- Apr 23, 2014
- 537
- 1
- 11,015
So first off, I know this card is ancient, but I bought it exactly for that purpose, as it's for an older rig to play XP-era games. It's an Nvidia GeForce 7950 GT. (Gateway variant.)
I'm currently running the GeForce 7950 GT on Windows XP with the 307.83 WHQL drivers. Even on the titlescreen of WolfQuest 2.7.1, (which I am using to test the temps.) the GPU usage is at 99%, and the GPU's temperature rises to 94*C, and I am using MSI Afterburner to override the fan speed. Otherwise, at stock, the fan will only rise to 40% speed at 90*C, which seems ridiculous to me.
I've heard the "max" temperature for this card is about 130*C, however, I've heard of people running their cards overclocked at around 80*C max. Meanwhile mine, at stock, runs at 94*C, fan at full speed.... (Stock heatsink. I'll find an image online.)
I've repasted the GPU twice with Antec Formula 7 in the past, recentlyish. Within the last two months. I tried the dot method, and then the spread method. Either way, it still runs hot as heck, and no I did not use too much paste. I have pasted numerous CPUs and GPUs already. I first learned how when I got my G73JH.
So my question is this. Is it possible that the temperature reading within HWMonitor and MSI Afterburner is inaccurate with the current driver version? I've heard that some driver versions can mess with the temperature reading. Does anyone know if there should be an offset? Should I try older drivers, and if so, which would you recommend?
Also, could it be that the stock heatsink is not making good enough contact with the GPU die, and thus is causing high temperatures? I've tightened the screws to where I think they will begin to strip if I try to tighten them too much, but they are still easy to remove, not too tight. (I hate tight screws because they strip so easily, and apparently, on monitors, break screwdriver tips....) Should I try the penny trick between the HS and the die?
Though to be honest, the heatsink is a pita to place back on the card, as the screw holes are hard to line up since it doesn't have a keying point which would make it easier. Thus why the spread method was easier, as I could have the heatsink on the desk, and just put the card on the heatsink and line up the screws. Otherwise with the dot, the paste would drip off.
Do you have any suggestions? And please don't suggest a new card, I got this one for a reason, and it's got plenty of performance for its purpose, just runs hot. Plus, it was dirt cheap. Please help me out here.
Thank you for your time.
EDIT:
Here's a picture of the card I found online, looks a lot like mine, has the same heatsink, only mine is green, and my PCB is red.
I'm currently running the GeForce 7950 GT on Windows XP with the 307.83 WHQL drivers. Even on the titlescreen of WolfQuest 2.7.1, (which I am using to test the temps.) the GPU usage is at 99%, and the GPU's temperature rises to 94*C, and I am using MSI Afterburner to override the fan speed. Otherwise, at stock, the fan will only rise to 40% speed at 90*C, which seems ridiculous to me.
I've heard the "max" temperature for this card is about 130*C, however, I've heard of people running their cards overclocked at around 80*C max. Meanwhile mine, at stock, runs at 94*C, fan at full speed.... (Stock heatsink. I'll find an image online.)
I've repasted the GPU twice with Antec Formula 7 in the past, recentlyish. Within the last two months. I tried the dot method, and then the spread method. Either way, it still runs hot as heck, and no I did not use too much paste. I have pasted numerous CPUs and GPUs already. I first learned how when I got my G73JH.
So my question is this. Is it possible that the temperature reading within HWMonitor and MSI Afterburner is inaccurate with the current driver version? I've heard that some driver versions can mess with the temperature reading. Does anyone know if there should be an offset? Should I try older drivers, and if so, which would you recommend?
Also, could it be that the stock heatsink is not making good enough contact with the GPU die, and thus is causing high temperatures? I've tightened the screws to where I think they will begin to strip if I try to tighten them too much, but they are still easy to remove, not too tight. (I hate tight screws because they strip so easily, and apparently, on monitors, break screwdriver tips....) Should I try the penny trick between the HS and the die?
Though to be honest, the heatsink is a pita to place back on the card, as the screw holes are hard to line up since it doesn't have a keying point which would make it easier. Thus why the spread method was easier, as I could have the heatsink on the desk, and just put the card on the heatsink and line up the screws. Otherwise with the dot, the paste would drip off.
Do you have any suggestions? And please don't suggest a new card, I got this one for a reason, and it's got plenty of performance for its purpose, just runs hot. Plus, it was dirt cheap. Please help me out here.
Thank you for your time.
EDIT:
Here's a picture of the card I found online, looks a lot like mine, has the same heatsink, only mine is green, and my PCB is red.
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