Crossfire 4850, one of the cards overheating

[ragingbunny]

Hello!

I would like to ask for an advice about the overheating problem that I have. I first started noticing it when playing Crysis. My computer would just shut down. When I played Far Cry 2 it started doing it more frequently. When I looked at a log generated by Catalyst it said that it was overheating. I do run everything at high settings so its not surprising that it heats up but, one card runs at "normal" temps at about 40-50 (35 idle) degrees and the other run over 100 degrees (50-70 idle). I set the fans to 100% but it still does not help. It is a newly built system. Here is what I have right now:

Case: Cooler Master 690 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-UD3P http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

Ram: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227298

GPU: 2 of HIS Hightech H485QT512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161244

PSU: OCZ OCZ700MXSP 700W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

I also installed an aftermarket CPU cooler for future OCing http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003.

I am not sure which card is overheating the bottom or the top. The case came with 3 fans so I am guessing the airflow is correct. I tried to install another side fan (which is above the graphics cards so I don't think it would do much good), but the cpu heatsink is so large that it does not fit in there. Is there more powerful fans that I could buy? The graphic cards already are double slot with coolers, so I dont think I can mess with that. I did install one more 120 fan on the top but it didnt change much. Should I just try to fit as many fans in there as I can? If so, how do I figure out correct air flow? I would appreciate any suggestions!

Thank You

 

[AdioKIP]

I run 2 4850's in crossfire, and one of my cards runs alot hotter then the other. Whichever card you are running as primary (have the monitor you play your games plugged into) is going to be the one overheating. With the fans set to 100% though this shouldnt be happening. When you turn the fans up can you hear the change in fan speed? (Just to make sure they are actually turning up). As far as airflow in your case, make sure all your fans are going in the right direction. Front and side fans should be pulling air in, rear and top fans should be blowing air out. If none of this helps try plugging your monitors into your other card and see if it runs cooler. In my case my top card tends to run cooler then the bottom card so I use that one as my primary.

 

[werxen]

well think about it, you have 2 cards pumping out heat, one on top of the other. of course one of them is going to be hotter. have you thought of putting in a fan between the 2? something like this

======(4850)========= |Fan|
======(4850)========= |Fan|

? that might help the situation if you have the ports open on the back of the case.

 

[boudy]

I agree with werxen, that is the most likely cause of the problem.
Another solution is to try and revert the side fan on your case (to where it blow air out instead of in). This would get rid of that heat that is just sitting on you second card.

 

[ragingbunny]

well think about it, you have 2 cards pumping out heat, one on top of the other. of course one of them is going to be hotter. have you thought of putting in a fan between the 2? something like this

======(4850)========= |Fan|
======(4850)========= |Fan|

? that might help the situation if you have the ports open on the back of the case.

I don't really understand what you mean by putting a fan in between. I haven't seen anything like it, do you have a link or anything?

 

[ragingbunny]

I run 2 4850's in crossfire, and one of my cards runs alot hotter then the other. Whichever card you are running as primary (have the monitor you play your games plugged into) is going to be the one overheating. With the fans set to 100% though this shouldnt be happening. When you turn the fans up can you hear the change in fan speed? (Just to make sure they are actually turning up). As far as airflow in your case, make sure all your fans are going in the right direction. Front and side fans should be pulling air in, rear and top fans should be blowing air out. If none of this helps try plugging your monitors into your other card and see if it runs cooler. In my case my top card tends to run cooler then the bottom card so I use that one as my primary.

Well, I plugged the monitor into the one that has the 16x slot because my motherboard has one 16x and one 8x, so I thought that the 16x will have better graphics. Is that true or does it not matter?

 

[AdioKIP]

Well, I plugged the monitor into the one that has the 16x slot because my motherboard has one 16x and one 8x, so I thought that the 16x will have better graphics. Is that true or does it not matter?

Raging I didnt realize your board only has one 16x slot. You are correct in plugging the monitor into the card that is in the 16x slot.