R9 290X Reference Card: 92 degrees. Safe?

PsychSC2 · Apr 10, 2014

Hi guys. I have a VTX3D R9 290X GPU. I was wondering if the card hits around 89 - 90 degrees by just watching 720p movies or even YouTube videos, is this perfectly safe?

I've been browsing through a lot of topics in Google that the card it self is safe even if it hits 95 degrees since that's the GPU was made for.

I would just like to confirm this...

If ever this is safe, then I can be relieved from this bad feeling. If not, any advises on how to set the temperature down since I will need to save up for a watercooling NZXT for this card.

Thanks for the answers in advance!

Kekoh · Apr 10, 2014

I don't have experience with the R9 series, but 90 degrees while browsing seems way too hot. I thought they only get that high under 100% load. What does the temp do when you game or do a benchmark?

polke45 · Apr 10, 2014

I have R9 280x and it idles at 40c. 45c when playing game. Does your chassis has good ventilation?

Kekoh · Apr 10, 2014

polke45 :

I find it extremely hard to believe it's at 45c when gaming. Unless you are playing Terraria or something...

Also, that doesn't sound like the reference card either, so that's not a good comparison.

polke45 · Apr 10, 2014

Kekoh :

Games like Assassin Creed 4 and Skyrim, but i do have an aftermarket gpu so it was a poor comparison

I have read review that reference card has terrible cpu cooler as the cooper contact has scratches and lack of thermal paste. Maybe try replacing the thermal paste.

RobCrezz · Apr 10, 2014

90ish 'c is totally normal for a reference 290x.

Kekoh · Apr 10, 2014

RobCrezz :

...for browsing? I find that hard to believe

RobCrezz · Apr 10, 2014

Kekoh :

Yeah you are right. I meant in gaming under load.

joselo025 · Apr 10, 2014

yes is normal for a reference r9 290x amd said it

PsychSC2 · Apr 10, 2014

Kekoh :

I accidentally clicked on Pick as Solution, my apologies.

Here are the sceenshot for just viewing Youtube:
(my gf did the screenshot since im at work lol)

And here is a screenshot of the tempt when playing Bioshock Infinite:

cst1992 · Apr 10, 2014

That's weird.
89C at idle and 93C under load? How is this possible?
Your fan speed is too low. Try increasing fan speed for your card. 33% is very low if the card is reaching that high temperatures.

PsychSC2 · Apr 10, 2014

cst1992 :

89c underload (only watching a video in Youtube in HD)
93c playing Bioshock Infinite on Ultra.

Kekoh · Apr 10, 2014

It sounds to me like that card has a serious cooling problem.

Do you know the temp when the computer is just idle at the desktop with no activity? It should be be around 45C I would think. There's no way it should be over 65-70C while watching youtube.

PsychSC2 · Apr 10, 2014

Kekoh :

For Idle, it goes around 56c. I did some research and I saw that even for under loads (like watching videos and running multiple videos or that uses the gpu power), the card goes up to 95c according to Edward Chester:

"Under load the card runs at 95C, which is not only hot enough to burn you but also alarmingly close to what is generally considered the limit at which silicon can operate - around 100-105C. In comparison this card’s main rival, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 780, runs at around 80C when under load. "

Source(s):
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2013/10/28/is-the-amd-radeon-r9-290x-too-hot/1

Kekoh · Apr 10, 2014

PsychSC2 :

Right, but the term under load generally refers to a benchmark, or a game or something. Watching youtube is extremely easy for the GPU and shouldn't cause the temp to shoot up.

My 780 Ti idles at the same temp regardless of what type of browsing I am doing. The only time the temp increases more than a few degrees is when I'm playing a game.

PsychSC2 · Apr 10, 2014

Kekoh :

PsychSC2 :

Right, but the term under load generally refers to a benchmark, or a game or something. Watching youtube is extremely easy for the GPU and shouldn't cause the temp to shoot up.

My 780 Ti idles at the same temp regardless of what type of browsing I am doing. The only time the temp increases more than a few degrees is when I'm playing a game.

Thanks for the additional information. I also asked @Pip from Game-Debate.com, an admin and GPU-expert, the same question and said that since it is also decoding videos and uses the GPU's power, it usually runs that hot since it was designed for it so it is perfectly normal according to him.

Anyway, thanks for the additional info Kekoh. Really helps.

End of post.

cst1992 · Apr 10, 2014

PsychSC2 :

No offense, but that's BS.
Decoding videos using GPU power is not when watching videos, but when you're editing and converting videos using an application that uses the GPU; such as an application which uses both the CPU and CUDA to convert the video (termed as CUDA Acceleration by marketers).
For a card such as the 290x, it should run at no more than 10% on IDLE clocks; and that's no reason for the card to go 89C.

Have you tried disassembling your card and changing its thermal paste or blowing compressed air through the card? Maybe it's just dirty.
I'd assume the card would be pretty noisy in these circumstances and cleaning should also help with the noise and the temperatures; however that card is noisy anyway.

RobCrezz · Apr 11, 2014

You should test a benchmark like Unigine Valley - Extreme HD Preset and see what your score is. The card will throttle performance if you have any cooling problems.

calza · Apr 11, 2014

Your fans not pulling it's weight.

33% at 93 degree's? It should be at 100% when the card is at that temperature. That's where I'd wager your issue is.

cst1992 · Apr 11, 2014

RobCrezz :

That's correct but that temperature isn't healthy.

RobCrezz · Apr 11, 2014

cst1992 :

Well it depends. If it keeps it at 95'c without throttling much then its fine.

R9 290X Reference Card: 92 degrees. Safe?

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