 20C and they are much quieter too. A dual fan cooler is only 40 bucks! I have been running one for a year on a 6950 and typically run around 54C, was over 70C! I agree with the others, your temps are not too high, but lower temps can increase reliability and longevity. And if you ever want to OC, you will feel a lot more comfortable with all that headroom! Moddings fun too!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186052
 
Solution