Would a PCI fan make a difference?

[bprimetimel]

Hi, I have this GPU from XFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150506&cm_re=xfx_6870-_-14-150-506-_-Product

Would adding a PCI fan under the GPU make any difference at all in the video card's temperature since it's covered by the box thing? And would adding a PCI fan have an impact on the CPU's temperature? Or would the fan's benefits only be seen by the video card?

Or would adding a PCI fan actually make everything hotter since it's sucking up air from the PSU? Sorry, I'm a noob at this so correct me if I got anything wrong. (probably everything)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Supernova1138]

The PCI slot fan will only effect your GPU's temperature. The one I have cools my 6870 by about an extra 4-6 degrees celsius when the GPU is under load, if I crank the PCI slot fan to maximum speed.. Idle temps are about the same with or without the PCI slot fan. Whether the small temperature decrease is worth the money is up to you.

 

[bprimetimel]

Do you have the XFX 6870 as well, where most of the card is covered with heat sink and what not and only the fan is visible? If so, what kind of PCI slot fan do you use?

Like this type? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835888602
In terms of orientation? I assume that kind wouldn't do much good since it would be blowing into the cover right?

So this kind? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835192007
Where the fan would blow directly into the GPU's fan?

Thanks

 

[Supernova1138]

I use a Sapphire 6870, the cooler shroud does cover the entire bottom of the card, though some sections on the side of the card are exposed. I use this particular fan card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835888112

I place the card in the slot directly under the graphics card, allowing the cooler to pull more air in. Like I said, the difference was a few degrees only, though the placement of the fan on your graphics card may make a difference. On mine the fan is at the center of the cooler, and does not align with one of the two fans, but straddles both fans on my fan card. The fan card l use may be more effective if the GPU fan is off to one side of the cooler like it is on the reference 6870.

 

[geofelt]

Hi, I have this GPU from XFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150506&cm_re=xfx_6870-_-14-150-506-_-Product

Would adding a PCI fan under the GPU make any difference at all in the video card's temperature since it's covered by the box thing? And would adding a PCI fan have an impact on the CPU's temperature? Or would the fan's benefits only be seen by the video card?

Or would adding a PCI fan actually make everything hotter since it's sucking up air from the PSU? Sorry, I'm a noob at this so correct me if I got anything wrong. (probably everything)

Thanks in advance.

I suspect that a slot fan would not help cool your particular card.
The reason is that the 6870 has a shroud that completely surrounds the cooler, directing all of the heat out the back. In theory at least. That is good.
I think you might improve cooling by using a dremel to cut away some of the extra metal on the exhaust plate.
Perhaps you can find one already done. EVGA sells a low restriction plate for the GTX580 for $10.

On the other hand, I used a slot fan with a GTX260 to good effect. It took hot air from some slots in the GTX260, and got it out of the case quickly.
Gpu temps and cpu temps did drop.

A pci slot cooler is cheap, and you could try one out for <$10.
Get one with a speed control knob, the egg sells them.

 

[bprimetimel]

I'm thinking about getting this particular PCI slot fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835192007&cm_re=titan_fan-_-35-192-007-_-Product and use it to blow air right into the GPU's fan to provide cooler air. Would that work?

My GPU currently runs at around 55 degrees C when playing games such as Dragon Age 2 with most settings at max, and its fan runs at about 60-65%. Do I really need a PCI slot fan in this case? The GPU's fan is pretty loud at that 60% threshold though. Would a PCI slot fan at least help in keeping the GPU at that 50-55 degrees range while decreasing the work of the GPU fan, making it less noisy?

Thanks

 

[Supernova1138]

If your load temps are 55 degrees or so you don't really need additional cooling for your card. You could probably stand to lower the fan speed a bit if noise is a concern, you're nowhere close to overheating. GPUs are designed to run fairly hot, you only need to be worried if the temperature gets into the mid 80s or above.

 

[purple stain]

I don't think a PCI-express fan will work with your reference model 6870.I have the exact same card.

Because it's reference it only has the 1 fan at the very end and a shroud over the eniter card,which defeats the point of a fan underneath it.Most PCI-express fan's have multiple fans and only 1 of the fans woudl be hitting that fan on the 6870.I think it will only work for cards that have the heatsink and fan in the middle.

 

[geofelt]

I'm thinking about getting this particular PCI slot fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835192007&cm_re=titan_fan-_-35-192-007-_-Product and use it to blow air right into the GPU's fan to provide cooler air. Would that work?

My GPU currently runs at around 55 degrees C when playing games such as Dragon Age 2 with most settings at max, and its fan runs at about 60-65%. Do I really need a PCI slot fan in this case? The GPU's fan is pretty loud at that 60% threshold though. Would a PCI slot fan at least help in keeping the GPU at that 50-55 degrees range while decreasing the work of the GPU fan, making it less noisy?

Thanks

Graphics cards run hot, but they are built to do so. 55c. is cool, and I would not be overly concerned at 75c. Over 100c. then yes.
You really don't need anything else.

Blowing air over something does not cool it unless it perspires. We perspire, graphics cards do not.
Good cooling comes from getting hot air out of the case so cooler intake air can come in and do the job.

If you want to try a pci slot cooler, get one that gets air out of the case like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999704&cm_re=slot_fan-_-11-999-704-_-Product

 

[purple stain]

I could see that being heplful above the GPU.A lot of the heat from the GPU can get to the CPU Heatsink.

 

[bprimetimel]

Best answer selected by bprimetimel.