Hi,

I just got my 8800GT yesterday & I want to give it a few days to settle in before I start my OCing tests. However, the first thing I noticed when swapping out my [eVGA] 7900GT KO (580/1580MHz) for my new [eVGA] 8800GT Stock (bulk, actually...) was that the fan's RPM doesn't noticably change when going from 2D to 3D apps like the 7900GT did.

Using nVidia-nTune's Monitor app, I noted that the fan is automatically at 29% when the system's idle. If I manually go to 50% or higher, it's easy to hear the fan (@100% it sounds like a jet engine, lol).

So I'm quite nervous about the fact that while playing Crysis @1680x1050 (w/everything on high) that I don't hear the fan's whine...

I noticed in another thread someone posted their 8800GT's idle temp:

Furthermore, the GPU'S idle temps, as reported by nVidia's Monitor app, are substantially higher than the figures you lads are quoting here. My 7900GT was idling at around 60C, and the 880GT idles even higher at 66C... .

nVidia's Monitor app also has the ability to log temps (as well as core/memory speeds and CPU, Memory & HDD utilization, etc.) to a file. So I logged a 3DMark06 run with both GPUs and the 7900GT hit 98C and the 8800GT maxed out at 91C.

There's an indication that the fan is speeding up a little, though, 'cause the temps always shortly peak immediately after I stop a benchmark. This suggests that the fan is immediately lowered to that 29% (although the GPU is still hot).

Looong story short, do you guys note a difference in the fan's speed (i.e. hear the difference) as soon as you shift into 3D?

btw, I logged temps during normal gaming and reached the amazing temp of 104C with my 7900GT (nope, not kidding) - and, before you gasp, I've been gaming for over a year at approx. the same temp without so much a blue screen or artifacting. Playing Crysis last night for two hours, the 8800GT didn't break past a peak of 94C which again, makes me think that the fan RPM does increase, just not by any "audiable" amount.

Here's a sample of the log:

Current Time/ Gpu core(3D)(MHz)/ GPU memory(MHz)/ GPU1(ºC)/ CPU(%)/ Disk(%)/ Network(%)/ Memory(%):
2007/12/4 23:25:56 601.0 900.0 74 5 % 45 % 0 % 19 %
2007/12/4 23:35:36 601.0 900.0 94 72 % 0 % 0 % 63 %

As you can tell by the timestamps, I pasted a pre-gaming and in-gaming sample.

Specs are in my sig. Case is a Thermaltake Armor which houses 2x120mm and 2x90mm fans. An external probe inserted into the 8800GT's HSF exhaust opening recorded 49.5C idle and 62C during 3DMark06 (peak). Ambient room temp during all above measurements was 21-22C.

Hey man I own an eVGA 8800GT Superclocked myself and the idle temperature was ridiculous. I was getting 60 idle and over 80 underload. So I went and bought/installed Arctic Cooling Accelero S1, Turbo Module and some extra heatsink for the memory and the voltage capacitators (on far right of the card) and now my idle is at 42 degrees after hours and in the low 50's when playing games like Crysis, low 50's as in 52-54 You should definitely look into buy an aftermarket cooler such as AC Accelero S1. Or you can simply download Riva Tuner and manually change the fan speed to like 60 or something if you don't mind the noise. But even so the idling and loading temp of the 8800GT still won't drop due to the cheap heatsink that nVidia slaps on this monster.

60c idle is fine. Mine idles around 57c with the fan speed set to 40% normal. I have it spin up to 60% when it hits 67c and 80% when it hits 77c. But i have yet to ever see my temps hit above 73c even during load. Then again, i am getting crashes and crap with the card. I am getting it replaced but I am having a replacement sent out to me and sending this card back when I get it. That way im not out of a computer for the time its shipping there, processing, and shipping back the new card. If anyone is getting problems, i suggest you take this route.

Because the 8800gt's fan at 100% is probably louder than a jet engine

1.Use RivaTuner
stock cooler @ 60% had 78c load
2.Get an aftermarket cooler
I use a VF-900
idle 40c
load 57c
3.eVGA only-has bios update
4.Get a newer one with a re-designed reference cooler
http://en.expreview.com/?p=78#more-78

I had the exact same Temp's @ idle and load. But then I got the Artic Cooling Accelero S2. Thing is awsome for $17 and a little shipping. It now idle's at 48~50C and at peak goes to 70C. This is purely passive cooling no fans,no turbo module, just working off of the regular airflow on the case, very quiet. BTW this is with it OC @ 700/1950, something that wasnt even an option for the stock cooler. So I say the AC S2/S1 is the biggest bang for your VGA cooler buck.

Well thats the best hard proof it fits This is my rig.

TurdBurglar AC has just announced that the S1( not sure about S2) is compatible with the 8800GT and the ATI 3870. If you check Arctic Coolings website and click the "compatibility" tab under the Accelero S1 you'll see.

Hmmm...I just got an eVGA 8800GT Superclocked from New Egg, as I'm helping my brother gut out and revamp his Fragbox. I'm going to be running two high output slot coolers on either side of the card, but does anyone have a good Riva profile I can go by? I like the idea of the temp stepping....

80*C seems insanely hot to me...even into the 70's. Is this just the nature of the beast? I suppose I'll say: What temp is the max this thing can run at before meltdown?

I'm not sure what you mean, but let me suggest that as the build size decreases, the temps will also decrease: Smaller transistors = less voltage required = less heat. Of course, the amount of transistors plays a role and logically, more transistors = more power = more heat , but I think that transistor size has the advantage over the transistor count in most cases.

As noted in my OP, the 7900GT was warmer (during load) than the 8800GT and the same can be said for my CPU when I jumped from the P4 (130nm Northwood) to the C2D (65nm Conroe).

But deltabullet is on the money when pointing out that 80C+ for a GPU is nothing out of the ordinary. I haven't found the 8800GT's "thermal specification" (yet) but the 65nm Conroe' has an approx. range of 60C (TDP 65W) for the E6320 to 73C for the E4500. Modern GPUs have always run hotter then CPUs for a given generation, so I think we can assume that 80-something is more than fine for the 65nm 8800GT.

Speaking of temps, I OCed my (standard) 8800GT to 675MHz, set the fan to 53% and played Crysis for a couple of hours, while moitoring temps with RivaTuner. Max GPU temp was 84C (22C ambient) which I'm satisifed with. Some owners set their fans at 80% and I'm sure that helps to achieve sub-80C temps, but the fan is way too loud and if you really want a cool GPU then one should definately look into thrid-party cooling as noted above in several posts.

Even my 8800gts 640 would climb into the 80C range under load. Once I slapped on the new waterblock, it never gets over 44C under load. Just be patient and take time when removing a stock HSF...with the new one, your patience will be rewarded...with cooler temps! I agree that the stock HSF's leave something to be desired, but doesn't just about anything 'stock' work that way? If you had a stock entertainment system, you would just have a regular 19" tube TV. Upgrade to a 50" LCD and 7.1 surround, now you have 'customized'. Buy a set of 19" racing rims for your Ford Festiva...now you are 'customized'.