R9 290X Temp/Fan question.

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Etorpine

Etorpine

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Jul 25, 2014
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One of my R9 290X's is going to be reference, and I know these things run hot and loud.

Can I turn up the fan speed and avoid throttling altogether? I know it sounds like a hairdryer, but the noise doesn't bother me seeing as how I have a 10" subwoofer connected to my computer as well as high quality speakers. When gaming, chances are it'll drown it out. Or is the stock fan just not strong enough?

Secondly.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/r9-290-accelero-xtreme-290,3671-3.html

I read that. I'm interesting in installing this piece of hardware on my card but I don't want to wing it off that guide and I failed to find any real tutorials. If someone could walk me through installing the Accelero EXTREME on this card I'll go ahead and do that. I just don't want to mess up my reference card.

However, if I can just crank the fan speeds to 60-70%+ and be fine, I probably won't even bother.
 
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The_Icon

The_Icon

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Dec 6, 2013
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If you don't overclock The R9 290x stock, it should be more than enough to be quiet and in acceptable temperature when under load, as you know the Hawaii chips are built to withstand a lot of heat. If you buy the third party cooler like the arctic solution you have, you will get the most out of your card. Here is a video tutorial on how to easily install it, the video is using R9 290, but they are pretty much the exact same cards and methodology shouldn't differ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJt9l-5J52U
 
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Etorpine

Etorpine

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I JUST watched that video, hah. While helpful, he skipped over a lot of parts. The main part I'm lost at is where this tape is applied.

Also, if you skip to the end of that video, his temps were actually higher. That confused me.

As for overclocks, I doubt it. I thought about overclocking my ref model card to match the clocks of my Tri-X Sapphire OC, but that OC would be minor. I mean, I overclocked my 780TI's (Long story short, I had a defective GPU and it hit 120C in a matter of minutes and fried, had to send it back to Dell as I have an alienware and just opted for a full replacement seeing as how I could get it sooner and not have to wait until October because Dell is short on NVIDIA cards right now.)

This whole setup is gonna take some WORK. I have to install an 1250W OCZ PSU, which I've confirmed will fit from another guy who did it on the Aurora but it's gonna take a partial teardown, a lot of time and precision and I'm gonna have to cut a slit out of the metal plating above it as well as remove one of the two HDD cages. So yeah, I got a lot of work ahead of me. I thought about installing a waterblock but that's even more complicated and this is just eating away at my wallet already. I already ordered my Tri-X and 1250W OCZ, and the computer will be here after the weekend. So if I need to order the Accelero now I will go ahead.
 
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Etorpine

Etorpine

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No, they used insulating tape on both the Toms guide and in the video. I have no idea where it was put.

Also, I've read that even on Uber mode (55% Fan speed) after a few hours on full louds the card downclocks itself on throttle to avoid damage. I figured going above 55% fan speed might help. Also, these things ain't quiet. Anything over 60% speed on this thing sounds like a damned jet engine. 100% is just outrageous.
 
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The_Icon

The_Icon

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I have Trix R9 290, this thing hardly makes a noise so a third party cooler is worth it. Here is the manual, check the 4th instruction, you can see what to apply it.

Manual: http://www.arctic.ac/worldwide_en/downloads/dl/file/id/302/accelero_xtreme_iii_installation_manual_english.pdf


attachment.php


Can you see how they are insulating or keeping the ram chips separated from the other circuitry with those tapes?
 
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Etorpine

Etorpine

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I'm still a bit confused. So do I use four strips, two on both sides? Or just two in that one area. I went ahead and bought the cooler, as I'm more worried about keeping my temps down that noise. Then again, that thing sounds like a jet engine at anything past 55%, so it benefits me both ways. Here's hoping I don't mess this up. I'm gonna be applying the cooler before I even use the card once.

Also, 300W cooling power. Does this mean this thing draws 300 full watts? That worries me..
 
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Etorpine

Etorpine

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I canceled the order. I found out it has VRM cooling issues on the 290X. The breaking point for me is just how HUGE the card is with this mounted on it, it would prevent me from installing the second card as my mobo only has two PCI slots. Guess I'm stuck with the ref card.. I'll have to buy a SECOND Sapphire. God, you'd think AMD could make a proper damned cooling system for a card.

Honestly, so much as this thing doesn't throttle the clocks down or fry on me I couldn't care how loud or how hot it gets. So much as it performs normal and lasts 3+ years, I don't care if it's louder than a bass drop at a Skrillex concert. Just so much as I get advertised performance. Let it roar, I could care less. I'll eventually buy a second Tri-X on down the road and sell my reference model. I don't have a third PCI slot or I would GLADLY tri-fire it. The PSU and mobo are the only two weak points in Alienwares, the PSU can be changed, but the mobo change would affect the MIO board which controls all the LED's, the fins on the top for venting, etc and it's not worth the extra PCI slots to lose the heart and soul of my case. Otherwise it's a beautiful, solid machine. Especially after the PSU swap. You just have to deal with two PCI slots, which I can do. For now.

Strongly considering buying a custom LED, but I paid extra money for the ALX chassis and I will say it looks amazing. If I could only swap out that damned motherboard without issues.
 
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