Hi, and thanks for the reply!
jerreece said:
The CPU (being your processor) overheats? Or the GPU (graphics card) overheats? I just want to make sure I'm as clear as possible. Considering your CPU now idles at 20-30... I'd be amazed if it was overheating.
It's the CPU that begins to overheat.
jerreece said:
First of all, according to your other thread, your GTX 260 is overclocked. The FIRST thing you should do if you think it's not performing right is GET RID OF THE OVERCLOCK. No question on that one. You need to reset this card to default and then try it. Also keep in mind, unstable Overclocks on a GPU can cause all kinds of issues. Let alone you can potentially damage a GPU by overclocking it if you aren't very careful.
I did attempt to OC my original GPU, but I never tried it on the (current) one I received in the RMA. It remains at factory default settings.
jerreece said:
IF your CPU is the one that's overheating, you may really need to take a look at ventilation through your computer case. Can you tell us what case you're using?
I have an Antec 900 II, 6 120mm fans (the two front ones, with the top slot having 2. A side fan, rear fan, and one on the heatsink (Noctua NH-U12P), and the 1 200mm fan). Cooling shouldn't be an issue.
jerreece said:
Also, as I read through your other thread, it sounds like there's some inconsistency. You can play Battle Field 2142 without a problem, but Oblivion and BFME2 have issues. Now, Oblivion with numerous modifications installed taxes even my GTX 470. There are so many mods that changes textures and things available, you can make that game fairly impressive.
I can play all three games (2142, BfME2, Oblivion) fine... with the very lowest setting of graphics. I don't mind that with 2142, but it hurts with games like Oblivion. I originally intended to use a lot of those fancy graphics mods, but I ended up not doing so as my system can't even handle it on Medium settings.
jerreece said:
Also, on the second page of that thread, you posted pictures suggesting your i7-920 is at 44C CPU Core. However, it lists your individual Core Temps as much higher, one of which is 61C. Was this temperature and photo taken while the computer was "at idle"? If so, your temps are way too high. Are you using the cooling fan that came with your i7-920 in the box? The Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs should not be used above 70C. So if you're sitting at 61C while doing nothing, you're already very hot. So the instant you start playing a game that CPU is going to become way too hot, and is going to start throttling itself (slowing down) to keep from melting down.
As far as I am aware that was taken at idle, though it's very possible that I may have been running something. At the moment I am copying an entire library of music from one hard drive to an external one, and the cores are not getting higher than 53C, avg about 47C. CPU is at about 40C.
jerreece said:
Also, the thread you linked to is from July of 2009, and you indicate that you already RMA'd your video card to EVGA once and the new card they sent you didn't fix your issue. So the video card probably isn't your issue to begin with.
I would agree. The only reason I'm still considering it is from another thread on that forum. Around the same time as my own thread, another individual on that forum had to RMA a card twice because the replacement came back faulty (but it's own replacement (2nd RMA) turned out fine:
GTX 280, also EVGA). That made me suspect that I had gotten a faulty replacement as well, though I am long past warranty; so no more RMA'ing.
Again, thanks for the reply!