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HD 6850 Running at Temps approaching 110c

Tags:
  • Radeon HD 6850
  • Graphics Cards
  • High temperature
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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August 25, 2013 6:17:42 AM

I've owned an Radeon HD6850 for a little over a year now. The past two months it has been shutting off my PC due to high temperatures.

Idling, it'll stay between 58-63c. However, once I start a video or play a game the temperature will steadily increase to 109c, where it then shuts off. I was finally fed off with the random shut offs so I installed MSI Afterburner to monitor my temps. The log file shows the temp reaching 109c right before it turns off.

This is not normal. And I'm worrying about the heat damaging other components. Worst case scenario, it looks like I'm in the market for a replacement card. Unfortunately I can't afford it right now so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping someone here knows something I don't.

It's quite baffling to me since when this started happening it would go from anywhere to 2-7 shutoff's per day. And then it would be fine for 2 weeks or so and then would act up again. Well it's acting up now. At first I thought it might just be the Eastern WA heat and poor ventilation. I've dusted it out and have ran it with the case open in an air conditioned house to no avail. I'm at a loss.

More about : 6850 running temps approaching 110c

a b U Graphics card
August 25, 2013 6:56:25 AM

That would toast your GPU soon, try to check the thermal adhesive. Try to change it if you can find some vendors selling those. Or you can also change the cooling to your GPU, or add case fans. Or turn on your AC in your room, or focus an electric fan to your rig.

Because you've cleaned it already, dust isn't likely the culprit here..
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a b U Graphics card
August 25, 2013 7:05:52 AM

Sounds like you might need to replace the Thermal Paste on it. Usually it's not very difficult to do, just a couple of screws on the back side of the GPU.

Use a high percentage Alcohol to clean the old stuff off(both Heatsink and GPU), apply the new paste(just the GPU), and reassemble. I've done it on an old GTX 260 and it couldn't have been easier. Except the fan plug, it didn't want to come off, so I left it plugged in, that could have been easier......lol.

I do recommend not using Arctic Silver, use a non metallic TIM like ARCTIC MX-4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
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August 26, 2013 1:01:01 PM

Many thanks. That solved the issue.
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a b U Graphics card
August 26, 2013 6:05:53 PM

Your welcome, I had the same experience with the GTX 260 I mentioned. It was idling in the 50s and hitting pretty high in games, so after cleaning it with not much change I reapplied the TIM. EVGA allows it so it was never a warranty issue.
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