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Really high temps with Sapphire Radeon 3870

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Really high temps with Sapphire Radeon 3870

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forsayken   12-29-2007 at 03:43:26 AM

Hello,

I've been tinkering with a brand new 3870 for a few days now and after playing STALKER (maxed out) for a few hours, I noticed some geometrical artifacts. I alt-tabbed out to check CCC and the GPU temp was 87 degress C!!! The board is of the dual slot variety so the hot air is blowing right out of the back of the case. Previously I had a x1950pro (reference board) and it would hit 75 degrees on a bad day.

Any ideas? Think it may be a seating issue during mfr? Anyone else running a 3780 with a dual slot cooling solution; or even better, the Sapphire that I'm running?

As well, let me know if you have any ideas I can try. Maybe I need to direct air flow a little better. My case does have a side fan (plus 2 front fans and a rear fan).

Thanks for reading!

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aznstriker92   12-29-2007 at 03:44:28 AM
- 0 +

Check the fan speed using rivatuner. I heard that Sapphire cards come with a bad Fan speed. Boost yours up to like 60%

Reply to aznstriker92
50bmg   12-29-2007 at 04:49:22 AM
- 0 +

What are geometrical artifacts?

I have a sapphire 3870. Sometimes i see faint blue squares after bright explosions. They only last for a few frames.

Reply to 50bmg
forsayken   12-29-2007 at 05:51:13 AM
- 0 +

Here's a good example of artifacts:

http://hem.bredband.net/bridah/UT2 [...] D3D_00.jpg

This is usually due to a bad board or high temps. I've stressed my board some more and it is temps. I'm running STALKER on all low settings and temps are sitting around 80 degrees. I'll try forcing up the fan next to see if that will help.

Reply to forsayken
MrMr   12-29-2007 at 06:27:51 AM
- 0 +

Here's a good example of after market cooling for your card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186017

Runs my 3870 @ 30 degrees idle and 51 load.

The cooling fans help reduce that temp by a few degrees.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186021

A great buy.

Reply to MrMr
forsayken   12-29-2007 at 06:40:27 AM
- 0 +

MrMr,

What were your temps before implementing this aftermarket heatsink? I'm just wondering if maybe the HSF is mounted improperly on my board or something. The exhaust air is quite hot though...

Reply to forsayken
forsayken   12-29-2007 at 08:00:34 AM
- 0 +

Ok I think I got this problem nailed. I used Rivatuner to set the fan to 70% always and idle temps are sitting at 41 degrees (as opposed to nearly 70) and I've not seen over 54 degrees under load (as opposed to 84-87). Much better now.

Thanks for your help, guys!

Reply to forsayken
trooper1947   12-29-2007 at 04:06:58 PM
- 0 +

I can't get rivatuner to work in Vista .... am I doing something wrong ? Have a sapphire 3870 .... vista 32 bit . Keeps saying hardware is not capable of tuning fan !

Reply to trooper1947
50bmg   12-29-2007 at 04:58:05 PM
- 0 +

My 3870 runs at 35c idle, 78c at load with stock fan speed. I used rivatune at 60% and it locked up. I used it at 75% and my 3870 was at 50c at load after 30 minutes of high setting in COD4. I did not notice any blue squares.


Message edited by 50bmg on 12-29-2007 at 04:59:11 PM
Reply to 50bmg
aznstriker92   12-29-2007 at 05:05:06 PM
- 0 +

Hmm Im not sure what u could do to increase your fan speed then if you are vista...

Reply to aznstriker92
50bmg   12-29-2007 at 05:12:05 PM
- 0 +

sapphire or ATI need to give us better control or our fans. I dont like runnin the fan constantly at 70%. When i get in a game i start Rivatuner and set it. then turn it off when done. It is kinda a pain. If i forget it screws up. To bad CCC doesnt have fan controls built into ATI overdrive.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to 50bmg
3Ball   12-29-2007 at 05:34:34 PM
- 0 +

50bmg wrote :

sapphire or ATI need to give us better control or our fans. I dont like runnin the fan constantly at 70%. When i get in a game i start Rivatuner and set it. then turn it off when done. It is kinda a pain. If i forget it screws up. To bad CCC doesnt have fan controls built into ATI overdrive.



I think that it is possible to just have the fan controlled by riva tuner according to temps. Say set it for the fan to jump to 70% when the temp goes above 60 degrees and then set it for above 50 degree to run at 60% or something along those lines. I haven't used it. In fact the card in my sig isn't even installed in my comp. I have it in my current possession, but my comp is 300 miles away back at school so I cant really play with it right now. Hope this helps.

Best,

3Ball

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ ASUS P5Q Pro P45 Motherboard
Intel C2Q Q9550 @ 3.40ghz w/ (8.5x400mhz, 1.2125v, Zalman 9500 & 24+ Hours Prime95 Stable)
6gb G. Skill DDR2 6400 @ 800mhz w/ (5-5-5-15: 2T, 2.04v)
EVGA GTX275 @ 660mhz/1550mhz/2400mhz
 Reply to 3Ball
nocolourblue   12-29-2007 at 07:15:54 PM
- 0 +

3Ball wrote :

I think that it is possible to just have the fan controlled by riva tuner according to temps. Say set it for the fan to jump to 70% when the temp goes above 60 degrees and then set it for above 50 degree to run at 60% or something along those lines. I haven't used it. In fact the card in my sig isn't even installed in my comp. I have it in my current possession, but my comp is 300 miles away back at school so I cant really play with it right now. Hope this helps.

Best,

3Ball



it is currently not possible to use auto fan speed control on any brand of 3870 vith rivatuner.

here's another thread about it
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] oblem-3870

Reply to nocolourblue
50bmg   12-29-2007 at 07:41:15 PM
- 0 +

I have been testing this this morning. I set it at 60% and 70%. each time after a while of playing COD4 my computer locks up with a loud, low tone, low frequency buzz. It really not a buzz, but that is the only word i can think of. This never happens with stock fans. It is a hard lock up. It will not respond. The graphics freeze the last frame. The video does not go black or anything. i have to hold the power button down for 5 seconds to get it to reboot.

Could it be that i don't have enough wattage to run the fan that high. I have a 500w antec basiq. It has 2 12v rails with 18A each.

Reply to 50bmg
forsayken   12-29-2007 at 09:20:18 PM
- 0 +

Geez. Glad I have no problems with system freezing. I've been running the computer for almost 6 hours at 70% fan speed (4 of which were in a game).

I would probably have to return the card if rivatuner didn't solve the problem.

Reply to forsayken
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