Graphics Card Overheating, Help!

Brad Phillips

Reputable
Sep 8, 2014
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Hello I'm new to the forums and I've looked everywhere online but I need to find a more clear answer as to why my graphics card is overheating. The graphics card is fairly old Geforce 8800GTX and According to my computer I can play every game that I've tried on the fullest settings or near to the fullest but I choose not to. The games I play aren't graphically demanding(I don't think so anyway) I've played Garry's Mod, Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Smite, Fallout: New Vegas, Call Of Duty & Sniper Elite 3. The only game that hasn't froze or messed up is Football Manager 2014, Sorry if I'm not helping I just need some ideas or suggestions,


My Computer is a Dimension 9200

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Geforce 8800 GTX
4gb Ram

Not sure what other specs I will need to put, Thank's
 
Solution
not to say this is your issue ,but I had 2 evga 8800gts cards and as like you they got real hot and foung that the thermal pads they used on the cards just seemed to be ''melted'' away and caused this if its not too late you may try to replace the pads with new fresh ones and see if that makes you a fix..


thermal paste may not work due to the gap between the card and the sink

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g8/c487/list/p1/Thermal-Thermal_Pads_Tape.html

RobCrezz

Expert
Ambassador
When the cards get old, so does the thermal paste which gets very dry - Replace this.

Theres guides on youtube but its pretty easy - remove screws from the back, remove heatsink, clean off thermal paste, apply new paste, screw heatsink back on. Make sure you blow out any dust with compressed air also.
 

Brad Phillips

Reputable
Sep 8, 2014
6
0
4,510


I shall give this a go in the coming days and let you know how it goes
 
not to say this is your issue ,but I had 2 evga 8800gts cards and as like you they got real hot and foung that the thermal pads they used on the cards just seemed to be ''melted'' away and caused this if its not too late you may try to replace the pads with new fresh ones and see if that makes you a fix..


thermal paste may not work due to the gap between the card and the sink

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g8/c487/list/p1/Thermal-Thermal_Pads_Tape.html

 
Solution
evga 8800 used pads not paste paste may not fill the gap between the cooler and the card paste can ooze out or not make contact when the card heats up or warps slightly ... use paste where paste is used from the manufacture and pads where pads are used

you will need to clean everything up and do a test fit of the cooler and check for gaps with a feeler gauge and get pads for that thickness required
 

Brad Phillips

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Sep 8, 2014
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4,510


So what would you say is a concerning temp for my situation?
 

Brad Phillips

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Sep 8, 2014
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I'm not very knowledgeable on these things and might be too much for me to bother with.
 

Brad Phillips

Reputable
Sep 8, 2014
6
0
4,510


I'll give this a go as a lot of people have suggested it in ones I've read.
 
You could actually use thermal paste on the rams, but then there's the problem of thickness that must be filled. The thermal pads that were on previously were of a specific thickness, like 1mm or more. That means you gotta fill in 1mm of thermal paste for the heatsink to come in contact, which won't even be snug so conductivity will be compromised. Furthermore, AS5 is conductive and can potentially spill over to other parts of the card, especially since you probably need to put a lot on the rams to fill the void.

you can do it right or wrong and hope it works your choice
 
I have a 8800 Ultra so I know how these cards go, you are going to want to work on the card when it is warm so the dried out thermal compound will be weaker. The thermal pads are a easy problem to solve but never use generic thermal compound to fill the gaps. If all else buy new thermal pads or scrap another card for the pads as the vram will fail if allowed to overheat. Still a very capable card at the lower resolutions and some common sense when it comes to settings in game.

Keep in mind that Dell isn't a good machine for that card due to air flow.